A character is a fictional or not so fictional personage of a narrative (it could be a book or a movie, a short story or a TV series, a play or a video game); a representation of a class, or a geographical area or perhaps a generational marker. There are some characters that resonate with us because perhaps they represent our class, our geographical origin, or our generation. Most likely they represent our personality: they do and say what we would do or say. It is very common for an author to create a character after him/herself or after a friend, a relative, someone they know well. My characters carry "pieces" of me: the protagonist might not have my first name but could be drafted after my way of thinking; yet other characters on the pages I write have said something I have said or thought something I have thought. Oftentimes, my characters mirror the society I have experienced, just like the setting I have created for them to develop in. An author, just like a parent, feels close to his/her characters because they are "his/her own creations." As a reader, since I was a young child, I have felt a deep connection with some of them: from Florence Montgomery's Misunderstood's Humphrey to Thornton Wilder's Emily in Our Town. What is your favorite character? Why does this character resonate with you? As you can see, the creation and development of a character are paramount for the success of a narrative. The readers need to feel very strongly about the character(s) of the book they are delving in; they need to "love" or "hate" them; there is no room for lukewarm feelings. Readers should be completely invested in the characters and their stories.
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