Many aspiring authors shy away from character development, but it is a simple fact that every good story hinges on character. Maybe you have a good feel for the personalities in your novel, and it is absolutely acceptable to develop them while you write. However, you want your story to be consistent. Just think of the myriad of movie blunders where, for instance, the ten-year-old version of the main character is left-handed, while as an adult he is right-handed (that happened in Braveheart). On the other hand, Igor is allowed have a back hump that moves from right to left, if it fits the story line (See Young Frankenstein).

Character development does not necessarily mean a fully detailed psychological profile, and you don’t need to reveal all the details in your novel and possibly take a hit at readability. In other words, don’t bore the reader with too many details, but maintain consistency, and, after all, keep a list of all participants. It doesn’t make sense to scan through your writing to verify the correct spelling of a person, or if he/she had dark or light hair, etc. Character development can be as simple as keeping a database.

Note: There are programs available in which you fill certain characteristics such as gender, age, etc., and the program will even provide you information how the individual would respond to certain scenarios. I personally prefer to apply common sense, and if I feel unsure about a character I engage into further research, yet again emphasizing the importance of research – See my post Researching the Topic.

Developing a character, just like the story line, is a very creative process, and you will be surprised by the features they gain while you define them. Again, you don’t need to apply too many details, but make sure your main character is attractive to the intended readership by adding certain features.

In the following I am posting a few characters from The Monty Python Code.

The Monty Python Code

For those who happened to stumble upon this article per search engine, this particular post is part of an article series Let’s Write A Novel. In our little project we are going with mainstream taste, and we are going with Dan Brown. The title of our work will be The Monty Python Code. Any resemblance to The Da Vinci Code is, of course, purely coincidental.

To follow our writing project go to Let’s Write A Novel – The Monty Python Code.

Characters

Professor Hubert Ringtone
Main character. America’s top specialist on religious sects. Age: In the thirties. Tall, slender, but not athletic. Introvert. Tends to mumble when in female company. Hates the New York Yankees. Prefers green jackets. Always wears a mickey mouse tie.

Margaret Hatcher
One of Ringtone’s students. Brunette. Blue eyes. Wears glasses. Slightly aggressive attitude. Parents died when she was six. Grew up with grandmother. Only survivor of five students who blackmailed the leader of the Thetan Society.

Igor Feldman
The creepy character. Ugly, short creature with huge nose and hump on his back. Prefers dark clothing. Acts only at night. Was abused as a child. Loves the New York Yankees. Enjoys killing. Serves the “master,” whose identity is unknown.

Holly Darton
Supermodel. Huge “assets.” Blonde.

Don ‘Potatoe’ Quayle
Leader of the Knights of the Thetan Society. Age: Around 50. Wears eye-patch. Loves white, furry cats. Desires to be president of Thetan Society. Has problems with spelling. His sentences are limited to five words. Unhappy character. Never married, and never had sexual relationships.

Last, But Not Least

I know there are many more aspects on this topic, and I am not the source of all wisdom. If you want to contribute helpful information, please do so by any means. Any comment, whether you agree with me or not, is appreciated.