Ernesto Cisneros is the nationally acclaimed author of Efrén Divided. Ernesto shares how to create memorable characters that readers can cheer for and celebrate!
Ernesto begins the presentation with thinking about your circle of your friends. Who are your friends, best friends, acquaintances? What are their positive/negative quirks about them? Do they put ketchup on all their food? Do they never tie their shoe laces?
Ernesto reminds the participants that you can mesh the quirks and characteristics of different people throughout your childhood! You can take something as simple as a name and then develop the personality from other references.
We all have quirks, these quirks make characters memorable. When you're thinking of a scene, Ernesto shares the importance of making the scene exciting, confusing, or dramatic. For example, when your characters are in the kitchen washing dishes, incorporate a leaky faucet, or something the audience will remember about the character.
When it comes to creating other characters within the story, Ernesto draws from unfavorable experiences. Think of the people you didn't get along with in school. Why didn't you like them? Brainstorm their traits. Maybe they teased you, maybe they hogged the ball at recess. This can be a character that is disliked in a book.
Here are three takeaways to creating memorable characters:
- Avoid stereotypes
- Write from the heart
- Remember your childhood
Ernesto Cisneros is the nationally acclaimed author of Efrén Divided.
He was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, where he still
teaches. As an author, he believes in providing today’s youth with an
honest depiction of characters with whom they can identify. Efrén Divided
is an Indies Introduce/Next Pick, Amazon Top MG of 2020 So Far list,
and is a ProjectLit Selection, and winner of the 2020 Poppy Award in
MG, 2 International Latino Book Awards, as well as the prestigious 2021
Pura Belpré Medal and an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award in 2021.
Instagram: cisne.writes
Twitter: @Author_Cisneros
Website: www.ernestocisneros.com
Missed this workshop? Check out the video archives here. https://www.scbwi.org/event-summer-conference-2022/video-archive/
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