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Struggling with Identical Personas? Here Are 5 Strategies for Crafting Character Differences

Questions posed on Google Plus and at a Guardian masterclass have been an inquiry for me recently: writers sought my insight on a particular subject. In both instances, the authors were wrestling with a certain issue.

Struggling with Distinct Character Creation? Here's a 5-Step Guide to creating unique characters
Struggling with Distinct Character Creation? Here's a 5-Step Guide to creating unique characters

Struggling with Identical Personas? Here Are 5 Strategies for Crafting Character Differences

Roz Morris, an experienced speaker, tutor, and writing coach, shares her insights on crafting compelling characters for your stories. Morris, who teaches creative writing masterclasses for The Guardian newspaper in London, offers practical advice that can help writers bring their characters to life.

One of Morris's suggestions is to create a list of how characters differ on important issues such as romantic relationships, ambition, and personal values. To make your characters more distinctive, she recommends choosing a simple characteristic for each one. This could be anything from a character who wears glasses, walks with a slight limp, or always worries about losing things.

Morris also advises looking through photos of strangers to help create characters. By observing people's facial expressions, body language, and mannerisms, writers can draw inspiration for their characters' unique traits.

When it comes to writing a character, Morris suggests adopting a particular mindset. It might help to work on all scenes for one character in one go, rather than switching between characters throughout the writing process.

Revision is an essential part of writing, and Morris has some tips for that too. She recommends dedicating revision days for particular characters to ensure that they are well-rounded and consistent throughout the story.

It's important to note that writers don't need to get everything right in one go. Morris encourages writers not to revise a book in one go or in chapter order. Instead, she suggests focusing on one aspect of the story at a time and revising it until it feels right.

For more of Morris's writing, you can check out her website. Morris has also spoken at a range of writing and publishing events, sharing her expertise with writers around the world.

Rosa Guy, the author of the book "Brazzaville Beach," is another writer who has mastered the art of character creation. If you're looking for inspiration, her work is definitely worth a read.

In conclusion, creating memorable characters is a crucial aspect of storytelling. By following Morris's tips and observing the world around you, you can bring your characters to life and make your stories unforgettable.

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