Character Development

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

How is everybody working on developing the characters for the stories that their writing? I think I've spent more time thinking instead of writing about the hero for my story should look like, talk like, behave as etc, than a little bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm having fun writing tidbits here and there, but it's not easy putting the idea in my head into writing.

[Kim]

I conduct interviews with my chracters. I also write mini-biographies and a lot of backstory about them so I know them really well. :)

[TinaNoir]

I create little dossiers kinda like what an FBI profiler might do, complete with age, birthdate, family tree etc. And I give them each little traits. Like...loves cookies, or overuses air quotes, sings off key in the shower, or ambidextrous etc.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

I start out with the basics just to get pen to paper. Then my characters become more organic and start to fill in the blanks.

[Fiona]

Each scene I work on is the first thing I think of while lying in bed in the morning, and the last thing I think about when I'm lying in bed at night. I try to envision each action, and get into the heads of the participants so I understand why they do what they do, and how their emotions cause them to act. Then I write the scene. I'm often surprised at how much they reveal to me as I'm writing the scene.

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

I was able to see these posts today while I was at work. I took everyone's advice. I took pen to paper, and just spent 30 minutes developing my male lead. I didn't even intend to work on him. Some stuff just popped in my head, and I went with it. I'm really happy with what I've done today. Thanks Ladies!

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

I even think I have a crush on my male lead now, LOL!

[Kim]

Don't you love when that happens? I still have a crush on Mads, the love interest in Maybe Baby. Though I am not sure if that has more to do with my casting Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from Game of Thrones as him. :)

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

I came up with something more along the lines of Joseph Gordon Levitt, who I really find attractive.

As time progresses, he'll go from clean cut to scruffy.

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

Now, I need to work on my female lead, and then some supporting characters. I feel like I lost the mojo I had working earlier. So, I'm organizing my books, and reading a little hoping that inspiration will strike.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I don't do a lot of plotting on paper, but I always start with the emotional and psychological background of my characters. What drives and motivates them. I tend to like writing flawed characters, so I usually ask myself what could break a person and what keeps them from going over the edge. Sounds scary, but I guess that's where I live as far as what I write.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Who doesn't love JGL? He's so cute!

[Kim]

I usually make a Pinterest board to help me stay focused when I am writing. It helps me when I am trying to think about my characters. It's also useful for setting. Here's the one I used when I was writing Maybe Baby, http://www.pinterest.com/kimigm/nanow....

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I started making Pinterest boards too. I like doing that, since I'm a visual person.

[Kim]

Me too! I used to make scrapbooks for every book or short story I wrote. Using Pinterest is much easier (and neater) for me. :)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Kim wrote: "Me too! I used to make scrapbooks for every book or short story I wrote. Using Pinterest is much easier (and neater) for me. :)"

That's so cool. I like to make Power Points for my favorite book characters, so Pinterest lends itself well to that.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

Pinterest sounds cool but I'm kind of a Luddite, lol. I basically find and print out images and put them in a notebook. That way when I start writing or editing I have a hard copy as reference.

I love to make playlists for my characters though. I've found it really helps with their personalities as well as helping me as background music.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

M.A. wrote: "TheFountainPenDiva wrote: "...I love to make playlists for my characters though. I've found it really helps with their personalities as well as helping me as background music. "

I also love to mak..."

Me three!

[TinaNoir]

TheFountainPenDiva wrote: "Pinterest sounds cool but I'm kind of a Luddite, lol. I basically find and print out images and put them in a notebook. That way when I start writing or editing I have a hard copy as reference."

I think I read somewhere that is what Nalini Singh does. She has a bible filled with minutiae about all her characters.

I am the opposite. I am a stone tech head. It is a gizmo? then I got it! I keep a binder of ideas in a cloud. And can easily upload stuff into it or jot ideas into it and access from any of my devices. I have a long commute to and from work so I have some time to think and if something hits, I can jot it on my phone or tablet.

It is filled with flotsam and jetsam that one day may just morph into something...lol.

[Mstcat]

Kim wrote: "I usually make a Pinterest board to help me stay focused when I am writing. It helps me when I am trying to think about my characters. It's also useful for setting. Here's the one I used when I was..."

Kim you are a genius! Why have I never thought of this!**slapping my forehead** I'm saving images all the time and keep them in a file folder in my computer, but I like the idea of using Pinterest! I've never used it before but I'm going to! Is it something that can be kept private if you want?

I have also created a music playlist. It helps me get in the right frame of mind.

[Echo]

I love pinterest for image ideas. I suck at maintaining my own board, but I love following others. I start characters with an image of the character, then I write a bit about them in a situation (doesn't have to be in the book) and write and write until I get a handle on who they are and what they do.

[Kim]

I make playlists too! :) I use Spotify for it. :) I don't know if any of you are using Spotify, but here's a link to the playlist I made while I was writing Maybe Baby. :) http://open.spotify.com/user/kimgm/pl...

It helped me stay focused and some of the songs keyed into character moods. :)

[Indigo.plume]

✿Michelle✿ wrote: "How is everybody working on developing the characters for the stories that their writing? I think I've spent more time thinking instead of writing about the hero for my story should look like, tal..."

I always start my character mapping process from an internal standpoint. The physical attributes don't usually emerge until I've completed my plot outline. I've always loved allegorical figures, so each of my characters begins as a concept. For example, I imagine generosity or kindness personified, and allow that one simple attribute to dictate the character's actions. The other thing I do is a simple, fun exercise I learned in my writer's group meetings. I think of two actual people that I know. One whom I like, and one whom I don't like. I do a character sketch for each of these people, and the next day I do a sketch that has traits from both of these people. It's a fun, easy way to give depth to your protagonist. I'm usually very sparing with the physical descriptions, because I've learned that a character's actions and the balance between the subjective and the objective while in their POV is what makes them jump off the page. Hope this is useful :-)

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

Indigo.plume wrote: "✿Michelle✿ wrote: "How is everybody working on developing the characters for the stories that their writing? I think I've spent more time thinking instead of writing about the hero for my story sh..."

Thanks Indigo.plume- those are some great tips! I'm new to this and think that everything everyone has posted here is good advice for someone like. I'm looking forward to trying out your advice tonight and tomorrow.

This writing experiment of mine is turning out the be the most fun I've had in a long, long time!

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

For those of you who like character detailed sheets, check out Character Hub https://charahub.com/refer/8q6o

I used this for NaNoWriMo.

[Kim]

Thanks for the link! Going to check it out now. :)

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

Thanks FPD!

[Isadora]

I love the pinterest meme. I do that in conjunction with my outline. I am such visual person and become more inspired. Also a glass of Malbec helps!

[Kim]

A glass of Malbec...a glass of Verdicchio or even a nice cocktail can't get the creative juices flowing. :)

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

Kim wrote: "A glass of Malbec...a glass of Verdicchio or even a nice cocktail can't get the creative juices flowing. :)"

Oh Lord! I'm trying everything you ladies suggest, LOL!

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

Hey everyone, here are two more writing tools you might want to include in your arsenal: Story Plot Generator and Character Creator for Writers. Both are Android apps and work wonderful on a phone or tablet.

[Kim]

I wonder if there's a version for iPhone...