How to ACTUALLY Show Your Characters’ Beliefs #author #writing #writer #authortube #writers

Here's something that will change how you write the characters in your book. Our beliefs are not what we say they are. They are what we act on. There's an old line I love. Say whatever you want, but I'll know what you believe based on your calendar and your checkbook, right? You can tell me that my family always comes first, but if you're at the office 7 days a week, your actions already answered the question. It's the same thing in fiction. Your character's real belief is revealed by what they do, not by what they say. And when those 2 things don't match, The reader believes the action every single time. So let me give you an example. A detective gets accused of violating the public trust. Then a videotape surfaces of him planting evidence at a crime scene. Now, that detective might say that a good cop always follows the rules. He might even say he thinks it's wrong to plant evidence, but he did it. Therefore, that is what he believes. What he actually believes is that a good cop does whatever it takes in the ends justify the means. So here's how you apply this. Stop giving your characters speeches about their values. Instead, put them under pressure and make them choose. The choice is the belief. If you want readers to understand who your character truly is, show us the decision they make when it costs them something. Go through your current scenes, go through your current writing, and ask, what does my character do here? And what does that action say they believe? Subscribe and like for more writing tips.