THE ART OF BREAKING CHARACTER
Always make sure your characters are behaving in character on the page. It’s conventional wisdom for fiction writers, oft repeated at writing conferences, in craft books, and in magazines like this one: a given on your revision checklist, an essential of Character Building 101.
This well-intentioned advice is not always well-heeded, however, in part because it’s easily misunderstood. What it does mean, and should mean, is that authentic, three-dimensional characters develop when you’ve taken care to know, inside and out, who these imaginary people are, and to portray that vision on the page so your readers know them, too.
Fair enough.
But fair enough alone does not keep readers turning pages.
Because once you’ve established who your story’s players are, it’s actually out of character behavior that can propel them in more interesting ways.
Consider which would turn your head faster:
• A cutting remark from the office hothead, or one from the meek, quiet receptionist?
• An act of kindness from your friendly neighbor, or one from the curmudgeon who’s never
