Real Characters

One of the things I hear...fortunately, is that most people like my characters. To me they are very real...and if I can't see them doing something, and can't think of why they would do something...they don't do it!

Alex and Valeria pretty much came to me as is. I added background to both of their stories. But there basic personality did not shift dramatically at any point in the book(s).

As for the rest of them, I thought I'd discuss where they came from and how I developed them and what I learned in a screenwriting class that was invaluable in editing these books.

The character Weege, although I borrowed the name, just kind of wrote herself. I had no idea she would make me laugh so much. As for the rest of the family, I needed "characters" to surround my main characters.

I wanted a group that was as diverse as possible. I've known a young man named Curtis since he was about 13. He is such a neat young guy with a laugh that makes me smile. He became Caleb.

One day I told Curtis that he was in a story I was writing and his eyes lit up as he asked me, "Do I get to be a superhero?" I thought for a moment and then said, "Yes, I believe you do!" That is how Caleb became a superhero! And he does say that line in the book.

Camille, is my friend Camille. But most of the family is a combination of people I know.

The character of Tavish took off on his own and became extraordinarily dynamic. Love that character!

Ava was a combination of several people that I love and frankly, Ava is Ava! Love that character too...don't you just want to be best buds with her? My daughter added a few lines and actions that further defined her.

In the second book, I thought it would be pretty cool to add two people that I met in Cararra Italy years ago. I don't remember their names, and try as I must, I haven't been able to locate either of them.

The woman, who in my book became Kristiana, is in fact, a famous, absolutely breathtaking, international sculptress. Her brother worked as an executive at one of the marble mines. They were very sweet, wonderful and generous!

As I began writing my very kind friends into the story, I decided it was far more interesting if they weren't that sweet. The next thing I knew, I had Paolo and Kristiana...some might call them villains. I still love them and have a tremendous amount of empathy for them. I've never cared for simple villains.

One of the most valuable things I did for my writing/re-writing was to take several free workshops offered by Hal Croasmun's Screenwriting U.

Hal does these workshops via conference call. Just a warning, he says they are only an hour, but I have stayed on the phone 2-3 hours and never heard the end of the workshop. However, the lessons were extraordinary! I would have joined his Pro-group if I had been writing and marketing screenplays in a heartbeat!

On the re-write for a screenplay, I applied what was appropriate to my novel(s). Hal says that most people just work their way through their screenplay/novel and fix what doesn't read well.

What Hal suggests this: Take your top five characters and identify each ones top 5 characteristics. At least one of those characteristics should be an oddity.

In a screenplay each time that character speaks, it should demonstrate at least one of those characteristics.

Now, of course in a novel it is different. Still, I had my list (which truthfully I didn't require), and checked dialogue.

But the most valuable thing I did, on Hal's re-write/edit advice was to select the emotional peaks of my story and then ensure that those moments reflect that emotional peak.

On doing this, I discovered one of the most emotionally charged and critical points of my entire first novel had one paragraph!

I re-wrote it and it now is I believe four pages. I found several other places where the emotion had to be increased.

I know there were several other points that were important. But these cover the major points for creating my characters.The Sibylline OracleDelia J. Colvin