Many successful books have been written on plot alone with little character creation and development. However the books that endure and continue to sell for years are the ones whose characters take such a hold on the readers’ imaginations that they seem to exist in their own right! The aim of writers and authors is to draw readers into the fantasy world they have created and then invite them to participate.

Try this exercise to help you develop you character!
This exercise is a visualization task. Write a name, any name that pops into your head, in the top left- hand corner of a sheet of paper. Now close your eyes and see the name on the white background. Now imagine that this is a nametag on a piece of clothing. Once you can see this garment clearly, visualize the person wearing this garment. Now follow them as they move along the street. How do they walk? Do they stride confidently, are they hesitant? What do they look like? Follow them into the place they call home. What is it like? Are there other people there? What’s the furniture like, the atmosphere? Put on the character’s clothes; slip inside their skin and into their mind! How do they see the world? What do they most want? What do they fear?

Come back from this journey, and write down your impressions of the character. You may produce only one character or several. The choice is yours. Remember to show not tell! You want your readers to become involved, to fear, to laugh, to cry, and above all experience what your character(s) feel. Above all enjoy and have fun creating!