Characters make the Story…

Hi everyone –

For me, one of the most rewarding parts of being an author is hearing from readers.  When they tell me they “loved” Calisto, or were “worried” that Kane and Rita might not get their happily ever after, it makes my day. 

In order for a story to really work, you need to have characters that the reader can care about and root for.  Without them, even the best laid plot won’t keep readers turning pages.

When I first started writing and publishing, it was short stories.

Horror short stories to be specific.

I had very few words to create characters that a reader would care about enough to be frightened for them, or conversely, to loathe and be terrified to meet them in a dark alley.  It was a great training ground as a writer to learn to use as few words as possible to create a character that a reader connected with.

Short stories also taught me to develop character quirks.  They don’t have to be huge, but a quirk can help make a character more memorable and lifelike.  We all have quirks, some larger than others, but ask any friend you’ve known for a long time and they can probably give you a list of your quirks.

 In Night Walker, Calisto has a habit of answering questions with another question.   By the end of the book, I found this quirk endearing.  I’m sure it was infuriating at times for other characters in the book, but it also made Calisto more than just an immortal.  It gave him a little touch of human…

So do you have any quirks you’re willing to share?  Have you given any of your fictional characters quirks?  I hope you’ll share…

Lisa Kessler

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