|
Home / Writing
HOW DO I CHARACTERIZE MY STORY?
By:ARTHUR ZULU
Title: HOW DO I CHARACTERIZE MY STORY?
Author: Arthur Zulu
Contact Author: mailto: controversialwriter@yahoo.com
Copyright: Copyright © Arthur Zulu 2002
Word Count: 716
Web Address: http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/10975
Publishing Guidelines: Permission is granted to publish this
article electronically or in print as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
HOW DO I CHARACTERIZE MY STORY?
By Arthur Zulu
If art is a reflection of life, then there should be people in your story. Because in life, people make history. Either for good, or for bad.
It is just as easy to create characters in a story. Now, look around you. Are there not people whose attitude interests or puzzles you? Or do you remember reading of one strange character in a storybook?
So, using your sources you may have developed some characters for your best seller.
Now, in characterization (for that is the name they call it), there are two types: the real characters and the stereotypes. And these characters may either be good or bad as in real life situation. Some are going to play principal roles, while others will play minor roles, also as in true-life situation. Again, they may be of different backgrounds and nationalities.
The following questions will help you to make effective
characterization.
1.Who Should Be a Character?
That depends on the nature of your story. Anything could be a character. In the Bible, a snake and a donkey spoke
(Do they still talk?) And trees were characters in a mock drama. (Someone says they still do speak to those who understand them.) Even the Devil himself had a conference with God. (I don’t think they are still in speaking terms).
So, your characters may be humans (DAVID COPPERFIELD by Charles Dickens), witches (MACBETH by William Shakespeare), animals (ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell), or the Devil (SATANIC VICARS by Arthur Zulu.) You may even wish to make yourself a character in a fiction as some writers have done. Such ones are often heroes, or heroines –- they play the most important part, and they never die. I am thinking of Thor, in KONTIKI EXPEDITION by Thor Hayerdall.
2.How Should They Be Named?
First, their names should not be two long and foreign that your reader finds them difficult to remember. Abbreviated names, as in Shakespearean works, also cause problems.
Second, use revealing titles like Dr. and Prof., King and Queen, to help your reader grasp them easily. Historical names are beyond compare in this regard. Like Adolph Hitler. Or Winston Churchill. Your reader may have known about them, thus making understanding easy.
Third. The names of your characters may be used to provide clues to your reader. Like Christian and Morality in THE PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS by John Bunyan.
3. How Many Should They Be?
Not too many, if you don’t want to confuse your reader. The
principal characters should stand clear from the minor characters. I have read a play of two characters.
4. Are My Characters Believable?
If you start by wondering whether your reader may believe your characters or not, you will not excel. After all, even in real life situations, there are persons who behave as if they are not of this world. Your reader may identify with one or two of your characters.
Have you read Charles Dickens? You may have noticed that his characters are larger than life –- unbelievable. There was
one of his characters (I can’t remember his name now), in his book, DAVID COPPERFIELD, whose life pre-occupation was the compilation of a dictionary. And there he was, struggling some where in letter “D” or so, in his old age, but still optimistic of reaching his cherished goal before the final call. Do such people live on earth? Yet, Charles Dickens remains the greatest novelist, who has ever lived.
5. How Should They Speak?
You will have to vary the speech patterns of your characters. From the royal and dignified speech of a king, to the learned and pedantic discourse of scientists; from the lowly and untrained language of a court servant, to the meaningless quibbling of a child.
In short, the speeches should reflect the various social, cultural, and educational backgrounds of your characters.
1.What Are My Characters’ Motives?
There should be a motive for the actions of your characters. Or is it not so in life? For example, why do people love, or hate one another? Why do some kill, while others like charity? Why do people work? Or why do they have ambition? Or, to bring the chickens to roost –- why do you want to write a best – seller?
If your reader doesn’t find satisfactory motives behind the actions of your characters, then you have not communicated.
7. Do my Characters Contribute to the Development of my Story?
This is a good question. In story writing, you may decide to be he story-teller. Or, you may leave that task to one, or several of your characters. What your characters say, therefore, should have bearing to the subject matter, and the outworking of your story. Put differently, they should do the work you want them to do.
Do you want them to fight over something, or to love or kill
themselves? Which character is doing what, and which characters are in the know, or are ignorant of those actions?
In doing so, you are using your characters to inform your reader. And if you do it well, you would have succeeded in pulling out a good story.
Copyright © 2002, all rights reserved
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
:
ARTHUR ZULU, The Most Controversial Writer in the World, is the author of the best – selling book,
HOW TO WRITE A BEST-SELLER. Download your copy and FREE excerpt at :
http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/10975
For FREE writing helps, mailto : controversialwriter@yahoo.com
|
|
| Top Writing Articles |
|
|
- 2). It’s Good To Be A New Writer: Breaking The Myth That Experience Is Everything By : Shelley Wake
There’s a rumor out there in the publishing world that an editor won’t even look at the work of a new writer. It might be true for certain types of writing, but after interviewing hundreds of editors, I’ve found that most are more open to new writers than you might think.
And there are a few major benefits to being a new writer too. So before you spend too much time trying to work out how you can appear to be a published professional writer when you’re not, consider taking advantage of your current position as a newcomer.
|
- 3). Penguin Publisher Reveals What It Really Takes To Get Published. By : Sharif Khan
Mr. David Davidar began his career in journalism and is founder of Penguin Books India. Currently, he is Publisher of Penguin Canada and also is author of the novel, The House of Blue Mangoes.
How did you first get started in the publishing business?
Twenty years ago I was working in Bombay and there was a colleague I knew who had done a publishing course at Harvard.
|
- 4). A Few Magazine Publishing Terms By : Scott Lindsay
The business of writing for magazines is often speculative in nature. It can often seem fruitless to conduct research on available paying magazines, attempt to understand their style and unique requirements, write the article, send the article, and then wait for what can seem a never ending response.
It can be even more daunting when you have invested significant time and energy and have received multiple rejection slips.
|
- 5). The Psychology Of Effortless Writing By : Saleem Rana
Through writing I can convey my entire experience so that someone else can benefit from it and learn from that experience without having had to be there. So, by writing I can give others much more than I can in person. In addition, writing bends time and I can convey my experience to someone centuries away.
|
- 6). Tricky Decisions By : Kael
Some people know exactly what to look for at the bookstore – others spend hours without finding what they have in mind…
Did you ever mistake the body lotion tube for the toothpaste a sleepy morning? No? Good, it’s not the best way to start the day.
This might be an awkward approach if you're aiming at the problem of choosing literature, but frankly, haven’t you too picked the ‘wrong’ book by a random grab at the bookshop or at the library? The book you put away with a sigh after three chapters.
|
|
|
- 8). Ebook Design (HTML) By : Shelley Lowery
When designing an HTML compiled ebook, you must create an HTML document (web page) for each page within your ebook. These pages should include
|
|
|
- 10). A Blank Paper By : William Ramos
A BLANK PAPER…is what I came up with after racking my brain to sweet talk you, sweep you off your feet; but as I crown myse
|
| New Writing Articles |
|
|
- 2). Seven Ways To Sabotage Your Self Publishing Success By : Sanyika Calloway-Boyce
Are you sabotaging your success as an author? Would you like to know how not to waste time and money? Seven Ways To Sabotage Your Self Publishing Success reveals the secrets that you need to know and avoid so you can write, publish and promote your book to self publishing success!
|
|
|
- 4). How to Proofread Like a Professional By : Jaya Schillinger
Copyright 2006 Jaya Schillinger
Even as I wrote the title for this article, I got confused. Is "proofread" one word or two? I thought it was two, and my spell checker didn't have a problem with that, but when I double-checked myself with a popular on- line dictionary, I was able to catch my mistake. Proofread is in fact one word, "proof·read v. tr.
|
- 5). Benefit We Gain from Problem Solving By : Carol Miller
The real fact on this Earth is that no human being has ever lived without problems a single day. This is impossible. People deal wit problems every day and problems do not fade away by themselves, they stay until the person resolves them. When a person gets strong enough to overcome stress and get to the core of things, then the amount of problems lessens.
|
- 6). Self Publishing, A Miracle Of The 21st Century. By : Josephine Stungger
Are you a writer with lots of talent but no one will give you the time of day let alone a contract? Would you pay a professional publisher to make your book but can't afford it? Do you need a better tool than your plain old word processor to make your work look more professional and desirable? Do you possess special knowledge that if packaged in a book.
|
- 7). Storylines Crop Up at the Oddest Moments By : chicho
There I was on a restful weekend by the sea; enjoying coffee and croissant in a quaint little café at the end of the North Shore pier.
Looking outside through a musty rain smattered window my gaze was attracted to the contours of the magnificent edifice that is Blackpool Tower; drinking in the lines of the intricate steel framework that leads to the observation deck, to the twin platforms one above the other, and all the way up to the crow’s nest.
|
- 8). Choose Great Research Topics By : Denton Krypps
Doing research and writing research papers does not actually have to be as horrible as everyone makes it out to be. I have learned to enjoy the process of research from start to finish. Call me crazy if you will, but I guarentee that the future of your educational career can be much more enjoyable if you learn now to enjoy research. For me, enjoying it started with choosing the right research topics.
|
- 9). The Perils And Pitfalls Of Publishing: Who Can An Author Trust? By : Dee Power And Brian Hill
One out of every eight people call themselves a writer, which means there are roughly 24 million people in the United States who carry that banner. Unfortunately there are charlatans and scam artists just waiting to ambush the unsuspecting author. How can a novice writer protect themselves?
Anyone can call themselves a publisher. Always remember money flows towards the author from the publisher, not the other way round.
|
- 10). Jokes and Riddles - How To Write Them By : Steve Gillman
Just listening to or reading jokes and riddles may "wake up" your brain, but it is creating them that really exercises your brainpower. The process requires you to use both logical and lateral thinking skills. How do you do it, then?
Jokes and riddle don't come to mind randomly. In fact, after watching how many comedians create their routines, I am convinced that they use what I call "humor algorithms," even if they do so unconsciously.
|
|
|
