Character Development
So, I was in charge of teaching the lesson for ANWA PM Writers earlier this evening. Everyone there enjoyed it and asked me to post the lesson on my blog so they could refer to it. So here is the post!
Today I talked about Character Development. This is an interesting and fun topic. And it's so relevant to writers of all ages! Anyway hope this is helpful to you!
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Remember when you are doing character development work that although your main concern is the parts of that character that are relevant to the story, that isn't your only concern. Anything about your character is worth writing down, and you never can tell when the oddest detail from your character sketch will actually show up in the story.
Here are a few things to consider when developing your character:
· We are all greatly influenced by our relationship with our parents. How was this character's relationship with his/her parents? What kind of people were the parents? Did they have any odd beliefs/habits that your character has adopted or is rebelling from? In one story I was working on I had two competing violinists, one from a family that was musically-oriented with musician parents, and one whose father considered it a great disappointment that his son did not play football, as he had. Can you see how these family relationships will affect the attitudes of the two violinists?
· What are your character's vices? Unfortunately, we all have them. A vice for your character doesn't necessarily have to be drinking or swearing--perhaps your character is a compulsive spender. Perhaps your character's vice is something as innocuous as a habitual over-consumption of sweets; maybe your character is a chocoholic. And perhaps your character has just been diagnosed with diabetes. As you can see, what is considered a vice will depend largely on your character's situation.
· What are your character's pet peeves? Sometimes a person's pet peeve can give you insight into their personality, and what things are important to them. For example one of my biggest pet peeves is people who say things like "the floor needs swept" or "the dishes need washed". From this, you can tell that grammar is important to me (and a good thing, too, or I would have a hard time of it as a writer!) If I had a character whose biggest pet peeve was having a pair of slacks without creases, what would that tell you?
· What is your character's typical daily schedule like? Unless your story is the sort that will completely disrupt the character's life and put everything in limbo, you're going to have to weave your tale around this schedule. It wouldn't hurt to know what it is.
· What is your character's strong point? Every story involves hardship, and your character will need a way to survive this hardship. Usually, this involves the character's strong personality strength, or plays off of that strength somehow. Scarlett O'Hara survived Gone With the Wind because of her strength of will, her single-minded determination to get what she wanted. What is your character's strength?
· What is your character's middle name? How does he/she feel about it? Some people are embarrassed by their middle names, other people are proud of them, even preferring them to their first names. Does your character routinely use a middle initial?
· What about a nickname? Does your character want to be called Bill, or William B Holladay the Third? Sometimes you can tell quite a bit about someone by what their friends call them.
It seems the number one way you learn more about your characters is simply by writing about them. Unfortunately, when this process occurs while you're writing your story, it can show. Awkward, uneven character development in your completed piece can be the result. One way to get around this is to write scenes with your characters that are not part of your story, but which nonetheless help you learn about them.
You can find some cool exercises to help you through writer's block and help you learn more about your characters at this link: http://www.pgtc.com/~slmiller/characterexercises.htm
Here is just a little more that I didn't share with the group. Some writers use a character outline, here are a few that my friends and family use when writing. If I find any more outlines I'll be sure to post them as well.
These first 3 are taken from my friend Shay Lynn:
#1
What do you look like physically?
What do you consider your most striking feature?
What kind of clothes do you wear?
What do you like/dislike about yourself?
What would you say are your best/worst qualities?
Where is your home; what does it look like?
Where are you coming from (social class, religion, etc.)?
What are your family relationships like?
Who is the most important person in your life right now?
What is your educational background?
What is your philosophy of life (belief system)?
What is your motto?
What beliefs and values both good and bad have you learned throughout your life?
Values =
Beliefs- do they make you stubborn, adventurous, prideful?
Which beliefs and values will you have to change as you continue to grow toward a resolution?
Do your values and beliefs conflict?
What one event has marked your life the most?
How do you respond emotionally to crisis?
Are you generally passive or aggressive?
Are you an outsider or an insider?
What are your quirks and contradictions?
Do you have a special talent?
What do you want?
What do you need?
What do you fear most?
What is your fondest dream?
Do you have a blind spot or flaw?
What is good for you?
What is bad for you?
What do you not want anyone to know about you?
What decision do you need to make?
What is the most significant action you can take and what’s stopping you from taking it?
What do you need to learn?
Is this your first love?
Are you single, looking for commitment, married, divorced?
How old are you?
Do you have a job?
Does your job bring you together with the h/h or put you in an adversarial position?
Have you previously lost a great love, never had a great love, been lousy at relationships, broken up with the other?
You relate to the opposite sex as the answer or the enemy?
What is your weakness?
#2
Character Worksheet
Physical Characteristics
Name:
Age:
Birth date:
Birthplace:
Height:
Weight:
Body type:
Hair:
Eyes:
Nose:
Mouth:
Clothes:
Personality Profile
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Ambition:
Beliefs:
Self-perception:
How others see her:
Hobbies:
Moral values:
Eccentricities:
Most defining characteristic:
Current Situation
Marital status:
Educational background:
Occupation:
Food preferences:
Drink preferences:
Car:
Pets:
Present problem:
How does this problem get worse?
How does this problem get resolved?
Synopsis about childhood:
Relationships
Spouse:
Occupation:
Location:
Defining characteristics:
History:
Effect on plot line:
Best friend:
Marital status:
Occupation:
Location:
Defining characteristics:
History:
Effect on plot line:
Mother:
Marital status:
Occupation:
Location:
Defining characteristics:
History:
Effect on plot line:
Father:
Marital status:
Occupation:
Location:
Defining characteristics:
History:
Effect on plot line:
Child:
Age:
Location:
Occupation:
Spouse:
Grandchildren:
Defining characteristics:
History:
Effect on plot line:
Sibling:
Age:
Location:
Occupation:
Spouse:
Children:
Defining characteristics:
History:
Effect on plot line:
Effect of previous relationships on present situation:
#3
Name:
Nickname:
Birthdate/Place:
Character Role:
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS
Age:
Race:
Eye color:
Hair color/style:
Build(height/weight):
Skin tone:
Style of dress:
Characteristics/mannerisms:
PERSONALITY TRAITS:
BACKGROUND:
INTERNAL CONFLICTS:
EXTERNAL CONFLICTS:
OCCUPATION/EDUCATION:
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
This next outline is one I got from my mom. I don't know who she got it from but I've used it a time or two and it really does help.
Character Chart
Characters name:
Gender:
Physical appearance: Hair:
Eyes:
Facial Features:
Posture:
Mannerisms:
Speech:
Background: Education:
Religion:
Family:
Early childhood:
Financial situation:
Profession:
Marital Status:
Other relations:
Environment:
Health:
Inner Person: Traits:
Self image:
Dreams:
Fears:
Sense of humor:
Ethics:
Attitude:
Other details: Hobbies:
Foods:
Colors:
Books:
Music:
Art:
Positive traits:
Negative traits:
Anyway, I hope all of this was helpful and stay tuned for yet more awesomeness!
Hobey Ho Let's Go!!!
Hugs,
Cade Wolfe
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