 Action/Adventure: December 23, 2009 Issue [#3443] |
  Action/Adventure
This week: Exercise to Build a Complex Character Edited by: esprit  
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Characterization is the process of conveying information about characters in narrative or dramatic works of art or everyday conversation. Characters may be presented by means of description, through their actions, speech, or thoughts. The better the audience knows the character, the better the character development. Thorough characterization makes characters well-rounded and complex. This allows for a sense of realism. In contrast, an underdeveloped character is considered flat or stereotypical.
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Exercise to Build a Complex Character
The problem with using an underdeveloped character is that it's hard to stay consistent throughout the story. Instead of your character having a constant voice, it will vary from day to day, chapter to chapter. If the identifying tag (said Bob), is the only clue the reader has to know who is speaking, it becomes annoying pretty quickly. It's the job of the writer to build recognizable characters so that readers don't have to guess. Guessing what the writer means is just too much work, and it's not the readers job.
Short stories in serial form are the perfect vehicle to practice building complex characters. For these practice stories, create a character's voice by building the personality and knowing the purpose of his role in the story. Don't birth a completely new character for each story you write. The more often you use the same profile, the better he, and you, will become.
By the time you're ready to begin the great, break-out novel, you'll have the expertise of knowing how to build original good and bad guys from the inside out.
More on building characters at It Takes a Village
A Writing Exercise to Develop a Protagonist and Antagonist
Have your character keep a diary for a few days. For a male character, I suppose calling it a journal would be more manly. Use a subject idea from your proposed story or if you need a prompt, try this.
Exercise -- Day 1 Your character receives the first of a series of anonymous letters. He will write about how he reacts to each subsequent letter and what he does, if anything, to find the sender.
Decide the theme of the letter: love, blackmail, revenge, forgiveness--the possibilities are endless.
Start with the anonymous letter writer as they are writing the letters. You'll learn why they were sent anonymously. As the writer chews their pencil, or taps it on the desk, they are searching their thoughts (or heart) for just the right words to convince someone of whatever they're trying to accomplish. What you hear as thoughts reveals a part of their 'character' or the lack of--just like in real life.
This exercise will help build complex characters by getting inside their heads and learning why they do certain things. They reveal their character as being timid, overbearing, or... ?
Exercises like this also help improve the skill of 'showing' so there is less 'telling. Is the sender a harmless, timid suitor or a dangerous stalker? The tone of the first letter might be completely different from the last as he grows either frustrated or encouraged.
If you choose to use the love letter theme, will the recipient blow the letters off as unimportant, laughing about them with her friends? Will she be insensitive? Intrigued (flattered)? Or frightened out of her wits as the letters keep coming? What kind of person do you want her to be in this story?
In most stories, the protagonist and antagonist are equally important.
It's important that the writer knows what he wants the readers to see and feel about his protagonist and antagonist and that he works on that so it stands out, but stands out subtly, naturally. You won't have to say 'he's a kind, but ugly man'-- it will be shown through actions and dialogue--and it will be believable.
As the character unfolds, you should notice a consistent personality pattern coming through. If you've kept his role in mind, the voice will match. Is it formal, romantic, upbeat, straightforward, funny, frightening, or...? Is it what you wanted?
When you move from the journal into the draft of a story, just tell the story naturally. Think of the story as a long letter to your readers, and remember, we usually don't have problems writing letters to our friends. Your reader wants to be treated like your friend.
One reason teachers and coaches recommend journaling and free-writing is that it takes a lot of prep-practice writing to develop a believable, complex story. Creating a couple of well-developed characters is only part of what it takes to write a publishable story. It's all hard work, but necessary. Impatient beginning writers tend to want to skip that part of the process, along with later rewriting, and jump straight ahead to publish. Don't be impatient. Submitting a manuscript before it's ready just won't work, and it won't make you any money. Don't skimp or skip any step if you want to sell to legitimate publishers.
Thanks for reading.
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SUBMITTED:
This is the first chapter of a novel I finished recently. I'd love any feedback you might have.
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Comments on "Invalid Item"
and comments on why you enjoy the Writers Cramp contest.
Submitted By: Adriana Noir
Submitted Comment: Thanks for featuring my story, Esprit! I really loved this issue, as I think we all struggle with recapturing the joy of writing from time to time. You give some great tips here. as for the Cramp,I think it's an awesome place to find new ideas and branch out into genres and styles one might not necessarily try on their own.
Submitted By: Morgan Adam Internet Problems!
Submitted Comment: Thank you for the suggestions!
As for why I enjoy the Writer's Cramp, I think it's because I'm so busy sometimes that I can't focus on an idea that I want to write about. The Cramp prompts make me focus! Plus, they give me ideas that I normally wouldn't think of. ~ Morgan
 Excellent answers! I hope everyone realizes the enormous improvement their writing takes when they can practice and compete in stress-free fun.
Submitted By: faithjourney
Submitted Comment: Another great newsletter. So many of us focus on getting published that we forget that writing should be fun. I switched from inspirational writing to fiction when I realized I had never really had fun writing non-fiction. What a difference!
Thank you! 
Submitted By: Coolhand
Submitted Comment: You're always great at explaining the writing process in a short piece of time. You could have saved me lots of money on instructional books when I first began writing.
Thanks, coolhand 
Submitted By: NickiD89 
Submitted Comment: Excellent advice, Esprit! On the heels of NaNoWriMo, I understand better than ever the importance of writing freely to get out those first thoughts -- the ones with the most energy. Rewrites and edits are for second and third drafts, not for the first draft (like I used to write!!). Great NL!
Great, and congrats on entering Nano!
We always appreciate the feedback, thanks!
Editors:
NanoWriMo2018 Into the Earth 
Your guest host this week is esprit
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