That Character Was So Real, I Feel Like I’ve Known Them Forever! (Creating Characters Part 3) - How to Article for Kids

The best way to make characters real is to come up with little details as well as big details. The character’s favorite food or favorite color might not seem important to you at first because there might not be any scenes in the story where the character is eating. But there could be a scene where the character says. “If I wasn’t on a diet, I’d get a hot fudge sundae.” Without knowing that little bit of information, you wouldn’t know which food to put in that line. This shows the reader a little bit about the character: She has a sweet tooth and a lot of self control.
You might never tell your readers specifically that your characters favorite color is purple, but if you’re describing the shirt she chooses to wear in one scene and the shirt is purple, that will tell the readers that she likes that color. Otherwise, what color would you make her shirt?

For example: In “The Ace of Clubs,” I wrote a scene where Sam is doing her homework. Her favorite subject is Science. By knowing that little detail about her, I was able to include that in her story.

I’m always getting those surveys through e-mail. When I get them, I fill them out from the point of view of my characters. That way I can find out those little details that I add into the stories.