Characters

Characters in stories are normally used to help advance the plot, if there is one at all. A piece of fiction might not be that great, but a character or characters can make up for it. Maybe one of them has a strange quirk that seems to be completely out of place in a story until that person does something to push the plot forward or assist with concluding the story with his own unusual personality or set of skills. Regardless, characters are important in fiction. If at least one of them is fascinating, that can make a huge difference with how a story is received by others. With enough luck, you might end up writing a timeless character who still gets used in other mediums long after you're gone. Characters like these are remembered and carry on due to a sense of enduring appeal.

Now creating the back stories of characters is another fun process. Whether this information is included in the story through exposition, dialogue, or omitted altogether, writers should create a back story for every character. What was the character like in childhood? Why does he act the way he does? What are his aspirations? How did that breakup with his longtime love effect him? These are questions that writers can ask and answer to create characters who feel like they could live and breathe in the real world. Characters who are based on real people are another interesting dynamic. It shows that fiction and reality can easily blend together. Some might find it a little disconcerting, but that's what happens when you have a good story that feels real.

Without characters, there wouldn't be fiction, or at least not something interesting to read. Writers must love, hate, and tolerate various characters. They are like the ammunition for a gun. Characters are people we relate to on some level. This is one aspect that makes fiction exciting.