'nother Mike (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mbarker) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
writercises2022-02-12 06:43 pm
mbarker) wrote in writercises2022-02-12 06:43 pm
Entry tags:
Tech: Stories, piece by piece (part 2: Character!)
Original Posting Oct. 16, 2018
Okay, for Halloween or Nanowrimo or whenever, you want to get your likable character together, so that through their own efforts, they can overcome opposition and conflicts to achieve a worthwhile goal, right? But... characters? What do you need to know about them? What do you want to know about them?
Well, one approach is to think about these questions. Who are they? What are their goals and desires? What are their problems and their faults? That should give you a pretty good idea of who these people are.
You might also tackle it from the situation or plot side of the world. Who hurts? Who hurts the most? What is their self-concept? What changes in the character? That gives you another look at the characters.
Of course, you can tackle it with the simple questions. Who is there? Where are they going? This let you look at their goals and motivations.
Now, you might want to take a look at their desires. One list is:
Power, independence, curiosity, order, savings (possessions), honor, idealism, status, acceptance, social contact, family, vengeance, romance, eating, physical activity, tranquility.
I know, I know, the checklists that some people use are more generic where did they grow up, where did they go to school, what color is their hair, and so forth. But I think looking at what they want to do and why is probably good, too. Names and such, well, yes, you need those details to bring the person really to life. Just think about them sitting there, explaining why they want to make exploding pumpkins, or whatever it is.
Write!
Okay, for Halloween or Nanowrimo or whenever, you want to get your likable character together, so that through their own efforts, they can overcome opposition and conflicts to achieve a worthwhile goal, right? But... characters? What do you need to know about them? What do you want to know about them?
Well, one approach is to think about these questions. Who are they? What are their goals and desires? What are their problems and their faults? That should give you a pretty good idea of who these people are.
You might also tackle it from the situation or plot side of the world. Who hurts? Who hurts the most? What is their self-concept? What changes in the character? That gives you another look at the characters.
Of course, you can tackle it with the simple questions. Who is there? Where are they going? This let you look at their goals and motivations.
Now, you might want to take a look at their desires. One list is:
Power, independence, curiosity, order, savings (possessions), honor, idealism, status, acceptance, social contact, family, vengeance, romance, eating, physical activity, tranquility.
I know, I know, the checklists that some people use are more generic where did they grow up, where did they go to school, what color is their hair, and so forth. But I think looking at what they want to do and why is probably good, too. Names and such, well, yes, you need those details to bring the person really to life. Just think about them sitting there, explaining why they want to make exploding pumpkins, or whatever it is.
Write!