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A cast of lively characters

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Characters come in all colours, shapes and sizes. One of the biggest challenges when writing a story is to come up with a cast of characters that interest the reader and fit the plot. There are basically three types of characters: the protagonist, the antagonist and secondary characters.

Protagonist

The protagonist - also known as the hero or heroine - is the main character in your story. This is the character you want readers to relate to and root for. Your protagonist should be appealing, but not perfect. The key to creating a believable character is to give him a mixture of strengths and weaknesses - just like a real person. But a character that's too ordinary won't capture the heart and mind of the reader, you need someone with a strong personality. The main character should be brave enough to overcome his fears and determined in his struggle to conquer life's obstacles. Think of the main characters in three of your favourite books and write down what you like about them.

Antagonist

The antagonist - or villain - is often another character that creates problems for the hero. But the antagonist can be a force rather than a person. For example, the enemy could be a storm, a tornado, a flood or any other natural phenomenon that the hero struggles against.

Whether you choose a person or a force, try to create a vivid picture of your antagonist. And give your human villains a reason for their actions to make them believable. For example, if your villain is a bully, ask yourself why.

Perhaps he has been bullied by others and wants everyone else to suffer. Think of the antagonists in three books you've read and make a list of their villainous actions. Then write a possible reason beside each of them.

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