Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Finnella Flanagan on July 17, 2012 at 2:10pm

Thanks for sharing your worksheet.  I needed some ideas about organizing this kind of stuff.

Permalink Reply by Skylar Kade on March 9, 2011 at 3:11pm

A writer friend recently suggested this to me. Write a letter from the character to him/herself at the beginning of the story where he/she states desires and goals. Then spend the bulk of the letter exploring how the character will achieve these goals. The key is to BE your character while writing these letters. Sometimes I'll put together a playlist of music that suits the character and light a scented candle that matches his/her personality, anything to get in the proper mindset. I know it sounds silly, but once you've gotten into their heads once, not only will it be easier to do again, but their actions will be more organically derived from their personalities and goals.

Permalink Reply by Fleur de Lys on March 9, 2011 at 9:12pm

I like this approach. I guess my process is more "jump in and do it" than having it all figured out ahead of time. At this point in my writing, I'm more interested in the actual interactions between characters than in their personal histories. I feel that the action takes center stage, and the characters reveal themselves as the story unfolds--both to the reader and to me. That's why I really like your method of invoking the character through multiple sensory inputs. It makes the writing more immediate, more tangible.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gwynn Jones on March 9, 2011 at 9:22pm

Well everyone has their own process and if that works for you that's fantastic.

Now I write mysteries.  So somehow their 'reading' of people, her psychic and his film, would lead them together into solving something. 

If I wrote romance this would be a perfect 'cougar' relationship...they have the ability to 'read' people in common. 

Permalink Reply by Janet Ference on March 13, 2011 at 6:29pm

Yes, I can't really figure it all out ahead of time, either. But as I do figure it out, I try to keep notes, so I remember what's what about characters. And often I stop the writing going forward to take time to work more on a character and discover the person. I don't have to do it all in advance. But I do take time to do it. It's a good thing to do, I've found, when I'm blocked on the actual writing, to step out of it and free write about characters or settings. I find that part fun. I love the discovery.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gwynn Jones on March 9, 2011 at 4:35pm

There is a great book that will help you with just that problem.

It's called What Would Your Character Do?  It has about 30 situatation, such as a Family Reunion and it will set up little scenes like planning the reunion... Does your character take charge, does your character help the one in charge, does your character offer to help then not, does your character say "nope not helping". 

It also breaks people into 4 (or5) character groups and tells you which response to a ? best fit that character group, helps keep you on track.

It is great book.    I do a bunch of the exercises for the MCs and usually 2 or 3 for side characters.  I would suggest owning it, I refer to it a lot.

Permalink Reply by Candy Fite on March 10, 2011 at 1:44pm

Sounds like a great book! I'll have to look it up.

Permalink Reply by Janet Ference on March 13, 2011 at 6:25pm

I do a weird thing. I walk around sometimes during my day, riding the bus, waiting in lines, imagining one of my characters with me, thinking what they would think about this or that thing or person. I try to listen to them "speak" to me about what's going on or what I see.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gwynn Jones on March 17, 2011 at 7:09am

Great exercise book on just that subject, called What Would Your Character Do.  It's a lot of fun and really helps keep me on track and in the head of the character

Permalink Reply by Rev. LaWaughn Rouse on March 9, 2011 at 9:01pm

After reading all of the comments I realize that I really don't know my characters the way I thought I did. It never dawned on me to keep a profile on each of the characters. So sometime this week I'm going to get to meet my characters. I will incorporate all of these wonderful ideas. Thanks...RevLa

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gwynn Jones on March 10, 2011 at 5:08pm

Wow I can't imagine working without character sheets. I remember at one point, about page 210 or so I had to remember what Rachel's boss' first name was, I can't imagine how long it would have taken me to go back and remember where I had mentioned it. He doesn't have a character sheet because he is not that important. But I do keep of list of "important thing" which really aren't important but that I might need to remember on a moments notice.

As my novel and its sequels take place in a fictionary town I have that information to remember. What street New Grace County Hospital is on was not important, UNTIL I said that The Oak Street Clinic was down the street from New Grace County Hospital. Then I had to go make a note of that.

Permalink Reply by Zetta Brown on November 10, 2011 at 4:29pm

Hi Kathryn,

I didn't use to do this, but I've now found myself doing it as a sort of shorthand just so I can get what I need written and come back later for details. I'll probably do it more and get more writing done because I used to let myself get hung up on stuff like this.

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