Characterization

Creating characters that are believable and capricious all at the same time can require a lot of work. I've started a character journal in order to have my characters available when I need them. I add to their personalities as I think of things and have them on 3x5 cards in a file. I found a list of things to help me round out my characters and I'd like to share it with you.

1. Be aware of the four methods of direct character presentation: appearance, speech, action, and thought. The indirect methods are: authorial interpretation and presentation by another character. In other words, introducing the character by the author or another person.
2. Reveal the character's conflicts by presenting attributes in at least one of these methods that contrast with attributes you present with the others.
3. Focus sharply on how the character looks, on what he or she wears and owns, and on how he or she moves.
4. Examine the character's speech to make sure that it does more than convey information. Does it characterize, accomplish exposition, and reveal emotion, intent or change? Does it advance the conflict through "no" dialogue? Speak it aloud: Does it "say"?
5. Build action by making your characters discover and decide. Make sure that what happens is action and not mere movement, that is, that is contains the possibility for human change.
6. Use your journal to explore and build ideas for characters.
7. Know the details of your character's life: what he or she does during every part of the day, thinks about, remembers, wants, likes and dislikes, eats, says, means.
8. Know all the influences that go into making your character's type: age, gender, race, nationality, marital status, region, education, religion, profession.
9. Know what your character wants, both generally out of life, and specifically in the context of the story. Keeping that desire in mind, "think backward" with the character to decide what he or she would do in any situation presented.
10. Identify, heighten, and dramatize consistent inconsistencies. What does your character want that is at odds with whatever else he or she wants? What patterns of thought and behavior work against the primary goal?
11. If the character is based on a real model, including yourself, make a dramatic external alteration. Keep the character fresh.
12. If the character is imaginary or alien to you, identify a mental or emotional point of contact.

Characters are the life of our stories and without a fully fleshed out character the story will remain flat and lifeless. We can even re-create characters that we have used in the past by adding to them and turning them into a new generation of life. Good luck on your characterizations. I hope this sparks a fire in your mind.


Twelve points from: "Writing Fiction" by Janet Burroway

Q for Quirky

Welcome to the A to Z Challenge! You can visit the Home Page HERE.

Do you have a Quirky character in your story? Is he/she someone full of unusual characteristics, like a wandering eye or totally frizzy hair, or both? Or perhaps your character is prone to say outlandish things at the most inopportune times. This peculiarity of action or behavior might be the thing that elects your character to the unusual character hall of fame. Then again, it could outshine your protagonist and make your story a little lopsided.

It's important to remember, with quirky characters, that a little salt goes a long way to spice a dish. You want your quirky character to be remembered, but you don't want them to take over the show. Unless they are the whole show (the protagonist). In that case, let them shine! But make sure your antagonist, or villian (if there is one), is up to the task of tackling your unusual main character. A weak bad guy will outweigh the scales and tip the balance of the scales. Or, perhaps your quirky character is the villian. In that case, you'll need a super character to balance him out and save the day! In any case, let your character be zany, rich and exotic! Let him be quirky!

N for Nature or Nuture?

Welcome to the A to Z Challenge! You can visit the Home Page HERE.

Today I'm posting about Nature or Nuture? and whether or not the age old question affects the characters in your stories. We all know the difference between the two, but for the sake of clarity, I will define each one.

Nature: The inherent quality or basic constitution of a person or ones natural instincts or way of life.

Nuture: The influences of education and training that modify the expression of an individuals heredity.

Picture By Loretta Stephenson - Art By Retta

This picture represents the layering of nature and nuture on this cat. It has it's own natural coat of fur, and then it has an added beautiful coat wrapped around the fur. (At least that's how I perceive this picture). When we look at our characters, are we seeing a layer over the natural person? Is it something that was an influence from childhood or part of their education that creates a belief? Or do we see the natural person, if it is possible, stripped from it's layers of beliefs and protection?

Many of the layers that cover our characters are from the character's attempt to preserve their self from ruin if exposed to another individual. How do we, as writiers, find the right depth in our characters? It is by peeling off the layers of the indiviual and finding the natural self.

What do our characters hide behind? Where do those layers come from? I have a character that is an agent for the Agency of Acquisitions and Restorations who dresses in all black. Why? That is a layer that has to fall of before my character can reveal his true natural self to his love interest. But she has her own layers of nuturing that holds her back. She was raised to not trust men - especially those wearing black. But our characters all have layers. It's finding what's down in the natural person that will reveal what our character is really like, but also remembering that the layers are a part of him.

Do you have an unusual character? Are they Nature or Nuture?