by Angela Ackerman
Let me ask a question: how much time do you spend crafting a character for your novel, say a protagonist? Ten hours? Twenty? Fifty or more?
Whatever you answered, I bet we all agree that characters require a lot of work. Who they are in the story, what they want and need, what they fear, and how they will go about dealing with the challenges on the road ahead…these are not “surface” questions. Only by digging into the layers of a character’s mindset, personality, and backstory can we truly understand what matters most to them, drives them, and what will steer their behavior in the story.
The payoff is huge, though…writing them becomes so much easier! Every action, choice, and decision will logically flow from the information we’ve uncovered. Better yet, because we’ve worked so hard to create a character who experiences emotions, struggles, and inner doubt just as we ourselves do, readers will connect deeply to them and what they’re going through.
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Oof. I guess I’m fortunate. I trust my characters to reveal who they are as the story develops. After all, it’s their story, not mine. They’re the ones who are living it.
I’ve been lucky with this as well, Harvey.
Yeah, and I’ll bet you know how much “luck” is involved too. (grin) I sent you an email, by the way. If you didn’t get it, please email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. I love your logline and your productivity, and I have a proposition for you.
I read the email. I’ll check it out later today. Thanks.
Reblogged this on Anna Dobritt — Author.
Thanks for sharing this, Anna
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