How to build CHARACTERS in your story.

1. How to build
Characters
in your Story

2. Characterization
Characterization helps in creating a picture of
the Protagonist and others, in the readers mind.
It talks about the characters - Persona, Looks,
Mannerisms, Language, Type of Person,
Background, Inheritance and so on.
It’s about the “finer details” of the character.

3. Why Characterization?
• It gives LIFE to a story.
• You empathize with the Characters. Start
taking them for REAL.
• It adds spice to story, makes it interesting.
• It adds to the continuity and helps progress
the story.
• It’s a piece of ART. Getting into finer details.

4. How to build Characters
• Observe your surroundings : Observe your
surroundings for typical/unique cues.
What does this picture say to you? Carefree, Relaxed.
Relate the hair, half rolled sleeves, image in water, trees branches and build it
with the character

5. How to build Characters
• Watch People’s Personality
Relate the physical appearance, mannerisms, style, clothes and build it with the
character

6. How to build Characters
• See how people interact
What does this picture say to you? Lady helping the Old Lady
Clothing, Body Language, Way of Communication build it
with the character

7. How to build Characters
• Relate it to time
What does this picture say to you?
Characters can be build using Time as a reference. Especially in cases where the story talks
about 2 different periods.

8. How to build Characters
• Create an event and the Characters role in it
Characters are build with the Event as the background. They have a strong sense
of association with the development of the event.

9. How to build Characters
• Build Characters based on Relationship / Role
Characters invoke Emotions. What could be a better way to Characterize it.

10. Important Notes
• Build Characters which Fit In : Reader
imagines a character based on your portrayal.
Try Not to exaggerate the portrayal.
Remember Characters are part of a story not
vice a versa.
• Characters should help continue the story : Do
not unnecessary build a Character just to
elongate the story.

11. • Variations : Do not build too many Characters or too
many variations in a Character.
• Role / Length : The length of a Character should be
according to the demand of story. Writers are tempted
/ pushed to add spice to characters which sometimes
affects the storyline.
• Research : Do a exhaustive research on the character
portrayal using various medium like internet, print, one
to one. I spoke to many of my friends to understand
the “parent and child relationship” so as to portray the
same in my book : “My Dad’s Contract Marriage”
Important Notes

12. • Evaluation : Take feedback from experts on
how the Character will act in certain situation.
In my recent book : “My Dad’s Contract
Marriage” I contacted experts to learn how
would a Child behave when he is under stress
due to parents “separation”.
• Shaping Up : Its all of your Imagination and
bringing in the finer points.
Important Notes
Free pic source pexels.com, unless otherwise mentioned

13. Examples of Characterization!
• Physical Appearance: Juggut
Singh in “Train to Pakistan” by
“Khushwant Singh”
• Time / Period : You build
“characters” with strong
reference to time / period.
By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use,
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40274589
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19487600

14. Examples of Characterization!
• State of the Character: The
protagonist Hazel is affected by
Cancer.
• Occupation / Background / Theme :
Paulo Coelho — 'And, when you want something, all
the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.'
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19879248
Source : Wikipedia

15. Exercise : Characterization based on the
background
My friends –
Paramjeet Singh (Param in short) was in Mechanical. If I were the principal then I would
not have given admission to this "stupid blockhead". His aim in life was to get a degree
and marry his childhood sweetheart. His father had a good auto part manufacturing
business in Pune and he was all set to join him.
Why was he my friend? He had a heart of gold. If I would remember somebody at a time of
a crisis it would always be him.
Sandeep Kumar Gupta – Sandeep was with me in Electronics. His father was a senior
executive in a private company in Mumbai. He had everything he could ask for. Sometimes
I felt why Tiger was not so rich? Well, even if he was, I would have still remained poor.
Sandeep was a good guy. I liked him a lot but, our gang of friends did not like him. They
said that he was too self-centered and arrogant. It did not matter to me that he was selfish;
I liked him so much to hate him.
Vandana was also in Electronics. Her father was an Air Commodore with Air Force. She was
one of the brightest students in the college. All students looked at her in awe. She was a
bundle of energy always onto something. She had her head on her shoulders and
exactly in between them. If anybody needed advice then she would suggest a very mature
and workable solution.
She was the pillar of our friendship. We all remained together just because of her.

16. Author’s Profile
• Saurabh’s tryst with his career so far is not only note-worthy but also
exemplary. A placid personal self, he has been consistent in the undulating
demands of the profession. His journey as a writer does not come as a
surprise to many who know him from his initial years.
• His passion for writing had resulted in his first ever fiction –
It’s Destiny, My Love. His flair for writing is easy to absorb and
touches the heart. His stories connect with the readers in such a way that
they feel part of it, having a far-reaching effect on their psyches.
• His next book : My Dad’s Contract Marriage touches the sensitive
topic of “Separation”. It’s a story of a child whose parents are separating
and ask him to choose “one” of the parents.
• Connect @ http://saurabhleekha.blogspot.in/: twitter : itsdestinymylov