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Ashley Clark | Writing Compelling Characters in Short Story
January 22, 2016
When I got the contract for my first short story publication with Guideposts, I
was thrilled. And then it hit me. I had an M.A. in creative writing, years of
teaching experience, and several yet-to-be-published novels under my belt… and
no idea what I was doing. So I started with what I knew. The characters. In “The Christmas Thief,” I wanted to show that people are not always who they
seem, and everyone has a story. That sounds trite, I know. But as storytellers,
I truly believe it’s our job to challenge to craft characters that surprise the
reader, and perhaps more importantly, characters that challenge the reader. This story highlights a homeless man who was once materially successful, and the
pastor of a fancy church who does not react to the homeless man quite as you’d
expect. I tried to dig deep into the question of what it means to live on both
sides of the church walls. As I found my main character searching for hope, I realized the story was coming
alive because the character had. So here’s what I learned!
- Give your character a compelling setting from which to thrive. I write
southern fiction, usually southern romance, so it was natural for me to set my
story in Charleston, South Carolina.
- Don’t shy away from character complexity. Consider ways that you can include
opposites in your story. My main character had a successful past, a
seemingly-hopeless present, and an unknown future. I also contrasted the wealth
of Charleston with the poverty of someone living on the streets of it.
- First dig into your character’s deepest hurts and dreams. Then
construct a plot to challenge them. Does your character have an abandonment
fear? Then someone should probably abandon him/her for character growth. Does
your character fear change? Then change is just what he or she needs. Figure out
the deep layers of your character so that you can then make the storyworld
consistent with those elements.
- Give each character a unique voice. Your voice as the author should
color the whole story. But that said, each character should have a unique voice
and perspective so that it’s clear who is saying what even without dialogue
tags. Doing so will allow your story to be much more dynamic.
Character development is particularly important for short stories because we
don’t have as many pages to build character as we do in, say, a novel. So take
time to really delve into your characters’ layers before crafting the plot, and
you’ll be glad you did! I hope this encourages you to write characters you love,
and I know readers will love them too. Giveaway
As a reader what is the most important thing for you in a character? Tell us
in the comments and one commenter will win a copy of A CUP OF CHRISTMAS
CHEER!
Ashley Clark writes romance with southern grace. She's dreamed of
being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour.
Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her
local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop.
When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding
charming new towns.
About A CUP OF CHRISTMAS CHEER
 A Cup of Christmas
Cheer
Twinkling lights, the scents of cinnamon and pine, family gatherings,
favorite carols from the heart. In the spirit of these cozy Christmas
traditions, Guideposts is pleased to present A Cup of Christmas Cheer, a
two-book set brimming with heartwarming fiction stories of faith and family set
in Christmases past and present.
You are invited to enjoy two uplifting Christmas fiction collections that
will flood you with the Christmas spirit and bring a smile to your face. As you
delve into each well-crafted story, you’ll be swept away on a wave of glad
tidings and good cheer as you are reminded of God’s unconditional love and
ever-present care at Christmas and all throughout the year.
Affordably priced so you can easily give the set as heartfelt gifts, the
messages of hope and faith in these extraordinary works of fiction deliver the
truest gifts of the season. They will inspire all who read them as they bring
home the joy of God’s presence at Christmastime.
Comments
33 comments posted.
Re: Ashley Clark | Writing Compelling Characters in Short Story
The most imp thing is that i think this person is dedicated
and a real person one who wants to be loved and is looking
(Peggy Clayton 12:52pm January 22, 2016)
The most important thing in a person is really getting to know them in the story and a good story line.
(Pam Howell 6:19am January 22, 2016)
Emphethizing with the characters.
(Marissa Yip-Young 6:40am January 22, 2016)
The most important thing in a character is that we should
be able to connect with them while reading the book, so
that by the time we're finished reading, we'll be able to
reflect on what we've read, and either learned something
from them, or have been touched by them in some way.
(Peggy Roberson 6:56am January 22, 2016)
The most important thing for me is being able to relate to the character, when they are sincere and I can almost connect with them.
(Nicole Bouchey 10:56am January 22, 2016)
The most important thing in a character is that they are real,
well portrayed, have a personality and depth.
(Sharon Berger 11:37am January 22, 2016)
The most important thing is that they are believable
(Jeri Dickinson 3:36pm January 22, 2016)
The most important thing to me is to be able to relate to the character
myself in some way.
(Lily Shah 6:53pm January 22, 2016)
I have to be able to put myself in their shoes. I actually watch the book in
my mind. If I can do that immediately, I know I will love it!
(Vicki Hancock 7:38pm January 22, 2016)
To have compassion and integrity.
(Wilma Frana 8:17pm January 22, 2016)
The most important thing is to be able to walk right into his/her life and live it right along with the storyline.
(Bonnie Capuano 9:08am January 23, 2016)
I like well developed characters that feel real.
(Betsy Pauzauskie 1:17pm January 23, 2016)
I usually get into the story so much that I am the character. I know this person.
(Joan Thrasher 10:25pm January 23, 2016)
They have to be believable
(Nina Bilik 12:37pm January 24, 2016)
I have to live it right along with them
(Bonnie Capuano 8:25am January 24, 2016)
The most important thing for me in a character is that
they are a real person. By that I mean that they're
more like an everyday person - not like some
superhuman, unless the storyline calls for it. After
that, they should be relatable. I want to go away
from reading a book, carrying the emotions of the book
with me. To date, there's only been a handful of
books that I still carry in my heart to this day.
(Peggy Roberson 8:31am January 24, 2016)
I want the character tomake me feel like i'm part of thier
life and that i can feel like I'm part of the story
(Kellie Demarsh 9:26am January 24, 2016)
That I can connect to that character immediately and travel with them through out their journey.
(Cher Nelson 11:28am January 24, 2016)
I like characters I can identify with.
(Joanne Schultz 2:11pm January 24, 2016)
I like characters who I can identify with and connect with the characters.
(Tracy Fritts 3:08am January 25, 2016)
I love a character to have a sense of humor!
(Diane Sallans 5:43pm January 25, 2016)
I like characters that are people I can relate to.
(Liz Sawyer 6:54am January 26, 2016)
I love books that are holiday based, so I would love to get this at Christmas, and if you could make one with a Valentine theme, or say, an Easter theme, that could be a clever way to publish.
(Stephanie Bonck 10:42am January 26, 2016)
I love a character that I can relate to... One that's sarcastic and witty but has a heart of gold!
(Jamie Stein 11:27am January 26, 2016)
I want to feel like I'm right in the story and can feel a part of them.
(Bonnie Capuano 12:36pm January 26, 2016)
The most important thing is for me to feel a close connection to the character.
(Anna Speed 12:41pm January 26, 2016)
I like a character to feel as though they could be my best
friend. They must have a sense of humor, loyal, honest.
(Denise Austin 1:14pm January 26, 2016)
I like a character that is relatable to and honest.
(Jean Benedict 3:33pm January 26, 2016)
Believability. The character must be realistic. Well-written is a plus, but portrayed three-dimensionally is key.
(Cynthia Powers 5:35pm January 26, 2016)
The character should be likable and preferably a nice person.
(Michelle Fidler 6:20pm January 26, 2016)
I love characters who are good hearted!
(Maria Proctor 7:44pm January 26, 2016)
I like to relate to the characters.
(Linda Hall 9:02pm January 26, 2016)
I love Christmas romance stories and characters that I can identify with.
Thanks for the chance.
(Laurel Lasky 9:34pm January 26, 2016)
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