Dressing Up Your Characters

July 8, 2009 by Chris
Filed under: Writing Tip

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Creating characters, I think, is one of the most enjoyable tasks when writing a new novel. I enjoy the whole process, from naming them to dressing them. Give me my credit card and load up the Zappos site and I’m shopping! So much can be revealed about a character through clothing. It’s another aspect of the show, don’t tell process.

A woman who always wears skirts vs. shorts says a lot about that woman. Likewise, a man who always is seen in Hawaiian shirts conveys a different message. Taking care to select the appropriate clothing for your character can help round out your character and give him a personality. You can also look at less obvious ways to show your character’s personality.

A character who wears clothing too tight could be saying how he doesn’t want to admit a weight problem. Another character with holey jeans and worn shoes could be someone who likes comfort–or doesn’t have the cash to buy new clothes. Likewise, a character that wears a watch and one that doesn’t can be very different people. A woman with a Coach purse but shabby clothes has a story too.

While developing a backstory reveals much about a character, equally so dressing your characters for their part can add dimension to your work.

Tags: character

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