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| Abi and Jess gallop their horses in Secret in the Mist, illustration by Danika Corrall, soon available on Amazon. |
By Linda Wilson @LinWilsonauthor
In my Abi Wunder series, you might say I have two main characters: Abi and her friend, Jess. Or in terms we all understand: Abi is the big cheese and Jess is her sidekick. However way you look at it, the two need to be distinctive with their own agendas and their own personalities.
Thus began Abi’s and my quests. Hers to root out ghosts stowed away in spooky locales, me to make her (and Jess) the most unique, fun, interesting, endearing, and with all that going for them, memorable, characters they can be.
Think of some of your own favorite characters and how they have influenced you as a child, and perhaps even as an adult. Alice from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, is “one of the most beloved characters ever created.” The mischievous Peter Rabbit of Beatrice Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and Charlotte, the wise spider who saved Wilbur the pig's life, in Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White, to name a few. (Children’s Book Mastery)
Make Your Characters Memorable
Your readers will discover little pieces of themselves in your characters as long as you make your characters relatable. Here are some qualities to think about for your characters.
- A distinct personality: In the two books (so far) in my Abi Wunder series Abi views her life through an artistic lens. She takes her sketchbook along wherever she goes.
- A quirk or a special personality trait: Abi discovers strengths she didn’t know she possessed, including the ability to see ghosts!
- A personality trait: Abi is passionate about her family members, especially about her grandma who has recently passed away. In The Secret in the Mist her grandma’s ghost returns and their bond grows even stronger than it had been during her grandma’s lifetime.
- A flaw: Abi lacks self-confidence, is shy, and afraid of the unknown.
- The ability to overcome their own problems: In Secret in the Mist, the second book in the Abi Wunder series, Abi’s friend Jess invites her to help discover why the ghost of a young girl, known by locals as the Misty Maiden, has haunted Jess’s neighborhood for two centuries. Why does the ghost keep returning? Abi crosses many hurdles to find out why, discovering a way to get to know the ghost and how to help her out of her predicament.
- Other traits: likability, being an inspiration, being courageous, and being funny.
What Children Can Take Away from Getting to Know your Character
Your readers can experience many life lessons by simply getting to know your main character. Here are some traits of your main character readers can look up to and strive for in their own lives.
- Being a role model: By imagining themselves in your character’s shoes, your readers can learn what it takes to be a hero. Abi goes on many adventures in her quest to help the Misty Maiden. Coming from her home in an apartment in town, she accompanies Jess at her home in the country, in the dark of night with no but the moon and cell lights; on dirt roads; even on a ride on a motor scooter. By horseback, she rides on narrow, woodsy trails on a challenging horse after knowing only the basics of horseback riding, even finding the courage to gallop her horse without fear.
- Developing moral responsibility: At the last minute before going back to Jess’s house for their curfew, Abi and Jess discover some household belongings that had been stashed in a cubbyhole underneath the floor in an old farmhouse. Among the goods are a doll, and a Bible that has a Family Record in it that could contain information about the ghost. It’s tempting to take the doll and Bible with them to look at in Jess’s room. However, Abi cautions against it. It would feel like stealing. None of the items belong to them.
- Other valuable traits: The importance of being a good friend, being courageous, and being kind. Abi possesses all these qualities.
In the article from Children’s Book Mastery, children’s book author and editor Marcy Pusey has offered a “Character Interview,” to help children’s authors develop relatable characters, which she has kindly made available with this downloadable character interview copy.
Taking the time to craft relatable characters is well worth it. Your characters will live on in your readers’ imaginations long after they finish your book.
Sources:
https://childrensbookmastery.com/from-protangonists-to-sidekicks-types-of-childrens-book-characters/
https://www.johnhearnauthor.com/post/who-are-the-best-sidekicks-in-childrens-fiction
https://www.writing-world.com/victoria/crafting06.shtml
Danika Corrall can be reached at hello@danikacorrall.com
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| Book fairs are a great way to sell books and get to know your readers. |
3 comments:
Linda,
Great insights here on character creation. Thank you.
Terry
author of Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success (Revised Edition) [Follow the Link for a FREE copy]
Linda, thanks for these tips on creating memorable characters that readers will be able to connect to.
Thank you Terry and Karen!
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