Action/Adventure
This week: Developing Action/Adventure Characters Edited by: Sara♥Jean More Newsletters By This Editor
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I'm so excited to be your Action/Adventure Newsletter Editor this week! Please let me know if you have any feedback, or if you have any topics you'd like covered in a newsletter. I will be glad to research it for you and do my best.
SaraJean |
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Developing Action/Adventure Characters
With the coming of the new year, I have a little challenge for you.
Character development is such a very important part of writing. It is very helpful for short stories, and absolutely necessary for consistency in novels and novellas. The longer a story gets, the more chance there is to throw in some kind of inconsistency without even realizing it. You, as the author, need to know all of your characters even better than they know themselves. There are some ways to do this that can be very fun, but I won't lie and say it will take just a few minutes. Getting to know someone in real life takes time, it is much the same for getting to know a literary character (especially an Action/Adventure type character).
1. Start with a character outline. Character outlines ask some awesome questions that help you guide your thinking toward who the character is, what they stand for, what their strengths are, and what their quirks and weaknesses are. I will be posting some links to some good ones in the Editor's Picks section.
2. Write some short stories about your characters. No, not just your main, ALL of your characters. Or, at least, the ones who will play an important role. Put them in some interesting situations and see how they will react. Develop their strengths and weaknesses this way. The situations don't even necessarily have to match the main story they are involved in.
I once read a book (for the life of me, I can't remember the name) where a woman was plucked from the modern world and placed in a Jane Austen novel setting as she fell asleep reading a Jane Austen book. I loved it! It was so much fun to see how someone from the modern world would see that sort of time frame and setting. I think it is also an amazing way to develop a character.
One warning that goes with this, however. Make sure that you don't have the character reminisce about these side stories in the main story, unless there is some way to get the material in there for the reader to understand.
3. Be sure your character can function independently. Have you ever seen those people who seem like they are incomplete unless they have a significant other? Don't let your main character be that way. Your main character needs to be able to stand alone, even if the thought of doing so terrifies them - they need to be able to do it.
My challenge to you, this coming new year, is to fill out one of the below character outlines for one of your characters. (Some are completed - but consider the questions as ones you could use for your own characters.) See if it helps you gain a deeper understanding of them.
Oh, and of course, MERRY CHRISTMAS! |
The below outline is VERY detailed. Pick and choose as you please, if this is the outline you choose. Also, it may not work for all characters. Remove the questions that might not be time-appropriate.
The next item is a less detailed, but still very good, character sketch/outline. It gives some information that is easily manageable, and gives some insight into the character.
Here is another very detailed outline, but this one is filled out.
This is an example of what a simple list of characters might look like. Not as detailed as an outline for each character, but still very handy in keeping things straight in your head.
And this is another handy, blank form to help out with character development.
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Feedback and comments from "Action/Adventure Newsletter (November 27, 2013)"
BIG BAD WOLF is Merry said, "You need a holiday every so often." and includes the link to "Zena's Christmas" [ASR]
Luckily, we get one today! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all of those things.
monty31802 said, "You are right, holidays can be very active. A fine Newsletter."
Sometimes too active. I can't tell you how many times I need a holiday from my holidays... sheesh.
gayleglass said, "Adding holidays to your suspense/action/adventure also 'ups the ante' for your hero. "Bad guy is going to ruin the day! Oh, No! Must. Save. Holiday.""
Very true! Those kind of holiday stories are always so much fun.
Joshiahis said, "It's always nice to reminded that the little things count in our stories. Holidays are great way to show our characters interacting with the world; it fleshes both aspects out. Thank you for the tip!"
You are welcome! And yes, all of the little things DO count. Detail hogs like me eat them up. |
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