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Mastering Characterization Techniques in Writing

Explore the art of characterization in writing, from direct to indirect methods. Learn how to show, not tell, about characters through actions, dialogues, thoughts, settings, and interactions. Discover the power of foreshadowing and symbolism in creating believable and engaging characters.

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Mastering Characterization Techniques in Writing

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  1. Characterization The motto of good writers: “show, don’t tell”

  2. Direct Characterization It is when the author tells the reader about a character directly. Cinderella was a beautiful princess with long, flowing blonde hair. • Physical traits/personality traits: good writers will focus on certain physical traits/personality characteristics to foreshadow the action of the story foreshadowing is a hinting at things to come in the story. For example, focusing on Edward’s odd-colored eyes and their eerie red glow gave readers a hint that he was not quite human in Twilight. • Direct characterization can be creative and interesting, but it should be kept to a minimum because it does not involve the reader in the story the way indirect characterization does.

  3. Indirect characterization • The writer “shows” the reader his character, rather than directly describing the character. This can be accomplished in a number of ways: • Action: characters are what they DO. How a character acts/reacts shows the reader his personality, strengths and weaknesses. • Dialogue: characters are what they SAY. Accent, mode of speech, diction, interaction with other characters can show the morals, personality traits, attitudes/beliefs, background, nationality, gender and social skills of the character. Accent and word choice can also contribute to setting because they can be used to hint at a time-frame for the story. (If the character says “wherefore art thou,” you can assume he lived in England around the time of King James and/or Shakespeare). • Internalization: characters are what they THINK (the reader can determine a lot by the private thoughts of the character) • Setting: the place and time that the character finds himself in can reveal a lot about the character. (for example, when someone wakes up in a coffin with a thirst for blood, it’s a pretty good bet he’s a vampire) • What other characters think: what other characters say & think about the character and how they treat the character. • Hints & comparisons to other characters in the story. • The symbolism of names, physical traits & other details of the character can reveal the nature of the character and foreshadow future events in the story. • For example, a female character named “Eve” could be symbolic of…

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