Plot vs. character. Character vs. plot. The debate could give writers a headache the size of
War and Peace. Lucky for all of us, I'm not going to jump in that pool.
Regardless of your approach, the content in this post assumes you've done some characterization. It might be character interviews or charts or talking to your characters while you drive your son to preschool (which I've never,
ever done...*grin*).
In case you haven't figured it out yet,
Point #8 in my self-editing checklist is Characterization. (For the previous 7 points, click
here.)
Here are some things to consider as you analyze your characters in each scene.
a) When introducing new characters, are you info-dumping every detail upfront, or are you letting their character be revealed through action and dialogue as the story plays out?
This includes backstory. Are you spelling out their family history before we know who they are?
Think of it in terms of real life. If I meet you at the park while my kids are climbing the jungle gym, I'm not going to tell you about my childhood, starting with the birth canal. I'll start by talking about my current life, my kids, and my potty training battles if I see that your kid is in Pull-ups too. Then if the friendship progresses beyond an acquaintance, we'll add another layer, and so on.
Get the reader interested in your character's current struggle, and they'll be dying to peel the layers at a later point (preferably after Page 50 or even 100).
b) Does each of my characters leave a dominant first impression? Have I made them distinct enough to differentiate them in the reader's mind? This might include different strengths, weaknesses, appearances, speech, mannerisms, and attitudes. (
For an expansion on this topic, check out this
overview of characterization.)
c) Will readers be able to relate to my characters? Are they too perfect? Too flawed? Too cliched? Seek to find a balance between imperfections and likeability. This is a very tricky skill to learn (and it's one I'm still learning!).
One book I highly recommend is
Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias.
If you're in the early stages of characterization, or if you're stuck with a difficult character, there's an amazing resource available. My critique partner, Jeannie Campbell (aka, The Character Therapist), is launching her
new website TODAY! She's a licensed therapist who provides tailored diagnoses and evaluations of fictional characters, and she has awesome tools on her site.
In fact,
she's offering her Writer's Guide to Creating Rich Back Stories as a giveaway to one lucky commenter! The winner will be announced in our weekend edition. Be sure to check out her site! (And no, I'm not just saying that because I think she's nice and super-cool.) :)
Your homework for the next two weeks, should you choose to accept it: Read the article I referenced and analyze your scenes for how your characters are being portrayed. If you've found trouble spots or just need ideas to move forward, check out
The Character Therapist, as well as the book I mentioned above.
How do you usually develop your characters? Do you err on the side of making them too perfect or too flawed? What are your favorite characterization resources?
* Headache photo by Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
** Onion photo by Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
STOP THE PRESS! Guess who Mary’s invited for us on Wednesday? Chip MacGregor, Literary Agent posts about Five Reasons to Attend a Writing Conference. Don’t miss it!
