Internal musings and thoughts

Chop

         Chop up the character to get a better perspective on who he or she is.  I’m not talking about finding some crazy person on the street and doing away with them.  The character in your story needs to be pulled apart so you can understand what they are about.  If you don’t delve into the inner mindset of your character they won’t be believable.  Get to know them. 
         Live their life as though they are your closest friend.  Give them emotions, faults, accomplishments, and eccentricities.  The reader has many of the same traits that maybe the character has. The reality of a character that copes with the same issues that the reader has brings the story more meaning. There is a sense of purpose for the reader to bond with the character. 
         The character has to struggle to create the path that brings about the resolution.  When a character has a perfect life the reader will be disappointed.  Real life is far from a Utopia.  The reader wants to cheer on the character till the end.  The thrill of the struggle will keep the reader poised on the edge of their seat. 
         The reader wants to be scared when the character gets scared.  There has to be a sense of urgency for the reader to continue reading the story.  They want to cry when the character breaks down.  The character will tug at the heart of the reader creating all kinds of emotions. Readers enjoy a character whom has issues. 
         Don’t disappoint the reader with a perfect character.  Give the reader an opportunity to savor the character’s routine.  The reader will dislike a character with no issues.  A character with no flaws has no place in fiction.  I will never have a character who doesn’t struggle in any of my writing.
         A character needs to be torn in to little pieces.  The little pieces that create the character will build a strong protagonist.  Cutting up the character is the foundation of finding out what makes them do what they do.  Your reader wants to know what the character is about.  The reader wants to hold hands with the character.   
         Let the reader be led by the character.  The reader will get to know the character.  Don’t let the fans be disappointed in a transparent character.  Pull that character apart, get to know them, and cheer them on till the resolution.