Who has done this with their characters? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
I admit I’ve never done a character chart for any of my books. I’m such a pantser that I just write and the characters flaws, habits, endearing qualities, etc just come out as I write. But with this latest book I’ve started, I’ve found myself asking at least three questions (tip from Paperback Writer’s awesome blog!)
Who is this person?
What does she/he want?
What’s the worst thing you could do to him/her?
Oy! That was an eye opening exercise! Very useful. If you’re a pantser like me…try this and see what you find out about your characters.
Question for any authors reading this post, what do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
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I so love PBW. Such great advice and insight. I use those questions often when I begin a project. Recently, I’ve also started asking each of the main characters to tell me the story from start to finish. It’s interesting because you get the different POV’s and takes on what’s happened.
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I tried several of those character charts, but they didn’t work for me. By the time I finished filling them out, I was sick and tired of my characters.
So how do I get into my characters’ head? I live through them. It’s weird but when inspiration hits me, I get completely zone out. I sit before my computer, my fingers flying over the keyboard, my eyes glazed. All I see and hear is my characters. Sometimes I hear myself saying some of the dialogues. It’d be spooky, except I used to be a musician. Okay, musicians are wacked too. *LOL*
by Silma
on March 23rd, 2006 at 7:43 pm
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Hey Jordan,
Oooh, HE SAID, SHE SAID, eh? I like that idea. Wonder if I could do it tho? 
by Patrice
on March 23rd, 2006 at 7:58 pm
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Hi Silma,
I understand where you’re coming from about not wanting to do the character charts. I don’t want to know “too” much about my characters because I really do want them to surprise me as I write.
I’ve never actually spoken dialogue out loud but I also kind of zone out and become my characters so I’m with you there! As for musicians…I did a post a while back on my respect for them.
by Patrice
on March 23rd, 2006 at 8:01 pm
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I think I did one once - can’t really remember. I seem to be able to keep my characters straight. Uh, Well, you know what I mean.
by Sam
on March 25th, 2006 at 9:23 am
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I do like to pre-plot a book before I write, but it tends to be messy and ever changing. So the hardest part about doing a proposal is having to have my characters set in stone. Because they really don’t come to life for me until I start writing the book. When I put words to the page, that’s when they start talking to me and I find out about them. I can’t seem to make it work otherwise.
I like the 3 questions thing, though. Really interesting. I might have to try that.
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Hey Sam, heh, got it.
I like to be surprised by my characters, so I don’t like to detail them out. That’s why I like the 3 questions approach.
by Patrice
on March 27th, 2006 at 12:10 am
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Hey Jaci,
Yep, the ever-changing would be me too so the detailed pre-plotting would drive me nuts. I think partiallly because my mind would want to stick with what was written while my muse would be screaming to deviate. LOL!
by Patrice
on March 27th, 2006 at 12:12 am
