More About Characters

When I talk to people who’ve read at least the first book in my steampunk/fantasy series After Earth: Journey To The Black City, I sometimes hear, “Where on earth do you ‘dream up’ your characters?” The answer can be quite obvious — we’ve all spent our lives meeting characters! Think back to high school even, and you’ll see an entire world of possible characters for you stories. Think about the popular kids and the jocks. Think about the bullies and the outcasts. Think about the individuals you met at work, in the military, casual meetings in bars and clubs. All of these people dressed differently, spoke differently, and acted differently. With a little practice, you’ll become quite good at remembering the specific personal details of the various individuals you’ve met in life. And, since there’s no time like the present, start thinking about the people you know right now.