Mastering Character Development

If developed well, a character can live in a reader's mind long after they've forgotten the book's title, plot points, even the author's name. Here are some tips on creating memorable characters.

Memorable Characters

Naming Your Characters

Avoid Sad Sack Protagonists

Reinventing the Hero

Choosing Your Antagonist

Crafting The Con Man

Mob Mentality (how mobs control people)

Angel or Devil

Levels of Antagonism

Friends and Foes

Developing Sidekicks

Sixteen Lovers Part 1

Sixteen Lovers Part 2

Sixteen Lovers Part 3

Sixteen Lovers Part 4 16 Heroes and Villains Wynn

16 Heroes and Villains Frances

16 Heroes and Villains Nevada

16 Heroes and Villains Arden
16 Heroes and Villains Blair

16 Heroes and Villains Dallas

16 Heroes and Villains Hadley

16 Heroes and Villains Shelby

16 Heroes and Villains Joss

16 Heroes and Villains Kelly

16 Heroes and Villains Greer

16 Heroes and Villains Taylor

16 Heroes and Villains Cam

16 Heroes and Villains Morgan

16 Heroes and Villains Lee

16 Heroes and Villains River

16 Parents and Children Wynn

16 Parents and Children Francis

16 Parents and Children Nevada

16 Parents and Children Arden

16 Parents and Children Blair

16 Parents and Children Dallas

16 Parents and Children Hadley

16 Parents and Children Shelby

16 Parents and Children Joss

16 Parents and Children Kelly

16 Parents and Children Greer

16 Parents and Children Taylor

16 Parents and Children Cam

16 Parents and Children Morgan

16 Parents and Children Lee

16 Parents and Children River

Romance: Points of Connection

Obstacles to Love

Layering Conflict Character Motivation 

Ten Ways to Motivate Characters

Writing (Characters) in Three Dimensions

Should Your Characters Change?

Unpacking your Character Question 1

Unpacking your Character Question 2

Unpacking your Character Question 3

What Drives Your Characters Part 1

What Drives Your Characters Part 2

Tapping Your Character's Currency

Currency in Action

Ditherers and Despots

Conflicts of Project Runway Under Pressure

New Year's Resolution

Personal Ghosts as Conflict

Crafting Creatures: Ghosts

Crafting Creatures: Witches

Crafting Creatures: Vampires

Crafting Creatures: Fae

Crafting Creatures: Angels and Demons

Crafting Characters: Seenagers

Dressing Your Characters

12 Fascinating Fe/Male Spies

Revising Characters


The information on genre can also be found in the book Story Building Blocks The Four Layers of Conflict in ebook and print editions as well as on my website 
www.dianahurwitz.com. Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website along with free forms such as:

Character Worksheet

Mannequins Under Pressure

Sixteen Lovers

Communication Conflicts