All About Character Design
Often, the most popular children’s books really stand out because of their unforgettable characters. Can you think of books you know everyone knows? For me, the cat from Cat in the Hat, Max from Where the Wild Things Are, or even a certain caterpillar from The Very Hungry Caterpillar come to mind.
Now - can you imagine your character making that list?
I know I can! Your character can truly make a list like that. All you need are the right tools in your writing toolbox to fashion the type of character readers will fall in love with. And it really only comes down to a few simple steps.
A Core Personality
Before deciding on what they may look like, a good place to start with character is their core personality. Dive deep into a trait or characteristic you see encapsulating the very heart of who you see your character as. Are they shy? Energetic? Mischievous? Silly? Knowing who they are can shape the future obstacles and goals to complement their characteristics.
It can also be a good practice to add contrast (maybe the toothless beaver loves to sing!) This can help make them original and funny!
Things to consider: What is one strength and one weakness they may have? Deciding on this aspect can help fuel what your obstacles are and how they can overcome them!
Motivations, Wants, and Goals
Sometimes, we can pick and choose all these things for our characters: they’re witty and silly, spunky and fun. But even after all those parts, and adding in other aspects, they still feel passive and flat.
That’s because having a good character is not just about what your character is but what they do and that is entirely determined by what they want and why.
The very driving engine of a character is their motivations. What we need to ask is:
- What are their motivations? (This is the WHY.)
- What do they want? (This is the WHAT.)
- What will be their goal? (This is the HOW.)
Keep in mind, these things should all be treated as different things. You can consider motivation like the fuel, the want as the destination, and the goal as the route to get there.
Things to consider: if you’re not sure where to start, here are some questions you can ask:
- What do they fear?
- If they could have one thing right now, what would it be?
- What is the very first step they would take to get what they want?
Get to Know their Voice
If a personality is like the heart of your character, and their motivations are the engine, then their voice is a little like how they would introduce themselves to the world. You want your young audience to think about it long after they’ve closed the book.
It can be hard to think of how exactly the way someone sounds is put together, but let’s break it down into three simple pieces you can really dig into.
First, diction: what is their word choice? Do they like big, fancy words or simple, plain ones? Do they have a favorite repeated phrase?
Next is syntax: the rhythm of their speech and how they put their words together. Do they speak in long, flowing and flowery sentences? Or are they more choppy and short? Structure can help show if a character is impulsive, thoughtful, nervous, or confident.
Lastly, focus on tone: what is their attitude and feeling behind their words? This will help color everything they say, and often is what helps them stay memorable.
Things to consider: Try writing a few lines in their voice as if they were answering questions from a reporter asking five simple questions (what did you have for breakfast? What is your favorite color and why?) to get the feel of them. How do they speak? Give them a distinct voice! Are they formal? Always asking questions? Really LOUD?
You want to write, but when pen hits paper, the words won’t come.
The solution? Free Guide! 7 Writing Prompts for When the Words Won't Come
Writing a children’s book can feel next to impossible when you’re staring at a blank page.
So I've put together 7 writing prompts not only to spark your creativity, but to prove that, in as little as 5 minutes, you can come up with a relatable story idea for young readers.
Build up their backstory and community
Now that you know about their most essential parts, you can start to look out around them. What sort of community and space surrounds them?
Even if these elements don’t end up on the page it’s important to know them. These pieces will help make sure your character is well-rounded and that they feel that way in the story.
Things to Consider: Make sure you think of their culture, family, friends, and where they live. All these things that surround them will inform who they are!
What do they look like?
Finally! At the very end, now you can build out those physical traits! You can list exactly how you want your character to look down to their button nose or too big toes.
At this stage, it’s also good practice to make sure you take good notes and set them aside to send to your illustrator later.
Things to Consider: A common FAQ that I hear asked a lot is should my character be an animal or a person? Animals can be a good choice to help alleviate the heaviness of serious topics. Meanwhile people are good too so readers can see themselves in their characters!
If you can picture your character coming to life, but just need something to get you started I’ve got just the free guide for you. I call it the 7 Writing Prompts When the Words Won’t Come. No need to be stuck starting at the blank page. Bring your character to life today!
