A Word of Thanks...and Tipster Tuesday

I just want to thank everyone who stopped by yesterday and today to read my blogfest post. And a double-thanks for all my new followers--you guys are awesome and I totally love you. *big hugs* I look forward to getting to know all of you :)

I'm deciding to dub Tuesdays "TIPSTER TUESDAY."

I'm going to dish out a list of quick tips on certain topics and hope to heck you guys find it helpful.

Today's topic:

CHARACTER CHANGES

Characters are meant to be flawed. And those flaws are sometimes meant to change by the end of your story. Skye was much more immature and childish at the beginning of the story compared to what she was at the end. 

Characters need to grow and learn. And it's your job to make those changes possible...and plausible. If your changes just come out of left field, your reader isn't going to buy it. They'll see that you forced your character to change, instead of having them choose to change.

So, what can you do to bring those changes on naturally?

--Put your character in situations that challenge their views.

By challenging your characters, you're showing them there are other ways of thinking. You can use these situations to show your characters their way of thinking isn't right/they need to be doing thing differently.

--Show the character doubting his/herself.

When that character begins to consider changing, show that. Let your reader see your character actively trying to change their behavior/way of thinking. Show the character's frustration/confusion/whatever. You know...show, don't tell.

--Don't bring it on immediately.

Your characters are supposed to come off as real people and real people can be pretty set in their ways. If your character has been a gritty, rough-and-tumble guy through most of the book, don't have him suddenly become a perfect gentleman after realizing that's the way to the heroine's heart.

--Don't have them change because you want it.

Contrived character actions annoy readers. Your character must change naturally, when they're ready. NOT because you need them to change so the plot will move in the direction you want. For instance, don't have your character, who has detested his girlfriend's BFF for a while, suddenly change and be perfectly okay with them hanging out because you--the author--need them to work together.

So, for those of you who skipped to the end, here you go:

*Put your characters in difficult situations that make them realize their need for a change.

*Show the character realizing they need a change, don't just tell us about it.

*Don't bring it on too quickly, or the reader's head will spin.

*And don't bring on a change just because it'll push the story in your direction.

So, how do you like to show character change? 

Do you think all characters need to change or just some of them?

HAPPY WRITING!