the book
One Way to Write Your Novel
. The author (himself an accomplished novelist) presents his own methods, as well as alternatives he's seen successful.
All throughout, though, he takes one fundamental approach that makes me love this book: Neither his way, nor any of the other ways he presents, are the only way to write a novel (or story). It's less an instruction manual and more a presentation of ideas intended to get you thinking and provoke you into developing your own methods that work for you.
I don't recall anything specific about character building, but many of the methods for world-building I still use, such as building up at least a cursory history as well as devising not only the political structure of wherever the story's taking place put also the neighboring regions.
Apparently it's no longer in print, though, which is a real shame. Amazon's got a few sellers offering it, though; Seds, I've got a copy that I believe was on my bookshelf in my room before our parents put those books away - if they can point you toward the books and you can find this one, you're welcome to borrow it. Also, if you do find it, let me know - I want to read through it again before Nanowrimo this year.
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Posted by Kromey at 3:13pm Aug 20 '09
I fully recommend - Kromey