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So I've been reading a lot of your amazing blog posts, and have noticed a bit of a theme over the last week or so: getting into that main character's head. This was not a problem for me with my first novel. I was there. In it all the way.
But my WIP is a little different. My main character (MC) went through some pretty traumatic, life-altering events early in her life. And though I'm not writing those events into the book, I needed to go through them with her in order to get a good sense of how her past has shaped her. This is what I've been working on.
Then while surfing blogs yesterday, I read someone's comment that really got me thinking. He said that he writes journal entries for the MC before going into the scenes. I stored this away as one of those, "Wow - good idea - I don't want to forget that" things and continued on with my day. (This is why I can't tell you whose blog it was on or who made the comment. Bummer.)
Anyway, later that day I gave it a try. I wrote a journal entry for my MC starting right around the time her life took a sudden twist (when she was about eleven years old). I was amazed at how quickly I connected with her then. In just a short amount of time, I was able to experience this tragedy with her - her fears, her pain, and her hopes for a better tomorrow. These aren't things that will go into the book. Many of the events that take place in these journal entries will never be revealed to the reader at all, but that's okay. We still need to know it in order to know these people better. Why they act the way they do. Why they might be afraid to speak up. Or perhaps why they overreact all the time. You'll figure that out along the way.
I encourage any of you to try this exercise if you're not feeling connected with your MC. For me, it's already making a world of difference.
So what about you? What helps you discover your characters? Don't get stingy on us now; we want to hear.
Art work above by larafairie.j
That's actually REALLY helpful! Thanks! And good luck during June too!
ReplyDeleteOh man, I've gotten distracted again...
Great idea! I'll have to try that out. :D
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea for developing your character through backstory. I always write out their backstory, but I've never thought to do it from a journal. I'll have to try it!
ReplyDeleteThis really is a fantastic idea - I'll definitely be able to use that at some point, even if not in my current WIP. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I usually go around the old character interview trick to get to know my characters. Sometimes the secretive ones and I need to have a sit-down in my head.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I think I'll try doing that. I'm starting a new story soon and I want to get o know the MC a little better. Sometimes the character charts are too rigid to wrok with.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. I usually just get into the part, like a director does with an actor.
ReplyDeleteTerrific idea, and one I shall use in the future. thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I can see it working very well with my current novel. (First book with male MC.)
ReplyDeleteThat's a fanastic idea - may have to pull that one out. For me, because I'm a bit of a pantser when it comes to drafting, I discover (get into my character's head) by writing the story, in addition to thinking about my characters and what they want and how'd they react as I'm doing it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea! I'm a pantser, so I don't really do stuff like that very often, but I'm trying to be a little more of an outliner lately. Thanks for the great tip! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's true that some of our MC's we relate to better than others. We really must walk a mile in their shoes to be able to write them well. This has me thinking and that is the best you can ask for in a blog post (that and a doughnut...wait, that wouldn't work.)
ReplyDeleteSo thanks...
I put them on the psychiatrist's couch and let them rant. Even the shy ones warm up eventually. And when they're done, my fingers are all warmed up too.
ReplyDelete