How To Create A Fantasy Story Character?

First have an outline idea (this means to have some knowledge of what your story will be about and what it will involve). Definitely know what time period it is set in, be it 1500s or present day. This will affect the whole of your character (dress sense, attitude etc). Once you know a little about what you want your story to involve you can begin creating a character.

1-  Thinking of trying to make your character very unique and without a cliché?DON’T! Everyone fits into a cliché one way or another. Try to work with this force instead of against it, because using clichés will make your story a lot more life-like. Your reader will be able to relate to some aspects of their life such as a upsetting period of their life, for example parents splitting up.

2-  What will be the purpose of your character/why are they needed? Will they be a main character or supporting character? A main character is the focus of the story, where as a supporting character is'nt as foccused on and their information doesn't have to be so detailed.

3-  Now decide upon whether your character will be human or supernatural: e.g. a Vampire,Werewolf or Witch.

Or do they have powers, which they don’t yet know about but discover them in the future. Will the powers they posses be forbidden?Why are they forbidden? Can they share their powers with others?

Do the people of the city in which they live rely on them for protection from an evil ruler?

4-  Give your character some personal details:

-Gender

-Name

-Age

-Features: hair (colour /style/ length), eyes (shape /colour/ sight?), ears (shape), nose (shape), mouth (shape /colour-deep red?). Do they have freckles or any scars?

-Nationality

-Where and how were they raised?

-What do they like and dislike?

-Do they hold any weapons? If so what are they?

TIP!

Draw a full body picture of what you want your character to look like, remember these don’t have to be TOO detailed!

5-  Now explore your characters past. This will help you give your character a correct personality. It will also help you and the reader understand why the characters personality is the way it is.

Did they have a troubled past? Or was it a very pleasant one?

Were their parents together. Did they get along with their parents? Or are they an orphan?

Do they have siblings? Did they get on well? Were they separated from each other in a tragic way or not at all?

Does the family have an arch-enemy? Why? Did they want to hurt the family in anyway physically or emotionally?

 

6-   Discover their personality: Is your character:

 Happy, outgoing, loud?

 Upset, depressed, stressed, nervous, angry?

 Mentally Strong /physically strong?

 Humorous, bubbly?

Do they have any bad habits, like biting their nails when nervous, biting their lip, clicking their fingers?

What things make your character change their personality in an instant? What makes them snap or happy extremely quickly? Is it a certain person or an object?

 

7-  Where do they live:

From their past, personality and other information you have given them you will have decided on whether they are rich or poor, this will affect where they live and how they live.

If they are rich might they be living in a castle, mansion or big house? is it set in a poor country, where they are considered rich there but no place else? In which case they may be living in a hut or just a basic, brick house.

If they are poor, how poor are they? Can they afford a house? Did they make their house themselves?

Do they live on their own, with family, friends, younger /older siblings or do they have a pet to keep them company?

Do they have enough money for food and water or luxuries?

Do they live in an enchanted forest where magic and beautiful happenings are created? Or do they live in a place where evil over rules and controls everything and anything the people do? Are there parallel dimensions? If so are they aware of this?

 

8-  Define what your characters aim is:

If your character is the hero/heroine of the story, will the aim be to banish all evil from their world or will it be to take over and rule?

Will your character find love in your story? Will they be together or be separated by evil forces, and rejoin once again? Is this your character's side mission?

 

 

Tips And Warnings

Tips

 Ask a friend or family member to read over what you have written so far to see if they have an interest in it or if you have made any mistakes.

 

Observe the people around you; look at how they act around others also watch what their body language shows.

 

Make your character seem life-like this will allow the reader to become more interested in the characters adventure.

 

Remember no one is completley evil and no one is completely good. Make sure you make this evident in your writing.

 

Warnings

 

Don't base your character too much on someone you know just have some elements of a persons personality.

 

Don't allow your character to ruin your school work or take over your life!!!

 

When observing people, don't make it obvious that would be a little embarrassing for them and for you!