Character Evolution

There are many things a writer must consider when creating a character. Certain aspects of the character's personality, temperament, thought processes and way of life have to be worked out in order to make that character "real" to the reader. However, even characters that are well defined need to have room to grow and to change. So today we are going to discuss character evolution. This is particularly important for main characters in a story or those that are part of a series. As your story progresses, your characters are going to be faced with various situations and life events. Just like real life, this is going to have an effect. For example a character that faces a tragedy such as the loss of a loved one, a serious illness or something to that effect may start to become bitter, withdrawn, angry, depressed, etc. Or you take it from another angle and show that character as he or she suddenly develops an appreciation for life, a greater sense of kindness or a need to help others. The direction you take with your characters is up to you, but there has to be change. If your characters do not respond to the situations, they loose depth. Conversely a character that evolves takes the reader with them on that journey. So bear that in mind as you write and keep those words flowing!