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"Character is what you are in the dark."
— Unknown
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803-1882)
“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”
— Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president (1809-1865)
and coming full circle.....
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
— Helen Keller, American social activist, public speaker and author (1880-1968)
I am Fyn-elf and I am pleased to be editing your 'For Authors' newsletter. |
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Continuing on with my series about creating characters that I started in my previous newsletter, the creation of a character that will sustain a short story or novel is a lengthy process that deserves research, time and a bit of playing something like God.
Following along behind or perhaps, along side of, the skeletal list of traits, strengths and weakness is the additional muscle that gives a character substance. One way to build the inner workings is by observing people you see parading through their lives in front of you.
I went to a Renaissance Faire yesterday. As I proceeded to get dressed in my Faire garb, I felt my normal day to day 'me-ness' begin to fade under the persona of my character. As I pulled on my faded green leather boots, I stepped more and more into the 'character' of the wandering story-teller I portray. Attaching my goblet and precious cheap metal fork and knife to my belt, even my manner of speaking began to change. Flinging my hunter green cape across my shoulder, my other half commented that even my manner of standing and walking was different. They were, for I was now for all intents and purposes, the wandering story-teller, and run away-female-dressed-as-a-male-for safety sake Fyndorian.
The first part of my journey through the faire I greeted and was greeted by both faire-folk and visitors alike. I found a nearby stump and my dragon, Dalthyrian, (who happens to be attached at the wrist when Fyndorian rambles) and I began a lively conversation as to why he simply could not, should not and was absolutely NOT going to eat any of the passers by. First a little girl dressed (note word choice here) as a princess dragged her normally dressed Dad over. Then a most noble Lord and Lady stopped to listen. A knight stopped by and then I lost track by as I became far more involved in my argument with my dragon. The Lord Most High Sheriff paused in his rounds to listen and promptly arrested me because my uncontrollable dragon had made a disparaging remark about her Highness. I managed to grab the almost twenty dollars that had landed on my pouch before he dragged me off. I finally had to put my other hand around my dragon's mouth to stop him from insulting the sheriff any further. Oh I just knew we were headed for the stocks. Which, indeed, we were. Thus Dalthyrian and I spent the next two hours with my head and hand and Dalthyrian's head inserted into the most uncomfortable stocks!
With little to do other than observe the crowds and, occasionally, banter with those who stopped to question and/or hurl insults our way, I watched people meandering by.
Some wore their assumed character like little children playing dress-up: All pretend and fluff with no substance, indeed, one could easily see their 'real' self peeking though all the 'holes' in their character garment. Others had stepped back in time and easily shed their time forward disguises and appeared as they surely had in some former life. Language, body movement, eye contact (or not), stance and attitude all reflected their station in life: The mud beggar who offered me a bite of an apple, the sheriff's minion who belittled my dragon, the saucy wench's teasing offer of a swig of ale, and a most magical wizard complete with staff, long white beard and shouldered owl, who spoke only in unfathomable riddles.
They were real because they put much thought, research, energy and passion into their characters. Indeed, when the sheriff finally released me from the stocks and asked whence I'd joined the faire's clan, he was most taken aback to realize that I was just a poor visitor to his realm and not the story-teller he was supposed to arrest!
Aside from watching the parade of sweating humanity that had paraded in front of me, I also was watching the folk who came as themselves to simply enjoy the experience from the outside (as it were.) Tired, cranky, hot children being dragged by hot, sweaty, tired parents who must have been wondering why they had thought their two and four year olds would simply love being dragged around the faire for five hours in the first place. Teens swaggering around in goth clothes living out a dream. A couple, still in complete renaissance wedding garb, who'd been married two hours earlier having their first (?) fight. Grandmothers buying Christmas presents. A four or five year old little boy dressed in princely finery thoroughly enjoying a turkey leg almost as big as he, himself, all the while blissfully ignoring his mother's enjoinders not to get that greasy turkey juice all over his costume.
My mind's camera clicked and whirred recording a myriad of impressions, attitudes, people, vibrations, scents, smells and more, the entirety of the aura of the Renaissance Faire. I found myself filling in details about the folk who wandered by. The young barkeep too obviously flaunting her ample charms in hopes of catching more than the young knight's lusty eye. The tired young dad beaming when his son's arrow actually hit the target. The scenes of life back in the real (?) world when the two cultures clash in the parking lot.
All of which now is but cannon fodder as it is stored and filed away for future reference in my admittedly, convoluted, brain. But it is here, in moments like these, that characters are born and grow up, where they are molded, shaped, and perhaps, reconfigured on their time consuming way to becoming real.
Real is an essence, a becoming. "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." --from "The Velveteen Rabbit."
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J. A. Buxton  said:'I feel proud to have one of my longer stories mentioned in your "For Authors" newsletter. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed my characters. Perhaps you might like to meet more in my current ongoing novel. ' --- See above and check out her port as well!
arrowwritesWelcome. Thanks for a good article. While others have stressed the importance of a well-defined character, I like your reminder that not all the details need to be actually used. The author should know their character in order to bring it to life for the reader. Thank you! The more one has to pick and choose from, the better the balance that is achieved!
Sharon writes--Great article! I appreciate the list of character traits, etc. It will be most helpful in my writing.---Thank you....glad it is a help :)
DRSmith remarked --I noticed you highlighted Jerry Powell's HOGS N HENS, and if i may add, I had read this piece, and reviewed it in detail, and aside from fitting your profile for character development (which is most apropros here), I would encourage everyone who sees this to make the time to read it. It's exemplary skill in many ways, especially in technique for pace, interaction, and the writer's attempt to "show not tell." Superb specimen. ---I agree! Thank you for commenting! And speaking of reviewing, I encourage readers to review the pieces they find in the newsletters!
SantaBee  notes--Fyn, thanks for taking a look at characters. Those were some great tips. I find that outlining a character really helps to keep "them" straight when it comes time to write about them.-- yes it really does, especially when you have multiple characters you are trying to keep straight in your mind!
weeowl flying free!  said--HI! I just wanted to say that this method truly does work! Taking the time to do a character sheet[ from last issue of mine] ... will help this character stand beside you and tell you what's going on. In my novel, Raven is VERY real to me and so is PT. These characters are based off people I know/knew and things have fallen into place from there. :) Great job and wonderful points! -- The image of the character standing right there...or perched on your monitor is exactly the realism that helps make characters live and breathe!
Storm Machine  comments--Great start to your newsletter! Characters always make (or break) the story. Thanks for sharing your method.-- Thank you. I really appreciate all the feedback and encouragement the WDC community has given me!
Zeke mentions--You are so right about characters demanding a story after you have completed bringing them to life. They are almost always a blend of people from your life and a deep part of yourself. Your checklist is a very good start and I would encourage writers to adopt it and expand on it. Nice work. Thank you!
dusktildawn offers the following--These are wonderful tips in helping to create strong, vivid characters, Fyn. Fantastic Newsletter! One of the aspects (okay, tricks) I've learned in describing characters is try not to give an informational dump on the reader. I've read many stories/chapters where several paragraphs (sometimes longer) consist of a character's physical descriptions. Try to insert snippets throughout a chapter/story (like eye color, brushing a strand of auburn hair away, moving with the grace of a ballerina, etc.) giving small details of your characters instead of one large information dump. It's like trying to take the reader and have them stand there in your story, seeing these characteristics themselves, without being given the dump of physical descriptions. It's tough to do, and I still struggle with it.-- You offer some excellent points and it is important to note that it is not necessary to have all that information you've compiled avalanche down on your reader! It is a resource to draw upon and initailly, give your character form and substance in your mind!
MarieAntoniaParsons brings up--Nicely done newsletter, fyn. Thanks for the character outline.
My character creation tends to be on-the-spot as I go. That works well enough for a single short story, not for a story series or a novel. My approach could result in sloppiness, saying something in one place and contradicting that later on.
Your outline provides a nice organization to give the intended character a skeleton and some flesh.
But I suggest both approaches have merit. Some character elements should come out in the flow of the story, and some might even change to make the story more effective. For example, initially the character might have children, as the story develops, the writer decides that does not work so well; or perhaps initially the character was left single, but later on it seems the story is more effective if the character is widowed.-- How very true...just because a character is outlined, it doesn't mean that those attributes are set in stone, nor is it written that the author cannot chisel or sculpt a character into anything they wish *smile*
plafleur says--Really great newsletter! Very informative and useful. I am saving this as a great resource to come back to in the future. *big smile* Thank you!
Vivian  ~~Good start as an editor, fyn. Glad to have you join us. ~~ Thank you...loving being able to join in!
dejavu_BIG computerprobs --An excellent and very helpful Newsletter on characterization. I enjoyed meeting your character-Pan- and look forward to reading about her soon. Keep up the great work! -- So glad you enjoyed and found the newsletter helpful!
raeburk01--Great advice! I love creating characters, even if they don't get a story right away, it's fun to just imagine other people. A few of them have found their way into whatever novel I'm currently working on at the time. I liked your description of Pandora. Never hurts to have a character or two waiting in the wings!!!
and lastly a question from ninotchka1-Great newsletter and your thoughts on character development are very helpful. Do you have some advice how to make a Hero? I am struggling to create a fantasy hero - a real hero, sword-fighter, handsome, brave etc - so I cannot give him big character flaws or terrible things he did in the past - neither can I give him modern traits like failed marriage or complexes, but how do I get him from cardboard to likable/admirable? any views from you and anyone who reads this are appreciated.--- Most heroes actually do have a character flaw or two. It is in the overcoming of these flaws that he becomes truly heroic! Also, in creating characters, one can give added dimension with the oft forgotten little things...sick as a child, afraid of spiders or even a big thing such as the why behind his learning to sword-fight~~this opens a ream of questions. Was it because he enjoyed it? Or because when he was young and didn't know how yet someone he loved was slaughtered and he couldn't stop them? Or...or...or!
Whew! I didn't really get enough character sketches to try out my initial idea, but for those who did send one into me, I'm hanging on to them and will use them in the future! I appreciate your sending them in!
Until next time, happy creating! |
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For Authors: September 26, 2007 Issue [#1969]
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