Esther asked Elizabeth Hunter:

I recently finished The Staff and the Blade and loved it! Sari is such an interesting, non-typical, female character. I've now started rereading the Elemental Mysteries, and notice how well you write Beatrice as a 22 yo and then how different she is at 28 and older. My question is, how do you go about developing & writing your characters so well? They are all so unique. Thanks!

Elizabeth Hunter What a great question! Thanks for asking it. I'm so glad you liked The Staff and the Blade, and I'm especially glad you enjoyed Sari.

I think the key to writing well-developed characters is spending mental time with them. Before I start writing anything down--even notes or outlines-- I ask questions about them that really make me question their character.

What is the thing they love most? What do they hate? What makes them proud? What is the worst thing they have done? What is the best? What are they most afraid of? And on and on from there.

When I've spent time with those questions in my mind, I can start to know what that character would do during a situation or how they would solve a problem. A lot of that ruminating might have nothing to do with what actually goes into the final book, but it will helps me know my characters and make them real.

flag