A book is not possible without characters. Stories are given purpose and meaning by their characters, taking the reader through their struggles and triumphs. Characters are the conduit through which the reader experiences the story of a book. To have a successful novel the writer must have a wonderful cast of developed and plausible characters. The keys to writing successful characters and mastering character development techniques are: knowing everything about the characters as if they were real people, including traits and appearances, researching how the characters live and their situations, how the characters relate to the plot, including the characters' reasoning, decision-making and driving forces, and finally the emotional growth of the characters, otherwise known as the story arc. These aspects will help create characters that the reader will never forget, keeping them alive forever. When creating extraordinary characters, the first goal a writer wants to achieve is to know the individuals as if they knew themselves, including traits and descriptions. The writer must keep in mind that the characters should be real people, not only to the writer but also to the author. Many people are visual, and a good way to help the reader visualize characters is to describe them. Provide the reader with information such as hair color, eye color, age, body size, and gender. This helps give the reader something they can see and understand creating a deeper connection (How to Write). Another way an author can describe characters is through their traits. Appearances and non-physical traits should work together harmoniously to create well-balanced characters. Traits can include their gait, habits and personality. ... middle of paper ... I like living in the Middle Ages", but the reality is that unless the writer is half a century old, he probably isn't. Not knowing information crucial to the era changes perception of the characters by the readers. The same can be said of the experiences. If a character is skydiving and the writer has never been there, it is useful for the writer to do something similar to the experience, try the adventure, interview others. or read about skydiving for research. Alternative example of something that might require more research is a job. The writer is not a pilot and therefore knows nothing about being a pilot, he should read up on the profession or ask someone who is. pilot Understanding all this information allows the author to fully realize the characters. It becomes inevitable that individuals will jump off the page (How to Write).