Character

One of the things that can really make or break a book is the characters in the story. I can't say I have a great definition for what makes a good character. It's not something I've spent loads of time considering, truth be told, but here I am writing this post, so I guess it's high time I think about it.

Good characters have to be believable. By believable I don't mean believably human. But they do have to be believable in the context of the story. They have to be true to the parameters of the world they live in in the story.

I think good characters are 'people' we can relate to. Even if they aren't people, because not all characters are human. And we don't have to relate to every aspect of the character--I'm not going to relate to being a furry little animal--but there has to be at least some element of the character I can relate to.

Characters in a book need to have some depth. I don't think it has to be explicitly written, but there has to be some awareness that there is depth to the character. I think that is part of the believability.

One of my all time favorite characters is Atticus Finch, from To Kill a Mockingbird. Admittedly, there are a lot of terrific characters in that book, but Atticus is one of the best characters ever. One of the interesting things about Atticus as a character is that he's introduced to us through Scout's eyes, so we never actually see what he thinks of himself, really. Another interesting thing is that he doesn't really change or grow. Characters often grow and develop in the story, and Atticus doesn't, not in the usual way. Rather, his character is tested, and we find out that he is true to his principles. I think that is what I like about Atticus. He is just an ordinary man trying to do his best, and to be true to what he believes in. He's a great character.

It's by no means a comprehensive list, and I will definitely be adding to it, but it's something to start with. Feel free to share your thoughts. What do you think makes a good character?