Character Voice

However, if you really want to try something masochistic, consider creating an amended interview (remember that first tool I mentioned) that each character must answer. Perhaps it is a Character Training Course, M. L’s patented CT Course for Character Building. (Not really patented, but it sounds cool, right?)

A Final Reminder
Do not try to build a character with all of these tools at once. Rationally, I’d suggest that you chose one tool, say “family” perhaps, and work with that for an entire story (or several, as family is a big one). Then try something else.

My editor begged me to make Michael’s story next, but I knew two things

already had a four-book contract and I already knew what characters I wanted to include in those books.

I intentionally delayed the use of my strongest character for purposes of reader engagement.

They’ve pursued distinct and separate lives and are now rediscovering their friendship, pursuing their careers, and (these are romances) finding their one true love.

The Where Dreams trilogy did indeed begin as a story of three college friends who finally all live in the same city a decade out of school.

Side Note: Flexibility (an example)

thriller that has no fast-driven plot isn’t so thrilling. But without a strong character, neither will amount to much. Picture Moby Dick without Moby and Ahab, 2001: A Space Odyssey without HAL, or a terrifying serial killer loose in Washington, DC, without Alex Cross.

Character Thinking in a Series World