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This week: It Takes a Village Edited by: esprit  
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| A character isn't defined by his looks or oddities; he's known and judged by the integrity of his character-just as real people are. |
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It Takes a Village
Profile your characters
Experts write often about the need of profiling characters to get to know them. Sometimes it's called the Interview. Most of it is simply listing a few facts such as: physical appearance, a place in the family, funny/odd quirks, or where someone went to school. The answers rarely move a story forward-usually the questions and answers aren't even related to the story, but most importantly to me--they didn't help me.
What do they mean by 'Profiling the Characters' anyway? And what good does it do the beginning writer if they don't know which questions to ask? It doesn't matter where the character went to school, but if it does, it will be in the story somewhere--right?
To know someone, you need to know their likes and dislikes. You need to ask the hard questions--find out what the great need of the main character is. Why is it so important, and what's stopping them from getting it? What kind of person is he? How does he handle emergencies, a hurt child /animal, or theft? If he found a wallet stuffed with bills what would he do? Is he a man of integrity or not? Maybe he is most of the time, except that time it was just too tempting. Does he lie when it's convenient? What are his beliefs? What kind of character does he have? He's no angel, so show his bad side too.
To me, a character's 'character' is more important than the color of his eyes which can be added in anywhere if needed.
The antagonist is just as important, so find out why he is like he is. What happened to him to turn him into a bad guy? What is his soft spot--they all have one. Work it into the story so the readers can see both sides of him.
Lists and interviews may be enough for experienced writers who already know how to build character details, but I think beginners need more-at least I did and still do.
Creating perfect characters that live and breathe on the page isn't easy. Few good fiction writers manage it, but when you come across one, he is absolutely memorable. The rest of us need all the good tips we can get.
Time must be spent on building characters. Yes, I understand we want to get on with the story but I believe taking the time to find out who your characters are inside will put realistic characters on the pages-and by following this exercise they are recyclable!
Exercise: Build a community of unique characters by writing scenes
Consider the variety of people in your neighborhood and put them into an apartment house. Let them interact with each other (or not) as real neighbors do-- they will not all get along. Gossiping neighbors are always a good way to find out about people. A curious mail carrier could become a minor character in some stories. Reading the postmarks and wondering about the recipients can help develop backgrounds. To get the best use of the local trash collector, he should know the people he serves. We can learn much about a person through his trash.
Take the people through their days by giving them jobs, modes of transport, families, problems. Look into their thoughts as they sit quietly--learn their hopes and fears. Have them visit each other--argue, party. Put a few homeless people on the sidewalk and let them interact. Find out their circumstances and how they ended up there. A cop that still walks a beat can be useful.
But these are still only the skeletons, the framework. To build our characters, we need to gain an understanding of who they are, character-wise, to understand why they make the decisions they do in the context of the story.
A well-rounded character will be one where his integrity, honesty, courage, reliability, strength and beliefs - or his lack of, is revealed and shown within the story. And remember, no one is perfectly good or bad all the time. Even an ugly, mean antagonist may stop a gang war to cry over a dog he accidentally ran over. If his heart is full of compassion for an injured animal, yet he can easily kill a man, there will be a reason. The reason is probably way back in his childhood, but it's a trait of his character. If it affects his action today, in this story, it's important as part of his character. The why was revealed in his background during his introduction. Knowing what and why will make his reaction to the hurt animal understood by the readers, and he will become real. If he's crying his eyes out over the animal, readers won't care what color they are. But if they're told he's crying his blue eyes out, they probably will laugh-bad idea.
You're not attempting to write a story here, though you might end up with a few scenes or shorts. You are practicing how to write full-bodied characters-by knowing their characters. A full cast that can audition for various works. You'll probably come up with plenty of plot ideas since everyone has a story-do you see the possibilities here?
If you can do this with the whole neighborhood, you'll have good people and bad guys, grocers, kids and streetwalkers. Minor and major actors. You'll know who can be relied on to hold the key to your apartment, who can be trusted to watch a child for an hour, and who can't. Add new characters by simply moving them into a vacant apartment.
This works for any genre.
Sci. fi and fantasy neighborhoods probably wouldn't have an apartment house as its setting, but there could be a house down the street with mysterious, suspicious occupants waiting for a vampire or horror story. Place a surprised time traveler on the corner. You're writers, use your imagination.
This idea is similar to the 'Elevator Concept', where you put a handful of people in a closed-in area with no way of escape. However, it goes further than that by getting into their backgrounds and hearts and bringing them to life. Put your characters into tight spots and situations in which there are consequences. How you have them respond to those moments defines their character.
Spend enough time on character development and you'll have enough material to last a lifetime. Using the same characters repeatedly will allow them to grow stronger and you won't have to begin at ground zero each time. You may decide to write serials. Try using the same profiles in short stories for awhile-just for fun and practice.
And remember, a character isn't defined by his looks or oddities, he's known and judged by his character-just as real people are.
Thanks for being here,
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Comments on "Invalid Entry"
Submitted By: BIG BAD WOLF is Howling 
Submitted Comment: Response to the guy who wants to know how to get people to check out their profile.
You ask them to. That way they can see all the works that you write. They just have to click on the briefcase that is your portfolio.
"You ask them to." ---perfect advice! And it usually works.
Submitted By: djm7401
Submitted Comment: Thanks for the helpful hints, Esprit. As the "new guy" I found this newsletter most helpful.
Great, thanks!
Submitted By: Acme
Submitted Comment: Do you know, esprit, one of the reasons I love the Noticing Newbies newsletter is that there are still some places on this site that are new to me! Thanks for the info.
And comments like this is why I love writing it--thanks! 
We always appreciate feedback, thanks!
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laurencia
esprit |
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