Writing Main Characters: 26 Tips!

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Hello Level Uppers! What's your favorite character tip from this video? Don't forget to watch the rest of my How to Write Engaging Main Characters series: kzbin.info/aero/PLxzJuXcviPo8aKa6Yf-OhH3g4yPriUFfc

[@samanthastevens4279]

This was great to watch! I'm glad I found you this morning. Your tip on going to a side doc to track details was spot on what I was missing! I have my basic start to finish outline because I wrote this screenplay over 30 years ago LOL and I'm tearing it apart right now and rebuilding it into a book. I can't keep up with how fast the characters are evolving and changing 30 years later - call it growth? So I was thinking - how am I going to remember everything when these characters are moving so fast, they're changing the stage - it's taking on a life of it's own. Tracking with a second document was exactly what I need to hear! I also enjoyed your explanation using Legos ... I write screenplays and hadn't really thought about using those same angle changes in writing. I hope I do it naturally, but I'll pay greater attention now. Lastly, I have a favorite book called The Search, by Nora Roberts. I enjoy other authors, but that book did something to me. I wanted to BE her (the main character). And I WILL study those chapters that grabbed me. Thanks for your effort! Very appreciated!

[@billybubone]

We need to applaud this man, I come across so many people giving writing advice but he is the only one who isn’t cocky or arrogant about it. It’s genuine advice and I really appreciate it.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you very much.

[@TeamRed96]

Why does he not have over 100k Subs? This is truly helpful content!

[@jodijones2862]

I like how pragmatic Michael is. He gives very practical advice here. His advice on research and outlining near the beginning makes me feel a lot more confidant about the methods I employ. I liked the advice on analyzing specific parts of stories that you like. The Lego analogy was good.

[@arjunasolis7756]

#1 "Casting your character"...................... 00:48 #2 "Avoid character sketches".................. 01:26 #3 "Pretend your character is real"........... 02:06 #4 "Do light research before writing"........ 02:40 #5 "Practice 'just in time' research".......... 04:12 #6 "Be wary of character's goals"............. 05:24 #7 "First line of novel = describe heroes problem "................................. 06:02 #8 "Introduce hero asap".......................... 06:57 #9 "The laws of psychology apply to your character".................................... 07:34 #10 "Invest readers in your character"...... 07:57 #11 "Readers see the story through your character's eyes"................................ 09:53 #12 "Hone your people-watching skills"... 10:49 #13 "Hone your reading skills & study character"................................ 12:12 #14 "Character development happens in real-time"........................................... 13:53 #15 "Character arcs: skip them"............... 15:23 #16 "Character development is gradual". 15:52 #17 "Be strategic with backstory"............ 16:48 #18 "POV matters a lot"............................ 18:48 #19 "Have a 'main' main character"......... 20:17 #20 "1 POV per chapter"........................... 22:08 #21 "Make POV distinct".......................... 23:17 #22 "Track character details"................... 26:05 #23 "Heroes get the villain they deserve".................................... 28:04 #24 "Design the book cover before writing".............................................. 28:11 #25 "Character = Marketing".................... 28:42 #26 "Take WMG workshops".................... 29:25 Great stuff, I will add some of your tips to my material after transmuting them to D&D and doing an Spanish traduction. Of course, using my "Steban Rey" hidden skills!

[@RonGunsolus]

Just found your channel, just started writing again after 15 years... thx... got scrivner as a great tool, thx fer that too... favorite tip is on pov :)

[@cameronmack1863]

"Don't over research for your character. Only research for the first 25% of the story." This is an awesome suggestion for me. I always kill the character via over researching. In other words, by the time I've written a character bio for the main characters, I'm no longer excited to write about those characters. All the discovery is what makes the writing fun.

[@samanthastevens4279]

Yes! I've been flying by the seat of my pants on this - and I've been naturally high because it's so exciting to see what they are going to do each day - and how much they are changing my original idea! That is what is making this SO MUCH FUN!

[@Nyadroig]

The knowledge anybody might gather from your videos (in general), is something that cannot be put in words. The ideas that are generated from all of those focus tips; tricks; habits; recommendations, don't just help you see the world around you and your story, they provide alternative plans to improve the character's journey even more that it would already be just by taking your time and patience not to rush this awesome piece of art. Keep it up Michael, you *are* the most amazing literature mentor I've ever met. Wish you the best!

[@AuthorLevelUp]

NADROIG wow, thank you so much. You’re so kind. Keep it up, I will! :)

[@Nyadroig]

@@AuthorLevelUp So are you! =)

[@donnaharper4621]

Hey Michael. My fav tip is actually no.1 cast your character. Such a great idea. Closely followed by tip no.26. Thanks for some magical advice.

[@CarrowBrown]

I agree with your statement about research so much! There is a guy in my writing group who likes to talk about how it took him tens of years to do all the research for his book. We always joke we got more books published than he did during that time. Granted, it's good he wanted to get his science facts straight, but he also does that overexplaining trait in his books because he wants to show off how much he learned -_-

I love ALL of Michael's videos. His clear & concise delivery really resonates with me and has helped me tremendously. These tips are soooooo good. Especially different POVs & how they talk to themselves & move the story along.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you! :)

[@ctsuhako1]

Loved them all! I'd say that my favorite was "Invest Readers in Your Characters."

[@AuthorLevelUp]

:)

[@pauline_f328]

14:00 I see what you mean. Personally, I base my plot off of the character arc for the main character, so I NEED to write the mc's character arc to be able to write. But for secondary characters, I create most of it on the fly (it's actually the reason I thought I was a full-on pantser a while ago, before realizing outlining is actually really my thing). I also tend to not plan character interactions beforehand, I just let the different character's personalities and assumptions and experience and charisma play off of each other while I write, and see what I end up with. It also feels amazing, because I tend to feel like I didn't do any work but with an amazing result. Sometimes it also fails miserably, but most of the time it works like magic. Actually, I've been having an issue with that. The story I am currently writing has a huge cast, as it is a fanfiction for a long-running manga. As a result, my cast is huge - and because I tend to instinctively use these moments to develop characters, I end up getting really side-tracked, developing characters that the reader may have no interest in or that are mostly unimportant to the plot. Basically, I try developing too many characters at once lol, and sometimes it comes to bite me in the butt. But I never regret writing these scenes, they help me understand the characters better.

[@emilyrln]

While watching this video, I had an idea that will give my heroine way more agency in overcoming her first obstacle! Thank you 😊

[@jose11032]

OK the tip about outlining as you go and develop character as you go really resonated with me! So much so that im now going to watch your video about writing into the dark :) I have character developed for years, making my character different every once in a while only to realize she needs to be as she was when i first started writing. THANK YOU :-) Im going to binge watch your videos today!

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you for watching and welcome aboard. :)

[@lorrismalls4736]

Hey, really appreciated the tips given in this video. Honestly, before I even started writing fiction, I produced content on the Web. I realized the importance of outlining and creating text and being able to successfully research information for a wide range of articles. It also gave me ideas of how to come up with a story based on the hundreds of articles I wrote in the past. My suggestion to any author out there is to become a content writer first. It helps you learn to write your novel with more self-discipline; and helps you practice self-editing and proofreading. Perhaps other authors may do this- I write stories more from an angle of a screenplay with manuscript rules splashed in.

[@pauline_f328]

20:30 Yeah, that's a mistake I did for such a while. But since I write plot basing myself on a character arc, I've now realized that an efficient way to solve this is to figure out which character's character arc works best as the plot, and make that character the mc (not necessarily the POV, however. I've read awesome stories where the character whose character arc was the plot but the POV isn't of that character. Stuff like The Great Gatsby, for instance - although Nick is a good character, ultimately the story is about Gatsby, at least from what I remember of it. Similar for The Bluest Eye - Pecola links all of the snippets of story and backstory together, but she's never the POV of the story. It's a structure I really like) 23:00 I used to be very guilty of head-hopping. Someone pointed it out, and I've been looking out for it ever since. Looking back, the writing makes me cringe every time I get to the parts where I did it because now I can't not NOT notice it lmao

[@jhoneyb]

I thought I was the only writer who 1) cast actors and watched them in programs and based my characters on them and 2) didn't use character sketches! We are very similar in our writing approaches.

[@hennodutoit5297]

This was really helpful. Thank you.

[@natashabetts7509]

Thank you because i was going down the road to overdoing the research on a subject for my book . I almost fell down this rabbit hole of never ending research.

[@travisstoll3582]

The reader also makes a first impression. I realize this also works with storytelling in informational texts. Thanks for this insight!

[@michelledoes]

"Pick someone in a coffee shop--but don't be creepy about it." Heh heh heh

[@piperj4978]

I love your videos and your enthusiam and sweet kind friendliness and desire to be helpful to others in their dreams, you are such a nice person and your efforts are really enjoyed and appreciated, thank you! :) And they are not too long, the more the better lol

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you! :)

[@nicoleanderson7718]

I saw you on the hyper books channel. Andrew is right you know lots about main characters

[@maggiesheartlove2734]

I’ve been writing for about seven years now. Got my start writing fanfiction, playing with characters and settings I was already familiar with. But with time, I slowly started moving farther and farther away from “canon” and incorporating more of my ideas not only in the world building, but also into the characters. Long story short, the experience was what pushed me to work on my own works, and I’m currently writing the first book of my episode urban fantasy series. The reason I bring this is up is because I’ve experienced your tip about “character developments happens in its own times”, and yes, you’re absolutely right. At the start, I was a bit more robotic, picking and choosing the parts where the character would learn the lesson they needed to learn, but like I said, in time that too felt still and limited to me. For my first book idea, I spent hours and days writing down character sheets and details and pinpoints of when and where the development would take place. Needless to say, that book is currently on hold. I still plan on writing it, I just need to polish it a bit more, remove unnecessary complex stuff that in the long run weren’t really needed. The series I’m working on now has a more straight forward and simplistic synopsis and what I did with the characters, who are the heart of the story, I thought of their basic backstory and personalities, nothing too overly details using ropes. For example, I have a merman who’s the “lovable rouge”/“jerk with a heart of gold”, but I’m keeping my imagination open to see where his story goes. I would listen to advice from other writers that just had me stuck, but your videos have not only given me more confidence in my intuition, but also encouraged me to just... write. I’m already starting on chapter five of the first book, and I feel getting to know the characters along the way. It really is a fun journey, and I wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge. It’s really been of great help. Keep it up my friend, God bless.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Wow, what a great and thoughtful post. It’s so true that you just have to trust your intuition. I am glad that you found your way and am excited for what that will help you do! :)

[@hypersanitybooks]

I am going to read your books and review them on my channel in a positive light. In my first book chapters go between characters and scene breaks. Some characters in the later chapters are introduced POV for the first time leading the series forward. I love your channel

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you so much! Do share when you post!

[@hypersanitybooks]

@@AuthorLevelUp I have the time now I will review your three books. Galaxy Mavericks trilogy. Buy the end of the week I will have the three videos up without spoilers. I love this channel and I am keen on more of your work. Please check out a few videos and once I upload with in a week if you don't like them I will remove or recreate.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Feel free to tag me on Twitter and I’d be happy to share!

[@hypersanitybooks]

I am halfway through book 1 and it keeps getting better. Ill make contact through twitter and thank you for your craft. I love this channel and I intend to read all of your books.

[@hypersanitybooks]

@@AuthorLevelUp kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6jFmnWKbqmLrrc I hope this is to your liking. Thank you for allowing me to review your books and sharing your craft.

[@NurHidayah-te2wq]

I agree with what you say about doing away with detailed character sketches. For me at least, it is only necessary to figure out those traits and habits that are relevant to the novel.

[@El_Vincento]

Awesome video! Thanks for the tips

[@whawkins8636]

Just purchased two of your books brother. I love your work

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thanks so much. Appreciate it!

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

Dude you are a legend. I love the practicality of all your videos; very helpful, very insightful. A hack for POVs: in third, you get a sort of secret first (and potentially second) POV when characters converse. Conversation is how we reveal ourselves to each other in the real world, how our "character development" is expressed. Would you disagree with that concept?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

You’re spot on.

[@ellenymueller_author]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@Cloud_Envy111]

Starting my second draft and I’m so glad I found your channel it geese these tips are so amazing I wanna start all over again 😅😭

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Keep charging forward, my friend! :)

[@meh62]

your tips are very helpful. Thanks!

[@taim1696]

Great video, Thanks for the tips.

[@DalCecilRuno]

I have a cover design that I sketched just for the sake of dreaming about my book cover. (I'm pursuing traditional publishing so I know the cover will just stay with me) the thing is, I don't see anyone's face on the cover. I prefer covers with other imagery, more symbolic. So I did that. I even planned a consistent design for the whole trilogy, but that's just me dreaming. I know all creative control is gone with traditional publishing so this is all a bit bittersweet.

[@alvaindarber5393]

Very good tips 👍

[@elbib908]

Excellent. Thanks!

[@carrieloman6489]

I was wondering, would you happen to have previously made a video on how one would go about creating chapters? I always seem to struggle with how to properly divide a novel into chapters and I find it very difficult to do so. Even if I outline what I want to happen in a chapter, it always seems like I could’ve done it in a better way so I’d appreciate it a lot if you’d point me in the direction of some aid for that particular subject. As always, I really enjoyed this video and my favorite tip would have to be making my characters seem real. I don’t usually think of writing in that way but I think I’ll take notes on common mannerisms and dialogue patterns thy I notice so that I may have a chance of better understanding how to incorporate them into my characters. Thank you for the informative and very helpful video! Have a nice day😁

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Hi Jasper, I don’t have a video on chapter endings but will probably do a season on endings in general in the future. I do talk about this in my book How to Write Your First Novel-there are chapter ending “types”-once you learn that you can learn how to end your chapters. Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@samanthastevens4279]

@@AuthorLevelUp I found your video because I was looking for a less obvious way to pop in small character descriptions that wouldn't interrupt the flow of the story. I don't like over descriptions of people when I'm reading or writing - so I feel like it's a delicate balance ... How much is too much, how much is not enough? Any chance you have something about this tucked into one of your videos?

[@barter56]

I love your style!

[@natashabetts7509]

Hello from Mississippi . I thank you for the videos and just followed you on Twitter.

[@torbjornlekberg7756]

Thanks for this. Just using one point of view character per chapter is not going to work with my personal writing style, but otherwise you presented many useful ideas. Also, I really appreciate you pointing out that no rule is carved into stone. Few who offer writing advice are humble, or insightful, enough to point this out. Consider your channel followed. :)

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Welcome aboard!

[@torbjornlekberg7756]

@@AuthorLevelUp Thank you. :)

[@ketocutie2981]

Great tips.

[@Nigerian373]

You are awesome thank you so much for this!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 God bless you 😊

[@Suprkpa]

Do you have a video about traditional publishing vs self publishing? Some info on experiences with various publishers would also be amazing.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

I don’t currently have any videos on traditional vs self publishing because I haven’t experienced the tradpub lifestyle. But there are lots of resources about this on the Alliance of Independent Authors website (I’m their US ambassador): www.selfpublishing.org

[@Suprkpa]

You sure thats the right link?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

www.selfpublishingadvice.org. Sorry!

[@Suprkpa]

@@AuthorLevelUp thanks dude

[@roeavet6563]

Thank you

[@goodvibes6487]

Hey Michael, when will we be getting that Microsoft Word Macro video for editing Manuscripts?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Soon.

[@goodvibes6487]

@@AuthorLevelUp You are the man!

[@deniscity7247]

Mike currently reading your book about writing and i like it because it came from somebody who really writes great stuff I am just afraid that if i buy some novel that you wrote i may not like it if you could give me 2 titles that you think there is no way you going to not like this novels of my i would be thanhfull mike

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Hi Ronnie, if you like fantasy you might like my Last Dragon Lord series (especially in audio). If you like sci fi, a lot of people like my Android X series. It’s an early series for me but it’s pretty highly rated. Thanks for checking me out and glad you like my writing books. :)

[@Writing4Jesus247]

Great video, Michael! Can I ask what your books are rated? (PG?) Specifically, your space operas and the food fight books? ;)

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Anywhere from PG13 (anything under Michael La Ronn) to R (M.L. McKnight)

[@Writing4Jesus247]

@@AuthorLevelUp good to know, thank you!

[@corneliuspatterson2647]

As a reader I hate a lot of exposition at the beginning of book.

[@natashabetts7509]

Making the main character the cornerstone for your marketing on twitter das and FB ads

[@metrenspalaganesia]

Thank You for this excellent advice! Your channel is a treasury of writing advice. I'd write a longer comment, but I have to go write my novel right now. XD

[@Chivalrytotem]

15 years ago I was working on an abandoned fiction (just for hobby) and I made up many plots for it. When I inserted a male char based on myself to be the titled heroine's love interest, the focus ended up shifted to me totally and she became just a damsel in distress. The story was screwed 🤣 I still haven't give it up. 😆

[@metrenspalaganesia]

That's a funny story! 😁 The opposite happened for me when I wrote my first novella. The main character was something of an avatar or self-insert, but I wrote a side character (and potential love interest) that ended up becoming the more interesting character and had more to do in the story and better represented the themes of the novella.

[@yurjhr1662]

Would you recommend writing more than 1 book at a time? Or researching for a book while writing another?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Sure, if you have the mental bandwidth and the focus to be able to keep both candles burning, so to speak. Most don’t. If you think you can, try it, and if you find yourself failing, you found your answer. :)

[@yurjhr1662]

@@AuthorLevelUp Thanks! Ill stick with the one if its that difficult. Lol

[@Ruthie888]

Yes, Characters are real people!

[@zxc1972]

I love your channel. Focused and useful. But I can't shake the impression that you are looking over my left shoulder, in other words your upper right! Is it a phone camera you are using?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

I’m aware of it. I wasn’t looking into the lens for my early vids in the new studio. I was looking into the viewfinder. You should see this get better with newer videos. Appreciate your comment! 👍👍

[@sampsonmccaa3396]

which book is that about the terrorist vegetables? i wanna check it out.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

It’s called Moderation Online. You can grab it at www.michaellaronn.com/moderationonline

[@emilycarey7667]

The research trap is so real...

[@testingtheruach]

Your audio is so low I tune you out without trying to

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Yep this issue is fixed with future videos.

[@rodee1671]

!

[@izeugirdor]

I don't watch a lot of movies. I don't watch any television. And what if I want to have better than a Steven King talent? What then?