"Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune."
William James
Writing tip of the day:
G'day guys,
Characters are the key to our stories, but how do you describe them? Today I will provide a check list that might help. I once read a thick paperback by a famous author. At one stage she described a character for five pages before the story continued. Annoyed, I had to flip back to find out where the story was before her insane description began. The most important issue is that the character she described never appeared in the story again. So, why waste so many pages on him. That's my point.
Naturally, your main character is vital to your story so make sure you add little bits about him / her as you write. Don't drop a five-page clanger description like a bombshell and expect the reader to recall every item of information. Use what I call the drip-feed process ... slowly, slowly. Your main characters will no doubt experience a variety of emotions, thoughts and feelings as the story unfolds. Deal with each moment as it happens and make your characters believable.
Here are some points to consider:
AGE? GENDER?
LOOKS: PRETTY? HANDSOME? PLAIN? COLOUR OF HAIR? STYLE OF HAIR? BALD?
TAXI-DOOR EARS? PIXIE EARS?
SCARS?
LIMP? TALL? SHORT?
SLANG? SHY? COCKY? CONFIDENT? SMART ASS?
PREJUDICES?
WHAT’S HE LIKE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING?
HOW DOES HE HANDLE AN ARGUMENT – SUBMISSIVE, BELLIGERANT, ARGUMENTATIVE? GOOD DEBATER?
GOOD WORK ETHIC?
DECENT PERSON OR SHIFTY?
WHAT ARE HIS DREAMS?
WILL HE ACHIEVE HIS DREAMS?
IF NOT, WHAT STOPS HIM FROM ACHIEVING HIS DREAMS?
DOES HE LIKE HIS OWN COMPANY?
IS HE HUMBLE OR A SMART ASS, COCKY, CONFIDENT, SHY ETC?
WHAT DRIVES HIM?
WHAT ANNOYS HIM?
IS HE A PEOPLE PERSON?
WHAT’S HIS FAVOURITE COLOUR
WHAT’S HIS BIGGEST FEAR? – FAILURE? ABONDONMENT? BEING BROKE? NOT FINDING LOVE?
WHAT MAKES HIM HAPPY? SAD?
WHAT ARE HIS HABITS? – GOOD AND BAD?
HOW DOES HE SHOW AFFECTION OR … IS HE COLD?
WHAT MAKES HIM ANGRY, HAPPY AND SAD? – HOW DOES HE REACT?
IS HE COMPETITIVE? AMBITIOUS?
WHAT DOES HE FEAR MOST?
WHAT DOES HE THINK DEEPLY ABOUT? – POVERTY? SEX? SUCCESS?
WHAT IS HIS LIFETIME AMBITION? DOES HE HAVE ONE?
WHAT IS HE PREPARED TO GIVE UP TO REACH HIS GOALS?
WHAT MUSIC DOES HE LOVE? DOES HE LIKE GARDENING? HAVE A HOBBY? ETC
WHAT IDIOSYNCRASIES DOES HE HAVE?
Keep writing!
Don't be shy ... leave a comment or send me an email: clancy_tucker@hotmail.com
Thanks for listening.
I'm Clancy Tucker
www.clancytucker.com.au
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