Guest Post: Creating Characters You Can Relate To
There’s something I call the LEF—the Living Entity Factor. It is when the characters are so real that the reader is convinced that they are actual living individuals. Many fantastic authors have harnessed this skill of creating such realistic and relatable characters and I myself am learning it as I write. What great books do is that they make you not only relate with the protagonist, but with the antagonist as well.
To make the LEF happen, these are in my opinion some of the main ingredients from the recipe of creating a relatable character: Provide a history for them; give them unique characteristics (a certain quirk they have, or gesture they use); give them a clear physical appearance; throw them into a few everyday situations (misplacing keys, late for school or work, dealing with siblings, etc.); expound on their flaws and shortcomings; show them doing some everyday thing they love (playing a video game, walking the dog, going for a run); show them interacting with family, friends and pets; depict them as loyal and doing the right thing, even though doing what’s right may not always be the easiest path. I am certain that there are many more ingredients to creating good characters, but these are techniques that I use and I hope to expand on them as I grow in the art of writing.
Over a remote northern forest, a small plane carrying five teenage friends flies into a freak storm. Struck by lightning, the aircraft crashes and the passengers find themselves cast into a life-changing adventure.In a hidden valley, a mysterious people gaze at the stormy sky as a glowing object with fiery wings disappears behind a mountain ridge. The astonishing sight reignites an ancient prophecy foretelling the arrival of five chosen ones destined to become bearers of light against a dark storm gathering on humanity's horizon.
In a distant city, a secretive organization led by a shadowy figure initiates a sequence of cataclysmic events designed to wreak havoc across the planet, beginning with a remote mining site in northern Canada.
As the three worlds collide, unlikely heroes arise. Armed with powers entrusted to them by the ancient prophecy and the resilience of their life-long bond, the five teens take a stand against a malevolent foe.
S.S.Segran is the bestselling author of AEGIS RISING, the first book in the Aegis League Series. In crafting the premise for the novel, she drew from the inspiring imagery of the Pacific Northwest, the intriguing potential of the human mind and above all, her abiding love for adventure, science fiction and mystery stories. She enjoys drawing, horseback riding and is an ardent fan of parkour and freerunning. S.S.Segran is a proud member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets in British Columbia.
S.S.Segran is also the founder of Aegis League (www.aegisleague.org), a non-profit organization whose goal is to support youths living in places and conditions that deny them opportunities to grow. The mission of the organization is to provide life-skills training and micro-loan funding to help them launch small businesses in the communities where they reside. Partial proceeds from the sale of her books go to this cause.
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