Two exercises to make your characters stand out

Who needs bland, empty characters?

Marilyn Horowitz makes the case for giving your characters a signature look.

1. Determine what sets your character apart. Think of Angelina Jolie's lips, Woody Allen's thick rimmed glasses, Hitchcock's girth.

2. Once you figure out what your character's signature look or behavior is, interview and write a story about how they got it. You will learn interesting details about their past and present.

And sneak a peak into their future.