Vampire Knight Zero – How to Build a Strong Central Character in a Vampire Novel -

Great characters make a story great. One advantage to creating a strong vampire character is that there is so much great material with which to work!

1. Decide what special powers your vampire character will possess. I recently held a program about my young adult vampire novel Glory for a group of teenage girls. I used the opportunity to ask them why they found vampires so fascinating. I expected answers like “they’re so sexy” or “blood is cool.” The response I received was, “Because they have special powers we all wish we had.” So, what are those coveted powers? Traditionally they have included immortality, super strength, mind reading, invisibility, heightened senses, shapeshifting, extreme beauty, and the ability to mesmerize. What powers will your fictional vampire possess? Can you think of unique ones not normally associated with vampires? In fiction, unique is good.

2. Pick your vampire’s name well. Famous vampire characters include Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula, Anne Rice’s Lestat, Twilight’s Edward Cullen, and Vampire Knight’s Zero Kiryu. Unless the character has assumed a nickname, such as Angel from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” the name should be derived from the culture and century he or she was born.

3. Avoid clichés. Make your vampire as unique as possible. The beauty of writing about vampires is there are no rules. Anything goes. Your vampire doesn’t have to have fangs, be pasty-faced, or fear a wooden stake through the heart. Invent your own vampire universe, but be careful that you never deviate from the myth you establish. A new myth that will forever be included in vampire lore is that of the twinkling Cullens from Twilight. Stephenie Meyer plucked that image straight from a dream she had and now it’s the stuff of many young women’s dreams.

4. If you really want your vampire to stand out, create a character against type. Zero Kiryu is both a vampire and a vampire hunter. How clever is that? Instead of a gothic vampire, try a cowboy vampire. The most famous vampires are men, so consider inventing a strong female vampire and strive for one so excellent that she will someday be ranked among the most memorable of fictional vampires. In Glory I created an all girl gang of vampires, and in my earnest desire to be unique, wanted to include a transvestite in the gang. Ultimately, the editorial decision was made that it wouldn’t be appropriate for a young adult novel, but it sure would have been unforgettable! Let your imagination run wild. Isn’t that why you write fiction in the first place?

Devin O’Branagan is the author of Witch Hunt, Spirit Warriors, Red Hot Property, and the young adult vampire novel Glory. Glory features a cowboy vampire, but unfortunately, not a single transvestite vampire. www.DevinWrites.com