This week: Unforgettable Characters Edited by: NaNoNette  
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| "I think you have to find the element in characters that is you. And it isn't that every character is autobiographical but often you ask, 'Who is the character you wish you were? What do you wish you could get away with?' When you start writing stories that only you can write, you raise yourself as a writer to a whole new level. So, whatever it is, even when it's a supporting character, I try to find a part of it that I can really identify with personally." ~ Carl Sautter in Creating Unforgettable Characters by Linda Seger. |
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Unforgettable Characters
My earliest memories of creating fictional characters go back to elementary school. This is probably an experience that is shared by most here on the site. Making up stories and telling them is considered natural for children. And then we suddenly freeze up and seemingly have forgotten how to tell stories or invent them in the first place. It's a skill that needs relearning, but it's so worth it.
After years of not writing any fiction, I was tasked by the Game Master of my Shadowrun game to write a one and half page about my character. Life got in the way of playing again. But it didn't get in the way of my character sheet. When my character sketch had grown into a body of work of over 500,000 words and five books, I started wondering how I could make the story better so that others could enjoy it too. That's how I found Writing.Com.
I knew that I had a lot to learn and I was in the right place. One of the places that has helped me to define more of my characters and given me some excellent questions to work through and writing exercises is:
"October Novel Prep Challenge" 13+: A month-long novel-planning challenge with prizes galore.
I suggest you put it on your favorites and jump into the fray come October. Even if you don't want to do NaNoWriMo, the exercises and the comradery of the Prep will help you to get to know your characters in a whole new way. For instance, last year's OctoberPrep helped me to gain a whole new understanding of five characters that I had created years ago. Their lives, motivations, and who they are at their core became more apparent to me.
One major stepping stone in getting to know your characters is to interview them. Imagine you have the ability to invite them over for a cup of coffee or visit them at their place of work. Whether you're interviewing a bank teller, a fisher, or an astronaut doesn't really matter if you follow the framework of the five W questions.
You could ask you character,
"How did you choose your profession?"
"Who do you work for or with?"
"Why do you like (don't like) your job?"
"When did you decide on this profession?"
Additionally to the W questions, you should ask your character personal questions,
"Do you have a family?"
"Do you like to live a lavish or a frugal life?"
"What are your motivations in life?"
"Which traits do you value in others?"
All of these questions are just examples. As you create a new character, be it the main character or a side character who only shows up for a short time, try to see them and know them as intimately as possible. And then try to bring that to the page for your readers.
As you create a new character, do you ask "Who, what, where, when, why?" |
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Replies to my last For Authors newsletter "Useful, Lengthy, Concise" that asked Why do you review? Do you review to help other writers? Do you read & review for personal entertainment?
brom21  wrote: I'll admit, I do not review as much as I should. lol. In fact, I reviewed two pieces yesterday for the first time in many months. One was a prose poem, and the other was a brief article on methods to write with. They were both well written. And honestly, it felt good to do it. I'll try doing more. Thanks for the NL!
I can understand that nice feeling of sending a review after a while of not reviewing. I like the dialogues that can come out of it.
DB Cooper  wrote: God Bless You. I want to get better at reviewing.
Practice makes perfect. If not that, it can be a lot of fun to meet other writers here through reviews. |
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For Authors: July 10, 2024 Issue [#12608]
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