MUSE MONDAY
The
characters who populate my fictional world always guide me from idea to page.
What has changed over the years is how well I get to know them before I put
their story into novel form. I keep a tight rein on them now, or at least they
let me think so.
I
considered myself a pantser when I first started writing. Authors are either
pantsers (writing by the seat of their pants) or plotters (organized and
thought out). I didn’t write an outline or synopsis beforehand. I usually knew
the names of my two main characters, what they looked like, and a bit about
their personalities. I knew where the story began and where it would end, but
none of that stuff in between.
And
as a pantser, characters could deceive me or get feisty and hold back important
details, dropping them on me right in the middle of a plot line. Give them an
inch…
When
I entered the world of series writing with true villains capable of murder,
writing by the seat of my pants didn’t work so well. But let’s leave plotting
for another day. I’m still on characters right now.
Before
I write that opening scene, a Character Sketch is created for the players…or at
least all of the
ones I know of. As the story progresses, new characters will
pop into the story I had no idea even existed. For those I know of, I record
their full name, birth date and place, race, eye color, hair color and style, height,
weight, build, skin tone, how they dress, and if they have any distinguishing
physical traits or mannerisms. Once I get past the visual, I need to know their
personality traits, what their background is, their education, and their
occupation. Keep in mind, not all of this will be used in the book. But I have
to know it in order to write their stories.
Then
comes the real crux of the person: GMC or goal, motivation, and conflict. These
three things drive the character and create the story. In my early days, I
wasn’t always sure of all three when I’d begin writing. Even now, my characters
will throw me a curve at times, but I’m much stricter with them and insist on
knowing just why and where we’re going with this adventure.
This
week, I’m at the character stage in The Deep Well of Love and Murder, book five
in the series. There’s a larger cast of characters involved in this story, and
I’ll bring back some from books one through four. Should be fun. Next week,
I’ll begin plotting. Oh yes, I now plot.
An inside
look for you for book five from the Character Sketch file: remember Laura from
book one? She had a very minor role as the wife of Clark Katz. And from book
two, do you remember the Meadowlark Range foreman, Randy? His role was even
smaller. They’re up front and center in book five. I just found out Randy comes
from a colorful ancestry of Brazilian Gauchos on his father’s side, and Laura
had to flee her childhood of a dysfunctional family when she was young.
I’ve
been writing, with the purpose of becoming an author, for about nine years. I
landed my first contract in 2009 and held a copy of my first published novel in
my hands in the summer of 2010. Every time I hold the latest published novel,
the thrill is the same. Wish me luck in cajoling all of the details out of the
characters for manuscript number eleven this week.
Best of luck with your characters, Brenda. I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteI know you do, Stanalei. Thanks.
DeleteOh, those unruly characters! Don't you just love 'em? Great post!
ReplyDeleteThey are devilish fun, Laura!
DeleteI'm still a pantser, though I've plotted a bit. Still, those characters can turn the story upside down in no time! Enjoyed the post, thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ashantay!
DeleteI think you're right, Brenda. Once we immerse ourselves in a series, orderliness comes into play. I've heard people use Scrivener, Ever Note and Write Way to keep from going nuts. Do you use one of these methods?
ReplyDeleteNo. I guess I'm sort of manual, Rolynn. I do have files and a series timeline that includes births, deaths, etc. clear back to the 17th century. At least it's in the computer!
Delete