In her book, Write Away, one of the many things George advises is that you make a checklist of your main characters' traits before you begin to write. She calls it a character prompt sheet and keeps in by her WP before and as she's writing.Her list includes such items as gestures when talking, gait, what does he/she laugh at. I wonder if this is common. I've been going on the premise that I will discover most of these things about my characters as I write. That I will start off with just a few things in my head and let the rest take shape. Which do you do? Do you know the these things before you begin a story or novel?
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12 comments:
I don't know any of those things. They come organically. However, I write a back story for the main characters. Even if I never use any of it it helps to know more about your character. That's all I do. I don't write outlines. And I never know what's going to happen.
Patti,
Generally, I can see my major characters in motion before I put them on paper. I also work to hear them and that takes more effort. I never write any of it down, but if it's good enough for EG, I ought to think about it.
Terrie
As I recall from a panel I was on with EG, she also outlines not just the novel but each individual chapter. And organizes her closet by colors.
HA! If I could just organize my closet in any way. Some say those in the know use wooden hangars and not metal. And they all face in the same direction.
I think writing the back story makes sense because it gets you inside their heads and you begin to develop your voice. But a thing like gait? I only think of gait if it's Quasimodo.
HA! If I could just organize my closet in any way. Some say those in the know use wooden hangars and not metal. And they all face in the same direction.
I think writing the back story makes sense because it gets you inside their heads and you begin to develop your voice. But a thing like gait? I only think of gait if it's Quasimodo.
The idea pops in the noggin and then I go straight to the keyboard. It's just natural that way and I'm always surprised and delighted by where the story leads.
Patti, I think it all depends on whether you're a plotter or a pantser or somewhere in between. I write up a rough character bio as things occur to me and include things like physical description just so the character's hair and eyes don't change color as I write. I add things to the bios as I go, but I'm not a total plotter like EG. I'd never get anything written if I spent that much time getting organized!
You have to find the process that works for you and disregard everything else. There's no one right way to write a book.
Linda / Lyndi
I guess as a short story writer I'm pretty much like David. But maybe in trying to write a novel I have to be more organized and less "overtaken" by the moment. I don't think I will ever be as organized as EG. At my age, I don't have the time. Of course, perhaps making the time would be a good thing in the end.
I don't know what I'm doing, but as I figure it out, I believe I'm inclined to write my way into story and character. Then at some point, once things are moving pretty well, I have to stop, assess and start doing some of the organizational things that outliners do up front. I've heard of a lot of people writing up very detailed things about characters and I don't feel like I need to create a checklist to identify every childhood fear, favorite food, allergy and musical preference the character has. As a matter of fact, I feel a much greater need to sketch out the plot and structure related things that are much harder for me to manage. I feel like knowing and understanding the characters may be my strong suit. But that's me today, July 5th, 2008 and I haven't figured this out yet.
Patti,
Coincidentally, John Floyd has an interesting column on outlining over at Criminal Brief.
http://criminalbrief.com/?p=1007
Terrie
Thanks for visiting my blog!
I do tend to start with a list of traits, but they don't always make their way into the story. I don't worry about it. I do lots of drafts, layering in more each time, and when I know the characters and the theme better, I'll add the traits and mannerisms then.
Shauna-That's pretty much what I do. Keep going over it and adding texture and nuance. Or at least try to.
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