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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/10704-Getting-to-Know-Your-Characters.html
Drama: April 07, 2021 Issue [#10704]




 This week: Getting to Know Your Characters
  Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

What is the biggest 'this is totally out of character' moment you've had with a book, movie or TV series? If you're anything like me, it can throw you right out of a story.

Getting to know your characters as a writer is very important, then. It can take time, but that's okay!

This week's Drama Newsletter is all about that special bond that we form with our characters.

Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline Author Icon


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

What is it like for you when you first meet your characters? Do they make themselves known fully straight away, or does it take some time to become well-acquainted?

I am not the most organised writer and this, perhaps, is why I tend to get to know my characters as I join in on their adventures. I have never been one for character sheets and plot outlines. In fact, it is not uncommon for me to sit down in front of a blank page without a clue as to what I am going to write. I’ll not know what I am waiting for, but then I’ll catch a glimpse of scene, or an opening line, and I’ll take hold of it and go from there. I’ve even written NaNo novels that way – no idea of what I am going to write until November 1st, and then all of a sudden words happened.

Sometimes I think that it would be nice if characters introduced themselves to me before wanting me to write down their stories. It would certainly help me keep things consistent. People, on the whole, have quite stable personalities, and knowing these personalities helps prevent the creation of those moments that feel completely out of character.

That does not mean that characters cannot change, of course. Just like anyone else they can learn and grow. That’s the whole point of character development. This development can also be in a less desirable direction, because life can get to us and make us less enthusiastic, less hopeful, less kind. Hopefully, such setbacks are temporary, but that is not always the case.

When, however, you get to know a character as a reader and that character goes on to behave in a manner very much contrary to their established personality it can pull you right out of the story. It may make you flick back through the book, make you wonder what you missed. It can even be slightly upsetting when you’re emotionally invested in a character and their storyline and everything you thought was true about them, well, isn’t. And it’s not even a twist that you didn’t see coming. Something that makes sense when you think back. It’s just this weird inconsistency that may well put you off investing in that author’s next work.

It makes me think about the Game of Thrones TV series. I know that I should be over it by now, but it was such a good series and then it got messed up by Tyrion turning from a smart, witty man into someone whose conversation mainly revolved around the same old jokes and Dany, who always cared about the poor and the vulnerable, who always protected women and children, suddenly just unleashing her wrath upon them. Or even Dany forgetting about the Iron Fleet despite her having just looked at the maps… Not to mention what happened with Jaime. It's too painful.

As writers, then, we have to be careful. We have to learn about our characters and respect their personalities and we have to respect our readers, too, who invest their time and their emotions in our work. Sometimes, it may take us all the way through a novel and beyond to get to know a character. It may well be that once we have written our story we have to go back and use our improved understanding to adjust the storyline and make everything fit. That’s okay. We all tend to have to go over our work several times.

It’s so worthwhile, though, isn’t it, that bond that we form with our characters? They are a part of us, yet it feels as though they have a life of their own. Each and every one of them is special in their own way. They touch our hearts and, if we are fortunate, they will forever live on in the hearts of our readers.

Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline Author Icon


Editor's Picks

Some contests to inspire you:

Journalistic Intentions Open in new Window. (18+)
This is for the journal keeping types that come to PLAY! New round starts July 1!
#2213121 by Elisa: Snowman Stik Author IconMail Icon


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The Dialogue 500 Open in new Window. (18+)
Dialogues of 500 words or less.
#941862 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


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The Writer's Cramp Open in new Window. (13+)
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon


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No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED Open in new Window. (E)
Write a story containing no dialogue, in 700 words or less.
#2079495 by Merry QPdoll Author IconMail Icon


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#2244409 by Not Available.


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The Whatever Contest -- Closed for Now Open in new Window. (13+)
This irregular contest will change each round. Nature poem? Horror story? Whatever.
#2232242 by Schnujo's NOT Doing NaNoWriMo Author IconMail Icon


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The Prompt Me Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
Weekly winners will have a chance to win the monthly MB give-away!
#2000519 by CHRISTMAS cub-BELLS R RINGING! Author IconMail Icon


And don't forget:

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Journey Through Genres: Official Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Write a short story in the given genre to win big prizes!
#1803133 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon


 
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Ask & Answer

The Drama Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in!

Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,

The Drama Newsletter Team



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