By Senior Intern Katarina Rodriguez
Let’s talk about characters! They can make or break a story. If you’re a creative writer who appreciates detail and would like to learn a little more about character development, keep reading!
Characters are the heart of every story
Here are some examples from a few of our favorites:
The Great Gatsby is driven by its narrator, Nick Carroway and the mysterious Jay Gatsby (whose character is driven by love.) The story might get murky, but the observations of human connection and betrayal made by Nick are what make the story so rich and easy to connect with.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was an incredible coming-of-age novel with emotionally rich characters that sold the story by capturing the highs and lows of high school.
The array of personalities demonstrated in The Joy Luck Club allowed us to see the faults in these characters but still love them despite their traumas. We were able to see these very human lives and relationships told through the rich story between mothers and daughters.
Strong characters can only make stories more amazing. So many simple storylines are carried and strengthened by their unique inhabitants! So, what’s a good way to develop these characters?
A Character Sheet
Filling out a character sheet is one way for you to get a better understanding of who your character is and how you want them to serve your story.
Why is it useful?
Not only does a Character Sheet serve as a guide/profile for each character in your story, but it can also help you map out the nitty-gritty details of your piece through the individuals that make it.
With that being said, Character Sheets are not for every writer, but if you thrive in organization and need a new way to delve into the complexities of your characters, then we recommend you try it out. If you’ve never seen or created a Character Sheet before, don’t stress! We’ve got you covered with this downloadable template.
The best thing about this tool: It’s malleable and personalizable. If ours (or other online templates) don’t work well for you or your story, then you can always create your own! Our only recommendation is to experiment and explore the aspects of your character that feel most important to you and your work.
Happy Creating!
About the Writer
Katarina Rodriguez is a senior at St. Edward’s University, studying to receive her BA in Writing and Rhetoric. She’s originally from Galveston, Texas and is a board member for The Ricky Roa Memorial Scholarship fund. Her love for writing began at a young age, and she mostly enjoys writing poetry and short fiction. Some of her favorite genres include mystery, romance, thriller and science fiction. Outside of writing, Katarina loves to read, cook, sing, play her ukulele, watch softball and annoy her three cats.