Dear Diary…. Ideas for getting to know your characters

Now that the BirthRight Trilogy is complete, I have the time to work on all the other writing projects singing away in my head. The tricky part, however, is getting to know the characters. With the BirthRight Trilogy it was fairly easy, Cat I based on myself, and her friends, on my friends. Loi is more a creation than the other two, only because I’d known the ‘real’ Loi for just two months when I started the draft (and who could resist a gorgeous, doe-eyed, Scottish girl).It’s not that creating characters is difficult – it isn’t, but the better you know them the easier it is. So I’m trying something a bit different this time around. I have bought three small notebooks/diaries (I’m working on three different projects) and in no real order I’m just jotting down thoughts and responses to situations for each of these characters. For example, when someone opens the door for me I mentally jot down the responses that each character would have, and then when I get home, make a note.
‘Some seedy guy held the door open. Barely gave me enough room to squeeze through. ‘Accidentally’ stomped on his foot – next time he’ll look at my face, not my boobs’
‘Was carrying a load of fabric and so grateful to man who noticed, he held the door until I got fully through. Nice to know some people will help the help.’
‘OG nearly died. T held the door open for me. Couldn’t stop stupid blush. Felt like such an idiot. T smiled and said something and I couldn’t get a word out. Can’t even remember what he said!!?! Such a dork. He’ll never do it again.’
These are just examples – not my actual entries, but you can see how it helps. It also inspires random situations which I may play with later on. And I’m enjoying sticking any pictures in that I think works for the character. I just love shredding old magazines!! So much inspiration.Do you have any favorite methods for getting to know your characters? Share them in the comments! I’d love to hear them.Take care all!Nic The Arrival, available FREE at at Amazon : AmazonUK : Barnes&Noble : iTunes : Kobo : Smashwords Awakening available at Amazon : AmazonUK : Barnes&Noble : Smashwords : itunesFeel the Burn available at Amazon : AmazonUK : Smashwords