10 Steps to Creating Lovable, Believable Characters

10 Steps to Creating Lovable, Believable Characters

1.) What does s/he look like?

It's important to have a very good vision of your character's appearance in your mind while you write.  And keeping notes in a journal/notebook or on index cards is a good idea.  (Or another file in your computer, since that's what kids are doing now-a-days.)  That way you don't say the character has blue eyes in chapter 2, and then brown eyes in chapter 11.  Sometimes I cheat and steal certain characteristics from actors/actresses, that way I can just reference a picture when I need to.

2.) What does s/he act like?

Sometimes, when I take notes on my index cards, I put down things like "broods like Snape," or "curious like Alice."  I'll write things like "massive flirt," or "gets angry at the drop of a hat."  These notes help remind me that when I'm writing these characters, to make sure and keep their mannerisms and dialogue consistent.  It's confusing and frustrating when characters act a certain way at the beginning of the book, and change drastically by the end.  (Unless, of course, there is conflict and character development to help lead the characters to new personality traits.  For the purposes of character creation, though, make sure to take notes on how your character is at the beginning of the story.)

3.) What backstory would lead to that personality and/or appearance?

Keeping the backstory consistent with the character's physical description and personality description is really important.  If a character is covered in battle scars and gruff toward everyone, there has to be a reason for it.  Perhaps he was injured in a war, and is suffering from post traumatic stress.  (Mad-Eye Moody?)  Likewise, if a character is overly friendly, naive, and young, it's possible that this character has been sheltered her whole life. (Anna of Arendelle?)

4.) What are her/his goals?

If you don't know where your character wants to be in his or her life, character creation is a wonderful time to start brainstorming those things.  A very specific goal is very easy to write--and will drive the story forward.  It's when we get characters with conflicting goals that makes for good drama.  Where would The Fellowship be if Frodo hadn't decided to take the ring to Mordor?

5.) What are her/his fears?

Likewise, your character needs to have things that are holding her back.  Things she fears, things that make her more believable and well rounded.  A character with no internal conflict makes for boring reading, even if the external conflict abounds.  That iconic scene where Rapunzel reaches the ground outside of her tower in Tangled wouldn't be nearly as heart-warming if she was gung-ho about leaving and had no second thoughts about hurting her "mother's" feelings.

Now you have a pretty good idea of who this character is.  Next you have to make sure the character isn't irritatingly perfect, or irritatingly flawed.

6.) Does your character have 1 flaw for every 1 merit?

This is a pretty basic idea.  Take your index card/notebook/word document, split it down the middle, and start brainstorming the merits of your character on one side, and her flaws on the other.  If there's more on one half than the other, you may need to adjust.  There are, of course, exceptions to this rule.  Villains are allowed to have more flaws than merits, or vice versa.  Not all of these merits and flaws will be made immediately known to the reader, which is another thing to keep in mind.  Also, sometimes one huge merit can outweigh a ton of flaws, or vice versa.

7.) Are your character's merits/flaws trendy?  Over-used?

I'm sick to death of characters who "read too much" or are clumsy.  I would prefer to read about fresh characteristics, ones that haven't been over used.  Take a look at the real-life people around you, and "borrow" some of their merits and flaws.  Do you have the best dad ever? (My daughters do.)  Maybe your character can be an amazing father.  Do you know one of the "entitled generation?"  Maybe your character is arrogant and self-important.  These are much better than something we've read time and time again.

8.) Are your character's physical traits believable?

If you considered "too pretty" to be one of your character's flaws, just stop.  Just stop now.  It would be a fantastic, wonderful, amazing world if the physical characteristics of characters in fiction and literature mirrored the physical characteristics of people in the real world.  People are fat.  And thin.  And tall.  And short.  Some have duck feet.  Some are pigeon toed.  Some wear glasses, and some don't.  Race, gender, cultural background and time period are all things to consider when creating your characters.  Diversify, and you'll find it'll be more fun to write and more fun to read.

9.) Does your character have a backstory that makes us sympathize with her/him?

Imagine if Harry Potter had grown up a jerk instead of a modest young man.  Or if Annie hated the world because of the way she was treated in the orphanage.  These are a couple of instances in which the backstory makes the character more endearing.  It would be quite easy to use the backstory for these characters to try and force emotional reactions out of the reader, therefore turning him or her off of your story.  

10.) Will you or your readers be jealous of her/him?

There are two different kinds of jealousy.  One is the kind that makes you dislike a character and the other is the kind where you want to be that character (Tony Stark).  It's okay to give your characters good things in their lives, but make sure that they're believable, and that they move the story forward.  No one wants to read about Scrooge McDuck counting all of his precious gold all day with no conflict and no character development.  Giving a character things struggle with and things to rejoice about will make him or her more well rounded in the long run.

These intricacies will give your readers reasons to root for or against your characters in their endeavors.  Hopefully the passions in your characters will drive the story forward.

Oh, one more thing:

11.) Is your character the "Every Man"?

It's acceptable, maybe even encouraged, to have one character who is "normal."  He is the sounding board for everyone else's crazy.  The Jim Halpert or Arthur Dent, even Yossarian with all of his crazy is a "straight man" when the world around him goes insane.  Having one boring character amidst a handful of interesting ones is perfectly acceptable--and may be a relief for both writer and reader alike.

That being said, good luck writing your characters!  Keep them consistent, change them when the plot organically causes character development, and for goodness sake, don't stop writing!

10 Steps to Creating Lovable, Believable Characters

10 Steps to Creating Lovable, Believable Characters

1.) What does s/he look like?
It's important to have a very good vision of your character's appearance in your mind while you write.  And keeping notes in a journal/notebook or on index cards is a good idea.  (Or another file in your computer, since that's what kids are doing now-a-days.)  That way you don't say the character has blue eyes in chapter 2, and then brown eyes in chapter 11.  Sometimes I cheat and steal certain characteristics from actors/actresses, that way I can just reference a picture when I need to.

2.) What does s/he act like?
Sometimes, when I take notes on my index cards, I put down things like "broods like Snape," or "curious like Alice."  I'll write things like "massive flirt," or "gets angry at the drop of a hat."  These notes help remind me that when I'm writing these characters, to make sure and keep their mannerisms and dialogue consistent.  It's confusing and frustrating when characters act a certain way at the beginning of the book, and change drastically by the end.  (Unless, of course, there is conflict and character development to help lead the characters to new personality traits.  For the purposes of character creation, though, make sure to take notes on how your character is at the beginning of the story.)

3.) What backstory would lead to that personality and/or appearance?
Keeping the backstory consistent with the character's physical description and personality description is really important.  If a character is covered in battle scars and gruff toward everyone, there has to be a reason for it.  Perhaps he was injured in a war, and is suffering from post traumatic stress.  (Mad-Eye Moody?)  Likewise, if a character is overly friendly, naive, and young, it's possible that this character has been sheltered her whole life. (Anna of Arendelle?)

4.) What are her/his goals?
If you don't know where your character wants to be in his or her life, character creation is a wonderful time to start brainstorming those things.  A very specific goal is very easy to write--and will drive the story forward.  It's when we get characters with conflicting goals that makes for good drama.  Where would The Fellowship be if Frodo hadn't decided to take the ring to Mordor?

5.) What are her/his fears?
Likewise, your character needs to have things that are holding her back.  Things she fears, things that make her more believable and well rounded.  A character with no internal conflict makes for boring reading, even if the external conflict abounds.  That iconic scene where Rapunzel reaches the ground outside of her tower in Tangled wouldn't be nearly as heart-warming if she was gung-ho about leaving and had no second thoughts about hurting her "mother's" feelings.

Now you have a pretty good idea of who this character is.  Next you have to make sure the character isn't irritatingly perfect, or irritatingly flawed.

6.) Does your character have 1 flaw for every 1 merit?
This is a pretty basic idea.  Take your index card/notebook/word document, split it down the middle, and start brainstorming the merits of your character on one side, and her flaws on the other.  If there's more on one half than the other, you may need to adjust.  There are, of course, exceptions to this rule.  Villains are allowed to have more flaws than merits, or vice versa.  Not all of these merits and flaws will be made immediately known to the reader, which is another thing to keep in mind.  Also, sometimes one huge merit can outweigh a ton of flaws, or vice versa.

7.) Are your character's merits/flaws trendy?  Over-used?
I'm sick to death of characters who "read too much" or are clumsy.  I would prefer to read about fresh characteristics, ones that haven't been over used.  Take a look at the real-life people around you, and "borrow" some of their merits and flaws.  Do you have the best dad ever? (My daughters do.)  Maybe your character can be an amazing father.  Do you know one of the "entitled generation?"  Maybe your character is arrogant and self-important.  These are much better than something we've read time and time again.

8.) Are your character's physical traits believable?
If you considered "too pretty" to be one of your character's flaws, just stop.  Just stop now.  It would be a fantastic, wonderful, amazing world if the physical characteristics of characters in fiction and literature mirrored the physical characteristics of people in the real world.  People are fat.  And thin.  And tall.  And short.  Some have duck feet.  Some are pigeon toed.  Some wear glasses, and some don't.  Race, gender, cultural background and time period are all things to consider when creating your characters.  Diversify, and you'll find it'll be more fun to write and more fun to read.

9.) Does your character have a backstory that makes us sympathize with her/him?
Imagine if Harry Potter had grown up a jerk instead of a modest young man.  Or if Annie hated the world because of the way she was treated in the orphanage.  These are a couple of instances in which the backstory makes the character more endearing.  It would be quite easy to use the backstory for these characters to try and force emotional reactions out of the reader, therefore turning him or her off of your story.

10.) Will you or your readers be jealous of her/him?
There are two different kinds of jealousy.  One is the kind that makes you dislike a character and the other is the kind where you want to be that character (Tony Stark).  It's okay to give your characters good things in their lives, but make sure that they're believable, and that they move the story forward.  No one wants to read about Scrooge McDuck counting all of his precious gold all day with no conflict and no character development.  Giving a character things struggle with and things to rejoice about will make him or her more well rounded in the long run.

These intricacies will give your readers reasons to root for or against your characters in their endeavors.  Hopefully the passions in your characters will drive the story forward.

Oh, one more thing:
11.) Is your character the "Every Man"?

It's acceptable, maybe even encouraged, to have one character who is "normal."  He is the sounding board for everyone else's crazy.  The Jim Halpert or Arthur Dent, even Yossarian with all of his crazy is a "straight man" when the world around him goes insane.  Having one boring character amidst a handful of interesting ones is perfectly acceptable--and may be a relief for both writer and reader alike.

That being said, good luck writing your characters!  Keep them consistent, change them when the plot organically causes character development, and for goodness sake, don't stop writing!

8 Tips on Surviving an Outing with a Toddler

8 Tips on Surviving an Outing with a Toddler

1.) Don’t go.

Really.  Don’t go.  If you don’t have to go out, don’t.  It’ll save you time, energy, money and stress.  Mostly stress.  And hassle.  Send your husband, wife, or partner to the store.  Or, better yet, go when the little one is asleep.

But, if you do have to go…

2.) Only make one stop.

If your child gets as cranky as mine does/did, then one stop is about all you can handle.  All the excess gear (shopping cart cover, diaper bag, etc.) and getting the little one in and out of the car/carseat will add quite a bit of time to your trip.  More time than you plan for.

3.) Talk to everyone you can.

This is a ‘stay sane’ tip, because we all need those.  I found that being at home with a child all day long made me yearn for adult interactions.  I found myself striking up conversations with the Starbucks Barista, the Checker, the Teller, anyone who would be able to talk to me about recent events or the weather.

4.) Don’t be afraid to leave.

If your little one starts to make a mess, or scream, or misbehave, don’t be afraid to leave a cart full of groceries in the middle of the supermarket and take the child home.  Sometimes kids just need a nap.  These outings take a lot out of them.  

BUT don’t make a threat you’re not willing to follow through with.  “We’ll go straight home!” will work much better in future if you actually do drop everything and take the child home.  (And you may only need to do that once if you actually do it when you threaten to!)

5.) Bring snacks.

For you and for the child.  I cannot emphasize how important this one is.  You can bring snacks, or buy snacks--Goldfish are wonderful, but I’ve also found that grapes, raspberries and Crasins work really well--but making sure you have something to keep the blood sugar up, keep the hands and mouth occupied, and keep a little one sitting still is imperative to being able to accomplish anything while you’re out.  

6.) Use technology to distract.

What would you rather see: a screaming toddler throwing items out of a shopping cart, making a huge mess, causing a ruckus… or a calm, peaceful child watching Mickey Mouse or Elmo quietly on his parent’s phone, while the parent has both hands free to finish shopping quickly and take said child home?

That’s what I thought.

I don’t want to hear the garbage about “too much screen time” or “we didn’t use that sort of thing back in my day”... parents have a hard enough time as it is.  Don’t judge.

7.) Have extra supplies, just in case.

You know what I’m talking about.  My little one likes to leave a load at Target.  Doesn’t matter what time of day it is, if we’re in that store, she dirties a diaper.  I’m often scrambling to get diapers and wipes.  You’d think I’d have learned this by now.  Always have extra supplies.  Uh-Oh clothes, diapers wipes, hand sanitizer and tissues are really helpful.

8.) Don’t cave.

Don’t cave to the “just throw it in the cart so we can get out of here” impulse that I’m sure will come over you.  Don’t cave to the “if I buy this one thing for you, will you be quiet?” instinct that kicks in.  Don’t cave to the “I’ll buy three of these so I don’t have to come back out again next week” knee-jerk reflex that so often comes along with shopping with a screaming kid.

Make sure you’ve accomplished what you need to accomplish, without too much frivolous extras.  There was a while when I couldn’t get out of a store without spending $100 and at least 90 minutes.  You can do better than I did.  Just be prepared.

I hope that this helps you with your outings.  Just remember that you will only encounter two types of people out there in the real world; those who are sympathetic and supportive, and those whose opinion doesn’t matter.

Good luck.

Brainstorming to Zero Draft in 10 Easy(?) Steps

I've participated in several rounds of NaNoWriMo (nanowrimo.org) and won the last three years running.  I'm planning on writing something new this year*, so I'll need to brush up my "Zero Draft Writing" skills.  I figure, it's helped me win NaNoWrimo 2011, 2012 and 2013... so maybe these notes will help someone else with their fiction writing, too.

*Note: Steps 1-8 need to be completed BEFORE November 1 if the process is to be used for NaNoWriMo 2014.  This means the process should be started a month to six weeks beforehand, to allow for adequate planning/brainstorming/outlining time before November First.

First, Tools:

- Pens in different colors, that are fun to write with:  It's very important that these pens are fun to write with.  Even if you do all of your actual novel-writing on your computer, Brainstorming takes time and generous amounts of hand-writing.  Hence, pens.  Different colors make thoughts easier to organize, and they have to be fun to write with, or you won't want to write with them.

- Notebooks you're not afraid to write in: I always have a notebook (or two or three) on hand.  At all times.  In my car, by the computer, on the kitchen sink... I get a lot of notebooks and journals as presents, and I have to say that the cheap, clearance or dollar-bin ones are my favorite.  Why?  Because I don't mind writing in them, tearing out the pages, and using them to bits.  When a journal or a notebook is leather-bound or too cute to use, I'm hesitant to use them.  I want to keep them looking perfect, rather than use them up.

- Legal Pads: These come in different colors, too, for color coordinating.  I use these for long lists, for organizing scenes, and for drawing plot charts.  They have more space than your average notebook.

- Index Cards: Essential to me when it comes to brainstorming scenes, and then working out the order they'll go in in the work.  (More on ordering scenes later)

- Painter's Tape: I normally organize my Index Cards by laying them all out on the floor, and moving them around.  But I can see the merits of putting them up on the wall or on a bulletin board (less bending down and/or possible back strain).

- Post-it notes: Just good to have.  Write "you should be writing!" on several of these, and put them up all over your house.

Second, the Process:  (Here's where the 10 Easy(?) Steps part comes in)

1.) Figure out what inspires you, and surround yourself with it.

For some people this involves music, literature, art, or film.  For me, it's all about tea and Judge Judy.  Though, I have been known to find a song and play it on loop for literally hours on end.  (Tori Amos' version of Strange Little Girl.)  If you work best with classical music in the background, that's what you should have playing.  If you need to sit at the park in the bright sunshine, do this.  Whatever it takes to get those creative juices flowing.  Me, I'm a thief.  I steal ideas from other works.  Rapunzel's hair, or Super Mario's accent, or a line from a Hymn at church, whatever it is, I write it down and tape it up on the wall by my computer.

2.) Write down the first thing that comes to mind.

No judgements here, no filters, no excuses.  Whatever jumps into your head, write it down.  Maybe it'll work with your current project, or maybe it won't.  But you can't use it if you don't write it down.  Start filling up notebooks, index cards, legal pads, google docs and scratch paper with your ideas.  Brainstorm character profiles--or simply characteristics, settings, conflicts, jokes, romantic notions, action sequences, professions, whatever.  

3.) Color Code.

I love using different colored gel pens to write different things.  Once I've gotten a ton of notes, I start sorting through it by re-writing the ideas onto index cards.  For instance, anything to do with characters will be written in blue.  Character traits, profiles, appearances, professions, etc., will be written in blue ink on index cards.  Then I put humor in orange.  Any jokes or funny situations that I've come up with all go in orange on index cards.  Settings are green.  Romance is purple.  Action is red.  You get the idea.

4.) Come up with Challenges for your characters to overcome.

This is the part where the story starts to take shape.  Looking at the cast of characters you've created, the settings and funny moments, start putting together ideas of where, when, what and why.  Conflict is the most important part of step number four.  You can't have a story without conflict.  What obstacles will come between your blue character and her purple love interest?  What sticky situation will the blue character get into that will cause him to say the orange joke?  How will the green setting cause problems for your blue characters and their red actions?

5.) Give it a vague order.

The greatest thing about being a writer is that you can write anything.  The most frustrating thing about being a writer is that you can write anything.  You have to make the tough decisions, and start limiting yourself.  Though, hopefully for every door you close, two windows will open.  They always do for me.  This part of the process is where you start making those difficult decisions, and deciding which pieces of the story go where.  Remember, nothing here is law, and you can always add more scenes or characters later.  Likewise, if something isn't working out, you can always cut things out later, too.

6.) Put everything away for at least 24 hours.

Remember when I said you needed time?  You do.  Every writer needs to let those ideas bubble inside her or his head for a while, to solidify.  Put everything you have into a folder, close it, set it on your desk, and go play for a while.  Go to work, go to sleep, go have dinner, go see a movie.  Do a bunch of things to get your mind off of it.  I let things sit and stew for a week or more sometimes.  

7.) Return and refresh.

Hopefully you've had a chance to eat, sleep, shower and get a little "real life" time in.  (This is where I take my children to the park, go on a date with my husband, or sew costumes with my mother.)  Once time has passed, come back to the folder, blow the dust off of it, and review all of your notes.  Familiarize yourself with your characters, settings and plot once more.  Take some time to get to know your action, comedy and romance.  Make changes where you feel it's necessary.

8.) Write out the 5 W's of each scene.

You should know as a writer what is happening in each scene.  If you plan it all out ahead of time, all you'll have to do is fill in the blanks when you sit down to write your Zero Draft.  Turn each of your Index Cards over, and write out the Who, What, Where, When and Why of each scene.  This should take a big chunk of time, but will be worth it in the long run.  You'll know exactly what's happening, what comes next, and where you've been.

9.) Transcribe all of your notes and scenes to the computer.

This step is optional, but I find that it helps me to run through everything again, to put it all in the proper order, and to have one document file with my whole story outline.  Then when I go add the meat and guts to the bare bones, I don't lose track of anything.

10.) Sit down and start writing.

The most important step is to actually do the butt-in-chair time.  Start at the beginning, and put flesh on your outline.  Fill in the character descriptions, add action, dialogue, character development and relationships.  This is the most important, but possibly also the most fun.  Often times it feels like you're getting to know good friends, or getting to hate good enemies.

Do not--I repeat, do not--go back and re-read anything that you've written.  You've got the outline there to help you remember where you are and where you're going.  If you go back and re-read what you've written, you're likely to find mistakes and start fixing them.  That's not what this step is for.  This step is for writing and writing only.

Do not--I repeat, do not--delete anything.  If you don't like it, simply hit enter a couple of times and start again.  You can always cut it out later, but if you delete it you can never go back and fix what you didn't like.

DO--I repeat, DO--save your work.  Often.  Use DropBox, Google Docs, physically print pages, External Hard Drive, Email to yourself, whatever.  Keep copies of your work, save everything.  Save Save Save!

This is how I completed NaNoWriMo 2011, 2012 and 2013.  With a few minor alterations here and there, but for the most part this is my process.  I'm starting on Step 1 right now for my NaNoWriMo 2014 project.  I'm thinking more Fantasy this year.  Something fun.

Please leave me a comment below and let me know what parts of my list you like or dislike. Do you use a similar process in your own writing?  How are you planning for NaNoWriMo? I would love to be NaNoWriMo Writing Buddies this November, too!  

Brainstorming for Blog Posts

After reading a few articles about what writers should blog, I decided to make a brainstorming post with some of their ideas, that way I can reference it quickly when doing my own research. Half the time I open up my blog and go to make a post, and have no idea what I should write about, or where to start. I know I'm going about this the completely wrong way, so here's a step in (what I hope is) the right direction.

Kirkus MacGowan's blog post, Blog Ideas for Fiction Writers: Peanut Buying Escapades?, he gives a brief list of topics that I found to be fascinating. Writing from a character's point of view, or discussing the inspiration for your current WIP are good places to start when it comes to blogging about your work without blogging about your work.

Joan Stewart, of thepublicityhound.net, wrote a blog post called Fiction authors: Blog about these 19 topics that has a nice, big list of inspiration. If I was a more disciplined writer, I would take one of these per day or week, and write up a post. It may not make me any better of a writer, but at least I'd be more prolific. (Though, I have a feeling it would help be be a better planner, brainstormer, and writer--if NaNoWriMo taught me anything, it's that if you force yourself to be more disciplined, it improves your performance in a lot of ways.)

Is it easier for Non-Fiction writers to maintain blogs? The article WHAT SHOULD FICTION WRITERS BLOG ABOUT? over at writersdigest.com gives some good advice to Fiction Writers who want to make their blogs display their own strengths, interests and eccentricities.

Over at warriorwriters.wordpress.com, the article Sacred Cow-Tipping–Why Writers Blogging About Writing is Bad brings up the idea that writers shouldn't be blogging about writing for a number of reasons, but mostly for imposing limitations and increasing competition. The points made are good, and don't preclude a writer from creating and sustaining a blog, but it seems to only address the problem and not supply a solution. (Or, a variety of solutions and advice.)

Jami Gold approaches the question a slightly different way in her blog post, How Do You Choose Blog Topics? by responding to the warriorwriters.wordpress.com article. She interprets the original post to say that writers should blog about "our brand. About us." Then she goes on to describe her own approach to blogging from her perspective as a writer.

All of these articles or blog posts beg the question, "what do YOU want to write about?" or, more importantly, "what would you want to read about, as an author's fan?" Those are good questions to consider. What would I want to write about? What would I want the fans of my writing (if I ever find some out there) to read about?