Eight is Great!

The opening chapter of any good novel must have at least one strong character.  Ideally, the character continues on with the story, but that is not necessary.  Still, without one strong character the first chapter will fall flat.  

How do we judge whether a character is strong?  Check to see how many character traits you show the reader. Show, don’t tell!  If you reach eight, then you have something.  Eight isn’t easy to get to and not a magic number.  Ten is usually better, five might be good enough under certain circumstances, but eight is a nice rule of thumb. 

I know we are discussing the opening chapter in this post, but this rule applies whenever you introduce a major character.  If you want your character to pop and readers to fall in love or hate or whatever, then show as many character traits as you can!

I’m appearing at the Barnes and Noble at Union Square in Manhattan this Monday from 6 until 8 as part of Covenant House fundraiser. Eight other, talented, gifted authors will also be there! The charity gets a percentage of the gross of everything bought at the store and anything purchased online using the CH code from September 30th until October 11th.  Check out the link for more info and help out homeless kids. http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/4596420

By Jeff Altabef, author of the newly published thriller, Fourteenth Colony.