HOW TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR CHARACTERS
Ask any love-sick, starry-eyed teen how she keeps up
with her boyfriend, and she may take the time to tell you; that is, if she’s
not busy texting him or racing to the nearest mall to purchase that cute, got-to-have-it
mini skirt, perfect for their next movie-date and a jaw-dropping reaction.
The where-a-bouts, habits and detailed personality
traits of characters are equally crucial for an author. Any inconsistencies will likely discredit the
writer. So how should you, the writer, keep
it all together?
Do
the leg-work before you start your book.
This isn’t the most exciting part of novel-writing, but,
it is necessary. You should know the
basic outline to your book and its plot.
A general grasp of the ending should be apparent as well.
Another way to achieve a cohesive storyline is
through mind mapping. Additionally, some
authors keep a summary log of important details involving their characters.
This allows for a quick reference opposed to searching haphazardly through the
entire manuscript. (This is oftentimes in addition to the synopsis.)
Does the main character tend to cower in sticky
situations because he was abused as a child, but becomes an extravert once
placed in a leadership role? What
outstanding features does the character have?
Again, as I’ve stated in other articles, zodiac signs are excellent
sources for developing personality traits.
Your
characters’ actions should be consistent.
Many times, in the intensity of the moment, a writer
visualizes a great scene as it filters out through his or her fingers. However, the author may, inadvertently, have a
character stand and leave a room in which the character never entered in the
first place. If your character’s
favorite cigarette is Marlboro Lights, then the following two or three chapters
shouldn’t show her smoking Virginia Slims, unless there’s a reason for the
change-of-heart.
It’s important to let the reader know where the
characters are in the story. Is it day
or night? Monday or Friday? Are pumpkins outside because Halloween is
coming up? Are the trees budding because
it’s springtime? Is the story
present-time or from the 1930s?
Making note of the smallest detail can make all the
difference in plot development or the outcome of your book. Readers will delight in the recall of a
seemingly insignificant event or item mentioned early on, and later discovering
it has greater meaning.
How do you keep up with your characters?
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Comments
Linda
Thanks!
Linda