Creating Characters
With only so many plots at your disposal, how does your "romp with lots of sex and explosions" stand apart from the rest? By the most important (yet for some reason underrated) tool in the writer's goodybag: CHARACTERS.
Never mind that blinding twist or futuristic setting, your characters are what makes your story unique. Look at Les Mis: it could have been a standard rags to riches story with a failed revolution thrown in. Instead it has Jean Valjean, the fiery former convict who refuses to be embittered by his trials- or, if you're like me and prefer awkward customers, his opposite number, the good-but-blinkered, borderline Aspergic Javert. Their unforgettable game of cat and mouse drives the plot and has made it one of the most adapted novels of all time.
But where do great characters come from? Some writers are coy, maintaining their creations just swan into their heads fully grown. While that may be the case in special instances, more often it's a case of trial and error. Never mind their vital stats; if it ever gets made into a film, your plain bookish heroine will be transformed into a boobular blonde anyway. Ask deeper questions: what do they most regret? What would they do if they won the lottery? Who was their first love? What is their proudest achievement?
Some people are sniffy about drawing characters. I say: why not? Not only does it get their appearance, physicality and dress sense straight in your head, it helps you create those so called "iconic moments", meaning all you have to do later is write 'em up.
If characters don't arrive in a beam of light, where do they come from? There are three techniques commonly used by writers, all of which have their pitfalls:
1) Guess Who?
Ever read a book, looked at the dustjacket and realised the author eerily resembles their protagonist?
While most authors are more subtle than this, there are still clues: does a particular character get more screen time than their role warrants? Does the narration (and other characters) big them up? Does everyone fall in love with them for no apparent reason? Alternatively, the character may be a major player and serve a purpose, but they're the target of deprecating comments (JK Rowling's Hermione is a good example).
It's easy to see why writing a character based on yourself is so popular. You don't have to go far for material, you know yourself inside out, it's likelier to be convincing. But think about it: if you're essentially a bystander, like so many writers, are you a natural fit for a frenetic action adventure? Would you really serve as the hero for your rom com? Part of the reason why many of us write is we're never going to have adventures ourselves.
2) Write Who You Know
The second, no less travelled road is taking somebody else, be it your mother, vet or that teacher who made your life hell, and transplanting them into your book. Again, easy peasy- but think of the shortcomings. No amount of "Any similarity to persons living and dead" will cut it; one of these days they'll pick it up (doubly so if they're a relative) and recognise themselves. Although getting your own back is highly satisfying, imagine how YOU would feel if somebody assassinated you in print. The safest route is to mix it up- use characteristics, even actual acts if you like, but don't for pity's sake point a massive "This Douchebag is You" sign at them.
3) The Paper Doll Factory
Once upon a time, borrowing other people's characters was verboten. You might if you were writing stories for your personal entertainment- I wrote a whole series about Darth Vader's love for a girl disguised as a man, for crying out loud- but you'd never think of publishing it. There's such a thing as copyright, right?
Thanks to Certain Fan Fics Turned Into Novels (TM), that isn't the case any more. Get enough money and exposure and your hastily revised juvenilia can become a publishing sensation.
Although this has proved hugely successful, do you really want everybody reading your book to say, "Isn't this James Bond with stubble?" Readers are smarter than writers give them credit for; they can tell the difference between a lovingly crafted character and a clone.
Then again, maybe The Death Star Diaries could do with a revival ...
Never mind that blinding twist or futuristic setting, your characters are what makes your story unique. Look at Les Mis: it could have been a standard rags to riches story with a failed revolution thrown in. Instead it has Jean Valjean, the fiery former convict who refuses to be embittered by his trials- or, if you're like me and prefer awkward customers, his opposite number, the good-but-blinkered, borderline Aspergic Javert. Their unforgettable game of cat and mouse drives the plot and has made it one of the most adapted novels of all time.
But where do great characters come from? Some writers are coy, maintaining their creations just swan into their heads fully grown. While that may be the case in special instances, more often it's a case of trial and error. Never mind their vital stats; if it ever gets made into a film, your plain bookish heroine will be transformed into a boobular blonde anyway. Ask deeper questions: what do they most regret? What would they do if they won the lottery? Who was their first love? What is their proudest achievement?
Some people are sniffy about drawing characters. I say: why not? Not only does it get their appearance, physicality and dress sense straight in your head, it helps you create those so called "iconic moments", meaning all you have to do later is write 'em up.
If characters don't arrive in a beam of light, where do they come from? There are three techniques commonly used by writers, all of which have their pitfalls:
1) Guess Who?
Ever read a book, looked at the dustjacket and realised the author eerily resembles their protagonist?
While most authors are more subtle than this, there are still clues: does a particular character get more screen time than their role warrants? Does the narration (and other characters) big them up? Does everyone fall in love with them for no apparent reason? Alternatively, the character may be a major player and serve a purpose, but they're the target of deprecating comments (JK Rowling's Hermione is a good example).
It's easy to see why writing a character based on yourself is so popular. You don't have to go far for material, you know yourself inside out, it's likelier to be convincing. But think about it: if you're essentially a bystander, like so many writers, are you a natural fit for a frenetic action adventure? Would you really serve as the hero for your rom com? Part of the reason why many of us write is we're never going to have adventures ourselves.
2) Write Who You Know
The second, no less travelled road is taking somebody else, be it your mother, vet or that teacher who made your life hell, and transplanting them into your book. Again, easy peasy- but think of the shortcomings. No amount of "Any similarity to persons living and dead" will cut it; one of these days they'll pick it up (doubly so if they're a relative) and recognise themselves. Although getting your own back is highly satisfying, imagine how YOU would feel if somebody assassinated you in print. The safest route is to mix it up- use characteristics, even actual acts if you like, but don't for pity's sake point a massive "This Douchebag is You" sign at them.
3) The Paper Doll Factory
Once upon a time, borrowing other people's characters was verboten. You might if you were writing stories for your personal entertainment- I wrote a whole series about Darth Vader's love for a girl disguised as a man, for crying out loud- but you'd never think of publishing it. There's such a thing as copyright, right?
Thanks to Certain Fan Fics Turned Into Novels (TM), that isn't the case any more. Get enough money and exposure and your hastily revised juvenilia can become a publishing sensation.
Although this has proved hugely successful, do you really want everybody reading your book to say, "Isn't this James Bond with stubble?" Readers are smarter than writers give them credit for; they can tell the difference between a lovingly crafted character and a clone.
Then again, maybe The Death Star Diaries could do with a revival ...
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