How Well Do You Know Your Characters?

I want to talk about character sketches.
 
I love them. But this was not always the case. In the past, I felt they were like homework I did not want (or need) to do. I no longer feel that way.
 
Character sketches should probably be done for every character in your book. Every character that partakes in dialogue and appears on the page more than once or twice. If it’s a minor character, you can create a minor sketch. Major characters warrant full-blown character descriptions.
 
What I do is simply open a notebook and start writing. Anything I think of, I write down. This is called “free writing.” I keep going as long as I have something to say. It's a no-pressure situation.
 
Do you need to write a book-length story about each character?

No. A few pages should suffice. Start with just one page and see where it takes you. If you’re like me, you’ll use much of the sketch material you come up with in the novel, so none of this will be a waste of time.
 
The focus you give this character in order to write the sketch will provide gems in the form of backstory, physical traits, and simply a knowledge of who they are, what they value, how they speak. All of that juicy goodness that makes characters three-dimensional.
 
There are no shortcuts in novel writing. We’ve chosen to run a marathon, not a sprint. In order to be successful, we must push ourselves and spend hours in practice. Doing so will not only result in a better book but will also build our stamina so we can be prepared for the many extra miles we self-publishers are made to endure.
 
That’s just how it is. So, take the time to write the character sketch. It’s definitely worth your while.