Let's face it; If you're characters are bland, your readers will be bored to tears! A writer shows us how build everlasting characters that your readers will love and relate to.

"People don't care about things, numbers, or events. They care about people." One of my journalism professors said this, and many derivations of it, over and over again throughout the semester. It is so obvious that it seems silly. Even those who enjoy science, math, and politics become discouraged by writing--fiction or non--that contains nothing but facts. People care about people, and so our writing should give readers what they want most: compelling characters who have interesting dilemmas.

So how can you, the fiction or nonfiction writer, best invent or present characters? Here are some suggestions and exercises that will help you to focus on your characters' most important, telling details. (You might find it helpful to create a file for each character, and try writing some short scenes to answer some of the questions below.)

1. Know each character.

Recognize right away that readers (1) enjoying getting to know people, and (2) they don't have the attention span to do it. As the writer, you must expedite their understanding of the characters with interesting and dimensional anecdotes. Nonfiction writers do this by spending plenty of quality time with their sources. And so do fiction writers. Both writers need to understand every aspect of their character. Also, both writers need to acknowledge that their character exists outside of the scenes in the story as well.

--What events in that characters' past has given him his specific personality traits or perspectives on life?

--What does your character do in his spare time?

--What does he eat for dinner? Does he eat alone?

--Does the character seek to be alone? With others?

--What does the character think on his way home from work?

2. Know how the character's personalities interact.

Observe your sources interaction with others, or invent scenarios in which your characters can interact.

--How would two of your characters act if they were changing a tire in the rain together?

--How would your characters act if they were doing an activity that one loved but the other despised?

--What would your characters say if they were in a car for 2 hours?

3. Let the characters introduce themselves to the reader.

"Don't tell me. Show me." was another mantra I got in j-school—and with good reason. Expository writing can quickly bore readers. So when you go to develop your characters, use action and dialogue to make your readers feel as though they have a personal relationship with the subjects of your writing.

--Does your character have a unique way of speaking that would add to the readers understanding of him? (I've sat on juries where the suspect said the word "murked" whenever he meant "murdered.")

--Does the character have a catch phrase or a favorite topic of conversation?

--Does the character always have some particular treasure with him?

--How does the way a character acts in public differ from the way he acts at home?

--How does one character get along with the others? Are there certain conflicting personality traits?

The better you understand and know the players in your stories, the more easily you can express exactly what is going on to your readers. (And your readers will thank you silently by pursuing your story from start to finish!)

About the author:
When Janet Krenn applied to graduate school for journalism her friends and family were shocked. Less than two months beforehand, she was completing her undergraduate thesis in a window-less environmental science lab at the University of Illinois. (It was her third independant scientific study as an undergraduate.) After countless hours in laboratories in Illinois and Maryland, she decided that she would rather translate science to the public. Today, Janet lives in Chicago and works as a textbook editor for Houghton Mifflin. She also does freelance writing in science, technology, and travel.