Children enjoy seeing characters when they read; this helps boost their imagination. But for them to develop creativity and remember the lessons learned from the stories of children’s books, their characters must be remarkable so that children will sink them into their minds while they have fun reading.
Here are ten tips on creating remarkable characters when writing children’s books:
Determine their character types. The most popular types are the protagonist, the primary character of the story, and the antagonist, who is out to bring the protagonist down. However, when you delve further, you’ll discover that there are more character types. Flat, dynamic, foil, round, stock, and so on are examples of these types.
Consider new possibilities. It would help if you thought beyond the box because many literary pieces have been written and published from the beginning of literature to the modern twenty-first century. Writing a tale is difficult because you must construct its foundations precisely and firmly. Characters are one of the most important aspects of a story. There will be no life in a novel without characters, just as there will be no life in a world without air.
Assess the personality of your character. Knowing your character’s personality will help you stay consistent throughout the story and comprehend how different situations affect them. Consider what kinds of attitudes and perspectives your characters have on a life that make them interesting.
Make improvements to their physical appearances. In the highly visual realm of children’s literature, a character’s appearance is crucial. By drawing your figures or displaying a picture of a magazine cutout next to your desk, you can imagine and refine how they will seem. Even if the pictures are different from your original concept, having a specific character in mind will help you write better.
Give the characters problems to solve. While this is directly tied to the storyline, making sure you have the correct character for your story is crucial. We can bring out the best or worst in characters by putting them through hardships. It is at this moment that the reader will feel the character itself.
When deciding on a name, be cautious. A name contains a lot of information, so think carefully while contemplating. Consider a name’s tone as well as its meaning. While it’s tempting to include alliteration in character names, it does not always work to the story’s advantage. It’s also crucial to avoid characters with names that are too similar.
Character relationships must be clearly defined. Because you’re likely to have more than one character in your novel, it’s critical to grasp their interrelationships before you begin writing. What is your primary character’s opinion of other characters? When they’re together, how do they generally interact? Do you have a favorite family dynamic that you’d like to highlight? The easier it will be to leap into your story if you are clear about these ties from the start.
Make your protagonists action-packed. Characters for youngsters should be distinct and energetic. The most effective approach to do so is to develop their personality. The more explicit you are with your character’s motivations, the more dynamic they will be. Goals define children just as much as they do adults! This is one of the most effective strategies to ensure that your child’s character is alive and well.
Don’t Condescend to Your Audience. Keeping the age of your target audience in mind is one of the most useful character-building suggestions. Is it possible for a four-year-old to understand what a thirteen-year-old character is doing? Almost certainly not. Similarly, be careful not to talk down to your youthful audience.
Create a detailed backstory. Your character must have a past that has influenced who they are when the reader discovers them to function as a trustworthy entity. It’s not necessary to share everything all at once, or even all at all. It is, nonetheless, necessary for placing the character’s actions in context.
If you work hard at creating characters, you’ll end up with rich, vibrant, and original heroes. Characters you develop will make their way into the eyes and ears of curious children’s minds, and if you follow these character creation tips, you’ll be well on your way to producing the most memorable. Should you need additional help with your book, visit ReadersMagnet today!
Could you illustrate rather abstract concepts on a known character like Snowhite or Goldilock’s story? It would be easier to remember and visualize.