Character Introduction- Sarah

When I started writing this ‘book’ my main character was a young troubled girl that had come to the end of what she considered to be bearable life. In the first original scene she attempts to take her own life, but fails. This opening was a puzzling and when people asked about what the book was about there was no easy way to say a girl who kills herself to finds she is alive in another world. I would get strange looks and people did not follow. While the storyline has changed since then, what has not changed is who Sarah is… at least in the first chapter…

Creating a character is more complicated than saying “the girl with the brown hair and auburn eyes walked towards the car door.” Sarah is 20 and after an unfortunate event, finds herself in the world of Elayia. She is a rough and tough girl, but sheds a tear at the thought of never seeing her loved ones again. Once she accepts her new life, Sarah’s adventure begins, soaring to new heights!

Sure you can say that, but in order to create a TRUE and BELIEVABLE character there needs to be layers. As I am discovering, not all layers have to be handed the first time you meet them, nor do you have to boldly say them. For instance, “Sarah, a young girl with long brown hair had no problem with using a bow. It was something she had mastered in High School and considered competing in the Olympics, but life had gotten in the way.”

Right there that at least should tell the reader what type of person was in high school, or at least give an inside look to what her life use to be like with out laying it all out. Other examples can include the way the character speaks, and the way they handle a situation. Sarah can’t help but smile every time Krath’s Blue eyes meet hers. Its just a reaction, like the butterflies in her stomach.

Sarah was unsuspecting of the life she was about to have, but openly accepts it. Creating the dialog and making it go from something I wrote when I was 14 to a real conversation has been difficult. While I can see my character saying, “oh Krath.” It does not make sense to most readers and publishers.

The last thing to keep note on when developing a main character, don’t forget to remind the reader with subtle hints on what he or she looks like. “Sarah tucked her brown hair behind her ears.” “Krath wiped the tear from her high prominent cheek.” … you get the idea. If the character is important make sure to give them as much history as possible.