At some point in time, I think at a writers conference in Kansas City in 2007, I picked up a used copy of Creating Unforgettable Characters by Linda Seger [Henry Holt, 1990]. I figured it would be an easy read at 221 pages. But it just bubbled up to the top of my reading pile in early December.

Actually, it wasn’t on my reading pile. That is a mixture of fiction and non-fiction for pleasure reading or self-improvement/education about things other than writing. I have a separate stash of writing books, not really in a pile, not really sorted as to which to read next.

I had just finished several reading pile books in a row, decided it was time to read a writing craft book, and this one looked good. The age of the book didn’t seems to be a problem to me as I started.

Seger consults with script writers and film makers, and so many of her examples of character development were from those areas. She made frequent use of television programs I never watched (such as Murphy Brown) and movies I never saw. It was kind of hard to understand her description of a character when I had no clue about that character.

Segar’s book is divided into the following chapters.

• Research
• Character Consistencies and Paradoxes
• Creating Back Story
• Character Psychology
• Character Relationships
• Supporting and Minor Characters
• Dialogue
• Nonrealistic Characters
• Beyond Stereotyping
• Solving Character Problems

I have not previously read a book about characters, but I’ve read a lot about it in magazines and on-line forums, and sat through several classes at writers conferences about character development. The advice in this book pretty much matched what I’ve heard/read elsewhere. Characters need to be multi-dimensional. Heroes need to have flaws; villains need to have virtues. Characters need to act consistently, but not so consistently that they seem to be made out of cardboard.

Paradoxes are good. The woman who loves football. The man who makes floral arrangements. The woman psychologist who follows boxing. The thug kid who’s an A student. These all make characters seem more real.

I liked what Seger wrote about researching a character, and about creating back story. These are probably two things that writers (me included) probably fall short in most easily. She gave me some things to consider in these two areas.

I had in mind to write more, but must end now as I have much else to do tonight. I’m glad I read this book at this point in time. While perhaps a newer book would be more advisable, if a writer should have a chance to pick this up, you might as well and glean from it what you can.