Writing Workshop – Character Development: The makings of a man or woman
Many cultures celebrate the rite of passage when a person transitions into adulthood. Sometimes, it is as elaborate as a Bar Mitzvah or Quinceanera. Sometimes, it is as simple as graduation. While those ceremonies or celebrations mark milestones in a person’s life, does the person actually transition into adulthood? We walk through life going through milestones. At any milestone in my life, I did not say afterwards, “ Now , I am an adult.” A series of choices and life experiences as I age rounds maturity. But fiction is different. Or is it? Regardless of genre, fiction mirrors life. A character, like a person, needs a reason to develop. The passing of time does not automatically denote maturation. When developing maturity in a character, especially a younger character, an internal switch must flip. The internal switch is integral to how the character reacts to his or her surroundings. This must go beyond normal development when maturing a character. While any characte