This is a great blog. So how do I write about a character and make it come to life? Is there a rule about knowing who a person is in a few lines? Something to think about while bringing this person to life?
It depends upon how close to the protagonist the character in question is. If it's the protagonist himself, you might write a character biography (the way some actors do when preparing for a role, bless their hearts) that will provide you with enough detail to answer the equation: What would this person do if X happened that would be different from how I would react? As the characters orbit grows father away from the protagonist, the level of detail needed diminishes. When you get to peripheral characters, characters with perhaps one line, it comes down to one quirk, turn of phrase or attitude. But this does not diminish the importance of drawing this character vividly. Watch Preston Sturges or Frank Capra films and you'll see some of the greatest attention to detail ever paid. Every cab driver, every doorman, says who he is with one line, one gesture, one look.
Commenting by HaloScan
