How I Bring My Characters To Life & Tòp Five Tips For Writing Character Driven Fiction 

By Hélene Fermont 

I’m both a practising psychologist and an author of character driven psychological thrillers.

For me, my characters take centre stage. Their individual backstories and journeys are key. I focus on each character’s traits and how they fit with other characters of similar and opposite backgrounds. You’d be right thinking I view them like real people, and a big part of what drives me is my patients. As with my patients, I take a hands on approach with my characters, as if I’m there in the book with them, and it’s similar to meeting and counselling people in real life. 

Initially, before I start to write the stories, I imagine my characters’ personal traits, lives and circumstances. Their dilemmas, past events and what makes them special. I write biographies of each of them, down to every minute detail such as appearances, interests, jobs, relationships. Their names, families, friends and homes, what type of people they are and who they meet and socialise with, their favourite pastimes, clothes, style and mannerisms.

What kind of food, books and music they like and everything else that makes them unique and special. I imagine who and what turned them into the people they are and what must change and happen to resolve situations that are out now of their control, but I also explore the reasons they find themselves in impossible, exciting and gripping contexts. I live, breathe, sleep and think of them all the time when I write my books and stories -except when I’m with patients. 

Because I’m bilingual (English/Swedish) I think in both languages and when I write Swedish characters I automatically switch and adapt to Swedish personality traits, culture and traditions and vice versa. I spend a lot of time thinking about and imagining my characters’ lives, who they are and what they represent to themselves, and their connections and interactions with the other characters. Every character has a special meaning and part in my novels and stories.

Some are villains, others are victims or victimised, but every single character symbolises a specific subject matter or theme. For example, how much social heritage is inherited from one family member to another, abuse, addictions and repeated self-destructive behaviour and subsequent actions – things I come across in my day job, too. My characters have human traits, good, bad, sad, unhappy and happy. They show one part of themselves to others and hide who they really are on the inside.

They’re multi- faceted, complex, intriguing and fascinating with good and bad manners, often because of omething that happened to them in the past. They’re part of jigsaw that makes up a novel, and they find and get what they dream of, want and need when all the missing pieces come together. It’s my job to make that happen, but I never make it easy for my protagonists to get the best and what they deserve IF they don’t change and realise what’s expected of them. 

Through my characters, I write about things most people can relate to, life at its worst and best, awful pasts and unimaginable crimes and experiences. I write about love and friendship, heartbreak and starting again after rebuilding lives. I’m part of my characters’ lives. Everything they go through, I go through with them.

Every word, scene and dialogue, there’s a part of me there, my feelings, thoughts and expressions. My characters mean everything to me and if the story doesn’t fit in with them, their needs and journeys, I’ll change the story to accommodate them. Never the other way around. I’ve started all over plenty of times, even when I’ve almost finished writing a book or story. Everything I engage with on behalf of my characters must feel right and authentic to me or I’ll not continue writing about them. Only when I feel their pain, torment and anguish, joy and exhilaration am I satisfied with them. It’s very similar to my approach and rapport with patients: personal, empathic and, above all, genuine. 

The biggest compliment readers give me is when they tell me my characters linger in their hearts and minds long after they’ve read my books. People and characters are three dimensional, not copies of everyone else, but unique and alive even if only in our imagination.

Characters must be relatable, in some cases identifiable, and have traits and personal stories and journeys that resonate with readers from all paths and backgrounds, enabling everyone who engages with them to feel for them and imagine their pain, happiness and fulfilment. In my job, I work with people who, for different reasons, find themselves in awful situations that require addressing and attention, and I find it is very similar to writing character driven novels and stories. I spend ages imagining how to best write about and show their feelings and interaction with other characters. My editor’s input is invaluable as they understand and know how I write and the reasons behind it. 

Writing and my line of work are part of who I am and I hope that comes across in my characters and books, because I work very hard to create intriguing, relatable and gripping protagonists and storylines. People frequently ask me what my top five tips are for writing my genre. After much contemplation and soul searching this is my response.

* Be true to yourself. Write about the kind of people you know best, their traits and type of background, environment and habits. 

* Don’t write about subject matters you’ve no personal experience of. Too often, authors write about serious matters they’ve read about but have little experience of.
Find out, research the facts and if you get the chance, talk to real people in similar situations. Alternatively, reach out and connect with other more experienced authors of your genre. 

* You can’t fake authenticity. Research your characters back stories, traits and everything you want them to be and more. 

* Read, read, read character driven books every chance you get. The genre isn’t as important as understanding what it takes and means to write genuine relatable and intriguing characters.

* Live in The Real World. Meet and engage with people and get to know them. Walk a mile in their shoes and imagine what it feels like to be them. Only then will you be able to understand and appreciate how they feel and what goes on in their lives, hearts and minds and convey it to readers.

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Hélene Fermont’s a practising psychologist with vast experience of people from all walks of life and background. Her Character Driven Psychological Thrillers are completely fictitious with much emphasis on their journey and interaction, intriguing traits and storylines.

After many years in London, Hélene divides her time between London and her home town, Malmö. Her beloved, beautiful cat, Teddy, is her writing buddy.

Hélene’s the proud author of five Psychological Thrillers; Because Of You, We Never Said Goodbye, His Guilty Secret, One Fatal Night, and The Matchmaker. Hélene’s the author of a collection of crime and romantic stories, Who’s Sorry Now? Currently, she’s working on her second collection, Maisie’s Secret which will be released later this year.

Hélene’s novels and stories are known for their explosive, pacy narrative and storylines.

Find out more about her on her website https://www.helenefermont.com/

Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/helenefermont

THE MATCHMAKER, Hélene Fermont

Perfect Lives Don’t Come Cheap.

Marcia Bailey has it all: a passionate marriage to a rich and handsome man who is utterly devoted to her; fame and success as London’s premier matchmaker; a beautiful home in a posh neighbourhood, and fabulous holidays in exotic places.

But her perfect life turns into a nightmare overnight when a mysterious caller suddenly threatens to reveal secrets from her past she thought she had left behind forever. Who is he and what does he really want? He says he wants three million pounds to keep quiet, and she’s willing to pay. After all, she has already sacrificed so much, and perfect lives don’t come cheap.

But Marcia has a hunch her caller wants more than money from her. He wants to hurt and humiliate her. But why?

As police investigate a brutal murder in a wealthy London neighborhood, they untangle a web of lies, violence, sex and jealousy surrounding Marcia Bailey and the group of wealthy and powerful men who have secrets of their own to keep.

The Matchmaker is filled with unexpected twists and turns — and characters that will haunt you long after you’ve read the last page.

BUY HERE

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Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips