More Than Just A Pretty Face:
Creating Unique and Interesting Characters

Presented by
Margaret Moore

Abridged Handout

Superficial Characteristics

appearance

mannerisms

dialogue

true to their socio-economic background, their career and their time in history

Goals and Motives

the emotional reasons for their actions and reactions

obvious goals and motives

deeper goals and motives

Creating Strong Characters

Heroine:

competent

active

compassionate

somebody with whom you want to empathize

Hero:

competent

active

able to look beyond his own needs and interests

confident

Why don't they just get married and start having babies?

internal conflict

external conflict

Secondary Characters

opportunity for interaction

different view of main characters

expendable

Adding More Complexity

Give your characters a secret.

Give your characters an audience.

Make things even worse.

Betrayal is powerful.

Kill a character.

Check your worksheets.

Villains

characteristics

goals and motives

Other Handouts Used In This Workshop:

Character/Internal Conflict Worksheet

Character/External Conflict Worksheet

Sample Story

For more information, please contact Margaret.

More Than Just A Pretty Face Main Page

Workshop Main Page

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