The Two-Question Test to Judge Your Character
There is a method to analyse the effectiveness of your character creation - The Two-Question Test.
Ask yourself the two questions below. If your answer is ‘yes’ to both, you have a winner character. If not, you need to get back to the writing table.
Question 1: Is your character facing death?
The common theme of every published novel is ‘death’ and the fight against it.
In some instances, this could be death in its literal form. For example, spy thrillers, murders, serial-killers, etc.
In some novels, this could be death in other forms. For example,
- the death of fear when a woman decides to stand up against her abusive husband
- the death of a career when an accountant decides to give up his job to play the drums
- the death of an opportunity when a girl turns down a marriage proposal from her high school sweetheart.
- the death of sanity as a man fights against depression and anxiety.
The form of death could wary. However, your character must be facing the prospect of death.
Question 2: Is your character fighting for life?
What is your character doing?
Is he sitting and waiting for death to hit him or is he fighting for his life?
Remember, your character cannot be a wimp. He has to hunt down the serial killer. He must prove his love to his high school sweetheart. Your accountant must practice his drums till his hands bleed and get so good that we stand up and cheer for him.
James Scott Bell says, “A novel is the record of how a character, through strength of will, fights against death.”
It is important to make sure your novel does that.
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