characterization in storytelling

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How to build Characters in your Story

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Page 1: Characterization in Storytelling

How to build Characters in your Story

Page 2: Characterization in Storytelling

Characterization

Characterization helps in creating a picture of the Protagonist and others, in the readers mind.

It talks about the characters - Persona, Looks, Mannerisms, Language, Type of Person, Background, Inheritance and so on.

It’s about the “finer details” of the character.

Page 3: Characterization in Storytelling

Why Characterization?

• It gives LIFE to a story.

• You empathize with the Characters. Start taking them for REAL.

• It adds spice to story, makes it interesting.

• It adds to the continuity and helps progress the story.

• It’s a piece of ART. Getting into finer details.

Page 4: Characterization in Storytelling

How to build Characters

• Observe your surroundings : Observe your surroundings for typical/unique cues.

What does this picture say to you? Carefree, Relaxed. Relate the hair, half rolled sleeves, image in water, trees branches and build it

with the character

Page 5: Characterization in Storytelling

How to build Characters

• Watch People’s Personality

Relate the physical appearance, mannerisms, style, clothes and build it with the character

Page 6: Characterization in Storytelling

How to build Characters

• See how people interact

What does this picture say to you? Lady helping the Old Lady Clothing, Body Language, Way of Communication build it

with the character

Page 7: Characterization in Storytelling

How to build Characters

• Relate it to time

What does this picture say to you? Characters can be build using Time as a reference. Especially in cases where the story talks

about 2 different periods.

Page 8: Characterization in Storytelling

How to build Characters

• Create an event and the Characters role in it

Characters are build with the Event as the background. They have a strong sense of association with the development of the event.

Page 9: Characterization in Storytelling

How to build Characters

• Build Characters based on Relationship / Role

Characters invoke Emotions. What could be a better way to Characterize it.

Page 10: Characterization in Storytelling

Important Notes

• Build Characters which Fit In : Reader imagines a character based on your portrayal. Try Not to exaggerate the portrayal. Remember Characters are part of a story not vice a versa.

• Characters should help continue the story : Do not unnecessary build a Character just to elongate the story.

Page 11: Characterization in Storytelling

• Variations : Do not build too many Characters or too many variations in a Character.

• Role / Length : The length of a Character should be according to the demand of story. Writers are tempted / pushed to add spice to characters which sometimes affects the storyline.

• Research : Do a exhaustive research on the character portrayal using various medium like internet, print, one to one. I spoke to many of my friends to understand the “parent and child relationship” so as to portray the same in my book : “My Dad’s Contract Marriage”

Important Notes

Page 12: Characterization in Storytelling

• Evaluation : Take feedback from experts on how the Character will act in certain situation. In my recent book : “My Dad’s Contract Marriage” I contacted experts to learn how would a Child behave when he is under stress due to parents “separation”.

• Shaping Up : Its all of your Imagination and bringing in the finer points.

Important Notes

Free pic source pexels.com, unless otherwise mentioned

Page 13: Characterization in Storytelling

Examples of Characterization!

• Physical Appearance: Juggut Singh in “Train to Pakistan” by “Khushwant Singh”

• Time / Period : You build “characters” with strong reference to time / period.

By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40274589

By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19487600

Page 14: Characterization in Storytelling

Examples of Characterization!

• State of the Character: The protagonist Hazel is affected by Cancer.

• Occupation / Background / Theme :

Paulo Coelho — 'And, when you want something, all

the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.'

By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19879248

Source : Wikipedia

Page 15: Characterization in Storytelling

Exercise : Characterization based on the background

My friends – Paramjeet Singh (Param in short) was in Mechanical. If I were the principal then I would not have given admission to this "stupid blockhead". His aim in life was to get a degree and marry his childhood sweetheart. His father had a good auto part manufacturing business in Pune and he was all set to join him. Why was he my friend? He had a heart of gold. If I would remember somebody at a time of a crisis it would always be him. Sandeep Kumar Gupta – Sandeep was with me in Electronics. His father was a senior executive in a private company in Mumbai. He had everything he could ask for. Sometimes I felt why Tiger was not so rich? Well, even if he was, I would have still remained poor. Sandeep was a good guy. I liked him a lot but, our gang of friends did not like him. They said that he was too self-centered and arrogant. It did not matter to me that he was selfish; I liked him so much to hate him. Vandana was also in Electronics. Her father was an Air Commodore with Air Force. She was one of the brightest students in the college. All students looked at her in awe. She was a bundle of energy always onto something. She had her head on her shoulders and exactly in between them. If anybody needed advice then she would suggest a very mature and workable solution. She was the pillar of our friendship. We all remained together just because of her.

Page 16: Characterization in Storytelling

Author’s Profile

• Saurabh’s tryst with his career so far is not only note-worthy but also exemplary. A placid personal self, he has been consistent in the undulating demands of the profession. His journey as a writer does not come as a surprise to many who know him from his initial years.

• His passion for writing had resulted in his first ever fiction – It’s Destiny, My Love. His flair for writing is easy to absorb and touches the heart. His stories connect with the readers in such a way that they feel part of it, having a far-reaching effect on their psyches.

• His next book : My Dad’s Contract Marriage touches the sensitive topic of “Separation”. It’s a story of a child whose parents are separating and ask him to choose “one” of the parents.

• Connect @ http://saurabhleekha.blogspot.in/: twitter : itsdestinymylov