Character Development
Character development is wildly underappreciated. Character's that do not grow or change throughout a book make for terrible books, but when there is great character development it is rarely commented on. It is expected, not praised.
For example, in my masterpiece (that's what MS stands for, right?) RTS, we find ourselves in a coming of age story. Throughout the book these two innocent girls are thrown into terrifying situations where they learn who they really are. They learn just how much they can handle and how they can improve. Character development is one piece of my book that I am the most proud of.
When I finished my book, the very first thing I did was go back and re-read the first few chapters. I read them as my characters were, before their journey, and I started to cry. Their obvious innocence and child-like happiness was adorable and free. They daydreamed, did their homework and hated bullies, but as their adventure begins, the problems they knew as children fall by the wayside as they are thrown into an adventure more mature than they should be able to handle. At their age, I think I was still playing with dolls sometimes. They were not so lucky.
It shocks me when authors don't allow their characters room to grow and change. I wonder why the characters, after they've been through so much, haven't learned anything. They remain stagnant, uninfluenced by their experiences, ready to repeat their mistakes. As writers, we know that conflict creates a story. When you go through conflict in life, you are changed. When you make your first doctors appointment and learn about IRA's, or you pay your taxes and learn about your rent increase that is depressingly legal and irreversible (characters are so lucky to never experience these things): You have grown. Even if you kicked and screamed your way through it, you changed and maybe more so because of the fight you threw. You may have decided to never be treated a certain way again. You may have decided that next time you won't take something lying down, and that you'll fight for what you deserve. You may have decided that next time, you will be kinder and more considerate and not let your emotions get the better of you.
Growth.
No one wants to read about unchanged characters, because the unchanged character is typically the villain. A sad, blob of an individual that stays in its cold, dark hole and ruins the lives around them. On purpose. Bitter, angry people (or things) filled with pain, because of the situations in life that ruined them. But they too, were changed. The villain did not start out a villain. The villain started out that wide-eyed innocent child that played in sprinklers, played fetch with a dog, and found the newest toy exciting. They too went to school and developed an imagination, wrote reports, and tried out for the school play. When they were hit a curve ball sometime in their lives, instead of growing and becoming a better person -- They gave up, turned inward, and decided to spend their lives devoted to revenge. To pain. They became stagnant when something demoralized them, and it made them bitter and unwavering. They switched from wanting to make everyone happy to wanting them to feel the pain they feel.
Characters that learn something are the characters loved by the audience. Everyone wants to be attached to a shooting star; a character with the ability to change the world. Everyone likes the popular kid; even the ones that hate him. Everyone loves an Iron Man. But what can be even more impressive than that is Dear Old Dad. A human being showing compassion is more impressive than a superhero.
It doesn't matter what you write, as long as there is growth. Be it a child entering pubescent years and suddenly becoming closed off and cold. A teacher realizing that they are taking their childhood fears out on their students. You can inspire or terrify, but all characters must change, just as all people must change. By fighting change, you are not fighting to stay where you are, you are fighting improvement. No one stays put. You either fight to improve, or slowly recede into the background.
If your characters don't grow by the end of your story, you should consider where you, as a writer, remain.
All my love,
L.B.
For example, in my masterpiece (that's what MS stands for, right?) RTS, we find ourselves in a coming of age story. Throughout the book these two innocent girls are thrown into terrifying situations where they learn who they really are. They learn just how much they can handle and how they can improve. Character development is one piece of my book that I am the most proud of.
When I finished my book, the very first thing I did was go back and re-read the first few chapters. I read them as my characters were, before their journey, and I started to cry. Their obvious innocence and child-like happiness was adorable and free. They daydreamed, did their homework and hated bullies, but as their adventure begins, the problems they knew as children fall by the wayside as they are thrown into an adventure more mature than they should be able to handle. At their age, I think I was still playing with dolls sometimes. They were not so lucky.
It shocks me when authors don't allow their characters room to grow and change. I wonder why the characters, after they've been through so much, haven't learned anything. They remain stagnant, uninfluenced by their experiences, ready to repeat their mistakes. As writers, we know that conflict creates a story. When you go through conflict in life, you are changed. When you make your first doctors appointment and learn about IRA's, or you pay your taxes and learn about your rent increase that is depressingly legal and irreversible (characters are so lucky to never experience these things): You have grown. Even if you kicked and screamed your way through it, you changed and maybe more so because of the fight you threw. You may have decided to never be treated a certain way again. You may have decided that next time you won't take something lying down, and that you'll fight for what you deserve. You may have decided that next time, you will be kinder and more considerate and not let your emotions get the better of you.
Growth.
No one wants to read about unchanged characters, because the unchanged character is typically the villain. A sad, blob of an individual that stays in its cold, dark hole and ruins the lives around them. On purpose. Bitter, angry people (or things) filled with pain, because of the situations in life that ruined them. But they too, were changed. The villain did not start out a villain. The villain started out that wide-eyed innocent child that played in sprinklers, played fetch with a dog, and found the newest toy exciting. They too went to school and developed an imagination, wrote reports, and tried out for the school play. When they were hit a curve ball sometime in their lives, instead of growing and becoming a better person -- They gave up, turned inward, and decided to spend their lives devoted to revenge. To pain. They became stagnant when something demoralized them, and it made them bitter and unwavering. They switched from wanting to make everyone happy to wanting them to feel the pain they feel.
Characters that learn something are the characters loved by the audience. Everyone wants to be attached to a shooting star; a character with the ability to change the world. Everyone likes the popular kid; even the ones that hate him. Everyone loves an Iron Man. But what can be even more impressive than that is Dear Old Dad. A human being showing compassion is more impressive than a superhero.
It doesn't matter what you write, as long as there is growth. Be it a child entering pubescent years and suddenly becoming closed off and cold. A teacher realizing that they are taking their childhood fears out on their students. You can inspire or terrify, but all characters must change, just as all people must change. By fighting change, you are not fighting to stay where you are, you are fighting improvement. No one stays put. You either fight to improve, or slowly recede into the background.
If your characters don't grow by the end of your story, you should consider where you, as a writer, remain.
All my love,
L.B.
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