INTRODUCTION TO FICTION

Storytelling is a part of our daily lives.  Whether we’re telling a friend about something that happened yesterday, using examples to win an argument, or exaggerating a memory to make it more exciting, we tell stories every day.  Writing fiction takes our day to day storytelling to a new level by carefully crafting and directing our ideas into a new, fully developed story.

A strong main character is a key part of any story, whether you are writing romance or mystery.  A good story lets us experience the adventures, dramas, heartaches, and triumphs of the main character.  If we can’t relate to or connect with the main character in a story, it won’t matter if they’re saving the world or being attacked by zombies – we won’t be interested.  The more you know and understand your main character, the more interesting they will become on the page.  Here are some questions to consider while creating and developing your character and story.

1. Who is your character?  What is their name?  Are they male or female?  How old?  Where did they come from?  What do they do for a living?  Imagine that you’re just meeting this person for the first time.  What would they be willing to tell you about themselves?
2. What does your character love or feel passionate about?  What do they enjoy?  What do they want more than anything else?  What is keeping them from getting what they want?  What do they hate?  What is their biggest fear?  Figuring out what your character desires and what they fear might help you develop a conflict in your story.
3. What is your character’s biggest secret?  What are they hiding?  Even if they are a good, honest person, they still have things that they would like to keep secret.  Characters that surprise us by being more than they appear are the most interesting.
4. Who is important in your character’s life?  Do they have family they can trust?  Close friends?  Enemies?  Are they dating anyone?  Are they married?  Are they a loner or a social butterfly?  Figuring out who your character hangs out with lets you know more about them and also might help you develop other characters to include in your story. 
   1. What is the best thing that has ever happened to your character?  How did they react when that thing happened?  What is the worst thing that has ever happened to your character?  How did they react when that thing happened?  If you understand how your character reacts, it will be easier to figure out how they will respond to the events that you will include in your story.