Explore Different Facets of Your Characters

Purpose

The purpose of this exercise is to develop a deeper understanding of non-Point of View (POV) and Point of View characters. 

Even though you might not use what you've written in your story, it will open your eyes to the desires, motivations, fears and idiosyncrasies of secondary characters, which enables you to write more realistic friends, colleagues, family members and villains. 
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Exercise

Choose a location where you can put several of your characters together. The place and situation could be from your story or something totally different. It doesn't really matter, but if you need some ideas, try a cafe, community event or an aisle at a department store. 

Choose three characters you are going to put in this location including a POV character and two non-POV characters. 

Why do they interact? Come up with a reason for these characters to have a discussion, e.g. arguing, getting an opinion across, discovering information about someone else, working together for a cause. 

Jot down some ideas for each character: 

• Imagine what the location looks like and what's going on around these characters. Is it crowded or quiet, warm or cool, what does the room smell like? Think about what each character can see, touch, taste and smell. 
• Considering each character's upbringing, personality, job, hobbies and reason for being at this location, what kinds of details would they notice? For example, a detective might notice a teenager acting suspiciously in a dim corner, a waitress might notice the large bills in a man's wallet and hope he tips well, and a gardener might notice the well-kept pot plants by the window. 
• What emotional state is each character in? This will depend on why each character is there, how they feel about the other people in the room and even what sort of day they're having. 
• What opinion does each character have of the other characters and the topic they're discussing? Try to show what they want, why and how their approach and temperament is different. 

Now, write a scene where these characters interact with and speak to one another.

Reflect

Take a look at what you’ve learnt about these characters, e.g. their personality, beliefs, desires, motivations and attitudes. Do they see themselves differently to how others see them? How can you use this information to make them more interesting on the page, even if you're not writing from their POV?
 
Once you have completed this exercise, leave a comment below to share your experience. Did you learn new things about your characters? Will it enable you to add depth to your story? ​

Bonus Character Profile Template

Grab a copy of my FREE Character Profile template to help you develop multifaceted characters. It's more than just a list of physical traits and preferences; this template includes prompts to help you ferret out your character's deepest desires, fears and motivations.