Character Development- Quick To Tell You, But Not So Quick To Do

We invited M&B Historical Romance author Nicole Locke and she is sharing with us about Character Development. 

Nicole first discovered romance novels hidden in her grandmother's closet. Convinced hidden books must be better, Nicole greedily read them. It was only natural she should start writing them (but now not so secretly). If she isn't working on the next book in the Lovers and Legends historical series, she can be reached at:

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I love writing tips. Over ten books in the Lovers and Legends series and I’m still discovering them.

Sure there’s the organisation factors, the plotlines, the story arc. Ah, but character tips. Those aren’t so easy unless you do it all before you start (trust me, you may have good intentions and good organisation, but even this fails at some point).

So what do we do about characters. Before you start, I suggest astrology or birthday books. They’re great to get personality traits that aren’t necessarily yours.

What do you do if you’ve already started? If, by chance, you’re at the end of the story and you have problems. Ah, then, it’s not so easy. But there are a few tips. Things that will take a lot of time. Just remember to do a bit every day and you’ll get through it. I have.

Flat character? Read only their parts. Watch the arc of that person. How are they thinking? Developing? What can you do to add to their depth?

All your characters sound like you, the author? It’s probably because they’re using words that you use in your speech: ‘just’, ‘well’, etc.

All your characters sound similar? Give them words that only one of them will use. Perhaps you need more than that, a phrase or physical traits.

Physical descriptions sounding the same from one character to the other? Start looking at pictures. Put a scar somewhere, a freckle, a mole. Maybe the female has a crooked toe from when she broke it and it didn’t set right (that would be me).

These little things will take time, and you’ll need to keep track because eventually, one hundred books, in you’ll be wondering who had what and where and how. But I can guarantee this: your characters will be far more interesting for it.

Nicole has a new book out:

Her Dark Knight's Redemption (Lovers and Legends Book 8)

“This man was shadow and night.

He was Darkness.”

Homeless Aliette is saved from punishment for stealing by a mysterious knight. To stay alive, she’s informed by this stranger that she must claim his child as her own. She should fear the dark knight’s power, yet it’s clear there’s more good to this man than he’s prepared to show. Can she break down the barriers of the tortured knight she calls Darkness?

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