Most of my characters aren't aliens.
Many of my stories begin by imagining the character first. The world and everything else is then built around this person ... or alien. I usually see the opening scene, much like a movie, in my head. Then I have to figure out how to invent a whole novel or story around that character and scene.
I usually do some rough drafting before nailing down details. It's through that initial frenzy I learn more about my character. I can't tell him or her, she or he will tell me as the story and world unfold.
At that point, I'm ready to delve more deeply into a character. There are many ways to do this, and it's as individual as a fingerprint. I like to write sketches in a journal -- a brief bio of my character's life before the story begins, my character's foibles and habits, and I sketch out their arc -- how they change over the course of the story. I usually find a photo or piece of art to depict that character. Usually there's something in the piece of art that screams some trait I want to develop.
To get deeper into character, I decorate their personal spaces, fill their closets and jot down a lexicon so that I can paint the world through the character's senses. Every one of us has a unique lexicon. Writers have one. Every profession and region has one.
I also usually create a part for myself in the story, so I experience it beside my character. I tell myself the story over and over, seeing it like a movie. I tell myself the story every night before I go to sleep. It actually helps me fall asleep. At any rate, I go to sleep thinking of the character and story. When I wake up, I get to writing.
How do you get to know your characters?
I do a similar thing- coming up with the character first (or very early on), then figuring out their basic personality and how they're going to change, then looking at smaller details like personal preferences and lifestyles. I also try to determine their broad, long-term life goals (ie: get married, get rich, travel the world, etc).
ReplyDeleteI usually have an image in my mind, but try to find a picture that I can refer to later incase I somehow forget. Great idea about finding a piece of art that screams a developing trait-I'll see if I can incorporate that next time I'm developing a character.
I do character journals but hadn't thought of creating their living space in my head. That's a great idea! I'm stealing it. :)
ReplyDeleteMy stories begin the same way and unfold like a movie in my head. And I do fill my character's closets, just not with physical stuff.
ReplyDeleteThere is a little bit of me in many of my characters. The protagonist too. So he's really not a bad guy, just misunderstood LOL!. No really, he's a bad guy. A really really bad guy.
ReplyDeleteMy characters are all real people, so I actually avoid trying to get to know them, because they're annoying.
ReplyDeleteAlso: I'm new here, so I'm going to follow!
I think up as much backstory as I can about a character, but I really don't get to know them until I throw a little conflict at them and see how they react. That's when it gets fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI've tried many things, collages, outlines, questionnaires, interviews, but ultimately I discover my character by putting them in tough situations. I really like the idea of filling their personal spaces. Great blog, looking forward to following.
ReplyDeleteMorgan, Libby, Alex, Stephen, Matthew, L.G., and Pam, thanks for popping over. :)
ReplyDeleteMorgan -- I, too, try to figure out their goal beyond the book, especially if it's the first book in a series. I need to map out a larger growth than one novel. Although I may never sell book one, the impetus for more has to be there waiting.
I like the idea of your character journals. I'm going to steal that, Libby.
Alex, great things to fill a character's closet with, and I know how good you are at character.
Stephen, lol, there's often more of ourselves in a character than we see ... so I've been told.
Matthew, lol, some characters are awesome in fiction, ie Jayne Cobb, but I wouldn't want to know them in real life either.
L.G. and Pam, That is when it gets fun, and sometimes how the character reacts inspires a rewrite for me -- brings something out I didn't see before.
I often fall asleep thinking of the story too, except it doesn't help me fall asleep. It makes me restless and often times I'll give in and start writing at four in the morning. I get my best scene ideas at night so it's Okay. I'm starting to think my muse might also be a vampire...
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea! I obsess over my characters in my head until they tell me I get them right. I play out scenes repeatedly - even ones not in the story - and build characters with action.
ReplyDeleteJD - Oh, there I times it gets me up, too. I go write in the closet and pray I can read my handwriting in the morning.
ReplyDeleteChristine - I do the same thing - play the scene over and over until all the details are right.
I do a similar thing to what Christine does--I'll play scenes over and over again in my head. A majority of them don't make it into the story, though; I'll often put character's I'm struggling with into situations that are unrelated. It helps to see them in a different environment.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting technique, Golden Eagle. I'm going to try that.
ReplyDeleteFor those who have read my stuff, you know I have no style. I'm usually all over the place but I'm learning from you guys how to do things better rather than making the heroes copies of myself.
ReplyDeleteLearning is always good, Gregory. We all learn from each other, the beauty of bloggyland.
ReplyDeleteInitially story drives who my characters will be. Once I get a handle on them, the characters then drive the story--and that's when I really get to know them well.
ReplyDeleteLynda, it's fun reading of all the variable methods out there. So much to learn from each other. And you create a great story.
ReplyDelete"I also usually create a part for myself in the story, so I experience it beside my character."
ReplyDeleteOooh, I find that totally intriguing!! I had never thought of that before. Now I know why I love your writing so much, and why I can "see" it as you describe it... because you are LIVING it, as though you were right there, not just writing about it.