Learning to write is a slow-growth process. -Ralph Fletcher in Craft Lessons
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I have a shy character. Well, he may not really be shy, but he hasn't been terribly forthcoming when it comes to revealing who he is when people are watching (including me sitting there with my fingers poised over the keyboard) I've tried to sneak up and catch him when he doesn't think I'm paying attention--you know the writer tricks: take a shower, take a walk, drive the car somewhere--anywhere as long as you don't have kids in the car with you. But so far I've only caught glimpses; he wears t-shirts with funny/profound sayings on them as his way of flipping off the kids at school; he still struggles to control his/others emotions; he pushes the boundaries when it comes to when he should or shouldn't use his talent; he is a voracious reader; he sings slightly off-key.....
So far I haven't managed to overhear to many conversations though. I still feel like I'm not quite sure how he'd react in certain circumstances, what he'd say, what he'd do. Maybe there are certain techniques that writers use to get to know their characters. Maybe other writers just keep stumbling along like I do--writing, deleting, erasing, scrawling words down in a journal, snatches of conversation that I seem to hear in my brain. I keep reminding myself that no writing is a waste of time. Even if I don't use it in the novel, it still is needed to get me there. A diving board, starting blocks, a warm-up lap--it all makes a difference in the final run.
Does anyone else have any tricks they use to get them into a character--or to figure out the "voice" of a piece? How about the feeling like you don't want to waste precious writing time writing stuff that you might not use in the final draft? I have too dang much work ethic! It's a constant battle of reminding myself it is okay to play, to explore, to create just for the fun of it. And maybe, in the end, I really do know more about my character than I think. I just think too much.
3 comments:
Sarah;
Glad to see you blogging again. I really enjoy your word choices and the way you play with them.
Perhaps ask why is he shy? Could it be a lack of confidence? A parent who belittled him? Does he have a crush on the captain of the cheerleader squad, but she seems unaproachable, yet alone dateable? Is that a word?
Just some idle thoughts, that may or may not connect. I don't do much with characters, except critters, and they're mostly reactive.
Keep at it.
Hi Larry! Yeah, life has been crazy but that is a poor excuse for not blogging. I love the "ask why he is shy." Just the sound of it made me smile.
And your last statement was interesting to me. Maybe humans (especially teens) are mostly reactive too.
I don't know that my character himself is shy. I'm just having a difficult time getting to know him. I'm thinking maybe it is because I really like him and I don't want to ruin that. Sounds like a crush doesn't it? But seriously, it could be my need to make him (and this novel) "perfect" is getting in my way. And this character is one of the ones I thought of first--a big reason for the book, in fact.
Now how does one deal with that? Shitty first draft, shitty first draft, shitty first draft.....
Sarah,
When I created the characters in my novel I looked for pictures of them in magazines. I created a sheet for each character. Physical descriptions, histories, family, tastes, beliefs, tics, loves, hates... I wrote more than I included in the novel, but it was important to know these people very well.
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