Historical

Give Your Characters Dimension @ketadiablo #RLFblog #sweetromance

Today’s guest is author Keta Diablo, author of Sky Dreams (Book 3) a sweet historical romance.

Give Your Characters Dimension

Let’s talk a little about characters today and why some are
one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional.
Have you ever read a review where the reviewer points to
*shallow* characters in the novel? I know I have, and that’s why I feel it’s so
important for writers to allot their characters depth. So what is depth, and
what do you mean by “dimensional” characters?
It’s crucial readers understand who the characters are; what
makes them tic, and particularly what the character’s identifying features are?
I’m not necessarily talking about physical features, but consistency and manner
of speech, body language and internal thoughts on how he/she views the world. A
character is not merely a gorgeous person with eyes of blue. He/she is a
composition of many events that has made him/her what they are today.
Their emotions are multifaceted and often conflicting. They
could come from troubled backgrounds or perhaps were born with a silver spoon
in their mouth. Whatever the case, in order for readers to understand and
relate to your characters, writers need to delve into their history to make
them likeable and real (or not so likeable in the villain’s case). It’s also
important the readers believe, and can picture, the character existing before
your story even began, thus the history.
Shallow characters (one-dimensional) have no real story, no
identifying aspects to their personality. They’re merely walk-ons in your novel
and won’t make lasting impressions. Readers will soon get bored with reading
about someone they can’t identify with or like, and will no doubt put the book
down. This is the last thing we want them to do.
Two-dimensional characters might have one identifying trait
or a smidgen of history, but why stop there? Write your characters as if they are
a person you’d love to know, in fact, you’re so fascinated by their thoughts
about life, their opinions, you long to know everything about them, including
their past.
If your hero or heroine lacks depth or dimension,
reviewers/readers might refer to them as *cardboard characters* another term
you want to avoid at all costs. This means they’re typical ordinary,
forgettable people who are par for the course in motives and goals. While
writing about them, you might have hinted about a like or dislike they possess,
but there you stopped, leaving the thought underdeveloped without explaining
why they dislike the color purple or why they adore women in hats. What’s the
history behind their abhorrence, fetish or passion?
One of the great things about writing is that you, the
author, have control over the portrayals of your characters. Make them bigger
than life; exaggerate their habits, annoyances, likes and dislikes. Make every
aspect about them memorable in the reader’s mind.
You won’t regret giving a little dimension to your
characters’ personalities.
Here’s an excellent article from The Writing Tools Blogspot
about Writing Character Bios for your stories. Why don’t you try it? http://thewritingtools.blogspot.com/2009/07/character-bios-why-and-how.html
Happy writing and reading!
~ Keta

About the Book

Title Sky Dreams
Genre Sweet Historical Romance
Author Keta Diablo
Book heat level (based on movie ratings) G
In Sky Tinted Water (Book 1) and Sky Dance (Book 2) you met
Dawson and Rory Finch and shared in the journey of their love. Now, in Sky
Dreams (Book 3), meet their daughter, Haven.
In 1893, Haven Morgan is a young widow. Heartbroken and
alone after her husband’s tragic death, she travels to Cobb’s Grove, Minnesota
to teach at the country school.
Her curiosity is piqued when she meets the handsome
supervisor of the local lumber mill, Cade Kincannon, but the trauma of her
husband’s death haunts her days and torments her dreams.
Can Cade break through the veil of darkness shrouding Haven,
forge a path to her heart and convince her it’s all right to love again?

Buy This Book

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0M17K6

About the Author

Keta Diablo lives in the Midwest part of the United States
on six acres of woodland. When she isn’t writing or gardening she loves to
commune with nature. A lifelong animal lover, she also devotes her time and
support to the local animal shelters.
Keta’s a best-selling Amazon author who writes in several
genres, including western romance, historical romance, paranormal romance and
the occasional gay romance. Her books have received numerous Top Pick, Book of
the Month and Recommended Read reviews.

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