Tuesday Ten: Character Development Through Hobbies

This week, I wanted to expand on one of the character quirks I listed in last week’s Tuesday Ten post: hobbies. If you’re like me, you might give your character a hobby simply to add a bit of color. And hobbies do add color: a good hobby will make your character quirkier and more memorable.

As a writer, though, you may want to make this character detail work even harder and, especially as you get deeper into a book, it can useful to think about what a character’s hobby can accomplish beyond adding surface color.

Photo Credit

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Plot: Finding the Threads (or: How to Eat an Elephant)

Last week, fellow YA author and blogger Julie Musil wrote a terrific post on how to use a spreadsheet analyze and improve your novel’s plot: Performing Plot CPR. If you haven’t read it, check it out. In this post, she provides a framework for getting the big picture of your work in progress so you can see what works, what doesn’t, and what you can cut without regrets.

Photo courtesy of GollyGforce on Flickr Creative Commons

I, too, am deep in the rewrite process—and rewriting a 300-page novel, even one that’s already been through multiple rounds of rewriting and revision is an elephant-sized task. When I try to take on the whole thing at once, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

However, there’s a time-honored technique for tackling any immense task or problem: divide it into smaller pieces and work on one at a time. Julie’s post explains one way to identify individual story elements where you can focus your efforts, and I want to share another technique: tracing individual story “threads” to make sure that each progresses smoothly and logically throughout the book.

After all, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

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Writing from Your Character’s Point of View: 5 Guidelines

In my current work-in-progress, I’m writing from the POV of a 12-year-old boy. As I wrote earlier, finding his voice has been a challenge! And since I’m writing in first person, I have to stay in that voice ALL THE TIME—when he speaks, when he thinks, even in the details I include when describing setting and other characters.

*Photo courtesy of exfordy on Flickr Creative Commons

Despite my love of writing flowery description, 12-year-old Elliot probably won’t think about the way light reflects golden from the many-paned window, and even he does happen to notice flowers growing alongside the path, he certainly won’t know that they’re tiger lilies unless I’ve already shown him to have a love of horticulture. (He doesn’t. He loves squirrels.)

I never get voice perfect on a first draft, but keeping the following guidelines in mind can help me get closer. On a rewrite, these guidelines help me analyze whether the voice is consistent and believable—or whether it strays into author-speak.

Five Guidelines for Writing Character’s POV

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Tightening Your (Manuscript’s) Belt: a Checklist for Eliminating Unnecessary Prose

Writers: we like to write. Some of us (like me!) like to write lots and lots and lots of pretty words…and then have to cut half of them during the rewrite/polish process.

I’ve been doing a LOT of rewriting—and cutting and tightening—these past few months. If you need to do a bit of your own manuscript pruning, read on for ways to tighten your story and bring down your word count!

Checklist for Tightening the MS Belt

1. Do you say the same thing twice?

• Example: Sudden tears burn at my eyes, angry and hot.
• Rewrite: Sudden tears burn at my eyes.
  --“angry and hot” doesn’t add anything to the description
  

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The OCD Writer, Revisited

I’ve written before about the ease with which a writer can drift into obsessive-compulsive behavior. And I have to admit: I’ve succumbed.

Unlike earlier bouts of obsession, when I fought the evil temptations of compulsive email checking (Did anyone respond to my submission yet? How about now? Or now?) and mailbox haunting, I like to think that my current state of…ahem…hyperfocus has been not entirely a bad thing. Maybe even a little bit of a good thing, because I’ve been obsessed with WRITING.

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Editing, editing, editing!

Is it a sign of too much rewriting and editing when you start to look at the whole world that way? Take the hat pictured to the left: normally, I would consider this a fine hat. Beautiful yarn, soft texture, bright colors…. but after weeks of nonstop thinking about character, voice, writing style, and audience, I found myself viewing this finished project with editing-type questions. Does this pattern display the yarn’s colorway to its best effect? Have I created the best texture for the piece? Will the audience love this hat, or would a different color emphasis be better?

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Rewriting Resources

Since I’ve been in rewriting mode these past few months, I thought I’d share of my favorite rewriting resources. I don’t use all of them every time…this is my rewrite toolbox, a collection of fantastic resources to spark my inner editor. And my inner wordsmith, plot doctor, and character designer. :)

• Minding Your 4Ps and QS: One Wordplayer's Approach to Writing the Character-and-Plot-Driven Novel, by John H. Ritter (originally published in The Writer, 2006) –provides a set of questions to apply to each scene to up character actions and motivations
• Don’t Murder Your Mystery, by Chris Roerden – provides “24 fiction-writing  techniques to save your manuscript from turning up D.O.A.”—the best rewriting resource I’ve read
• Writing the Breakout Novel, by Donald Maas – a book chock-full of thoughts on what makes a book great, as well as exercises for ratcheting up characters and conflict. The workbook is the practical companion to the ideas in the book.
• Revision, by Brian Yansky – List of questions to ask during revision process
• “The Essentials of Plot,” by editor Cheryl Klein – provides a great overview of plot, with a “plot checklist” to use after finishing that first draft

Revision Thought for the Day: Why a Checklist is a Good Idea

First, watch this. It’s only a minute long. You know you want to…!

I think this video presents a valuable lesson for writers as well as for its intended audience: that is, when you revise and rewrite, you can’t see what you’re not looking for.

What areas do you need to double-check when you rewrite? I like to make several passes through a manuscript, paying attention to different details each time through, details such as:

• Sensory detail
• Character arc
• Continuity
• Plot arc
• Language, grammar, & style
• Chapter endings—do they end with a cliffhanger?
• Do my characters appear at reasonable intervals throughout the book?
• Any plot details or backstory I need to fill in?

There are plenty of “revision checklists” out there to provide you with food for thought. The important thing is that you make a checklist that works for you and your story, so you can make sure you don’t miss any important details in your rewrite.

Happy rewriting!

:) Cheryl

Notes to start a writer’s week…

There are many, many things to think about when revising a novel. When you read back over that first draft, you might spot any of the following that need attention:

• voice
• character arc
• continuity
• memories/flashbacks to insert
• scenes to add/remove/tighten
• relationship arcs
• themes to strengthen (or give a lighter touch)
• language
• setting/description
• plot structure

Need I go on. But, dear writers who are anything like me, remember these two important rules before tackling that rewrite:

1. You can only work on one thing at a time.
2. You finished the book, so whenever needed--celebrate!

Okay, not sure if the last is a rule—but I did finish the Peru book. So far, its temporary titles include “Peru story,” “Peru book,” “Luciana’s Story,” and “Luciana Unlimited.” None of them really work. My husband and dear first-draft reader promised to come up with a better one for me.

Back to the rewrite….

:) Cheryl

Writing: The Mind Game

The "mind game" aspect of writing has been on MY mind a lot lately, maybe because I'm trying to overcome it long enough to get some words down daily. For me, writing is all about conquering--or maybe wooing--the mind. I have to put my mind in another place to write a great scene description; slip my mind into another body to write convincingly from someone else's point of view.

Today's mind game? Sidestepping the following:

1. Existential writing questions (you know, the "What is the meaning of writing, the universe, and everything?" kind, or worse, the "Should I really spend the time on this rewrite or would it be smarter to come up with a REALLY great idea...?")


2. Sudden hunger/thirst/caffeine attacks


3. Laundry


4. Puppy lips on my keyboard (theoretically)


5. Lists of "to-do"s that are really "to-don't"s, at least during writing time


6. Napping urges


7. A dozen new craft ideas that I should test and write up RIGHT NOW (not that that would be a bad thing, in that I'd have some crafts to submit and get some more subs out there, but they aren't my current top priority)


8. Sudden ideas for other stories/characters/worlds/magic systems


9. Repeats of above nap, food, drink, and caffeine siren calls


10. Cruising the net and reading all my favorite blogs....

:) Cheryl

PS--No, I was not kidding about the puppy lips. Look at that face! Could you push him away? :P

Great Resource for Writing Craft

In the midst of my rewriting rampage, Arthur A. Levine editor Cheryl Klein was kind enough to post a copy of her keynote address from the Terminus 2008 Harry Potter conference. Read the full text here: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeqjo1w/id38.html

In it, Klein discusses topics as diverse as characters, setting, theme, and plot. It's a checklist for the revising writer, taking a quick look at everything essential to a great book.

I took her speech and applied her questions to my own work. What am I trying to say in my work? What are my protagonist's virtues--and how do they relate to her flaws? How do my characters virtues and flaws drive her through the story? The insights gained are driving me through the story, too--in a very helpful way. Thanks, Cheryl Klein, for sharing your thoughts on the craft of writing for children!

:) Cheryl

Writing is HARD...

Did I ever mention my friend Julie's idea? Writers need a special version of the infamous "Math is hard" Barbie: ours would say "Writing is hard...."

Somehow that still manages to surprise me. When I sit down to write a new scene, I'm always caught unaware by the resistance that springs--can it be?--from inside me. I'm so used to battling external obstacles: finding time to write, removing distractions, balancing writing time with other details like laundry, exercise, eating, parenting, and occasional interactions with other humans.

So here I am, with two hours to spend working on my current project, and what happens? I'm bombarded with all the other things "I should do first." I should set up that IM client so I can communicate with folks on another project...I should write out deadlines for rewriting each chapter...I should crochet a few minutes to calm my whirling brain...I should make those changes on a Powerpoint presentation...I should go answer e-mails...I should I should I should. Blech.

I've had this running dialog with myself about all the things I should do instead of writing. The underlying issue, of course, is that the rewrite has stalled. I need to describe a room in a way that sets mood, gives a few concrete setting details, and moves the story forward--all in three sentences or so. And it's, yes, hard.

What do I do with this? Keep on keeping on, I suppose. I blog about it, so I get the craziness of it out where I can laugh at myself :). I determine that the world will not end if I complete my two hours of writing time without jumping up to do laundry or answer e-mails or accomplish whatever other urgent task has popped into my head. And I write the flipping paragraph. The first thing I write will suck. The second will be much better. The third might involve scrapping the first two tries altogether for a fresh start...and it's all progress.

I just have to do it. Even if writing is, occasionally, hard.

:) Cheryl

Finding inspiration...

Rewriting (yep, still doing that) requires a constant influx of creative inspiration. That's when the writer gets to discover the perfect sound to give the reader chills, the perfect smell to fill the reader with warm fuzzies, or the perfect phrase to make a character come to life.

Perfect. Arg. That word can be the bane of any writer...but we still want to get as close as we can, right?

I think the key to finding those perfect sounds, scents, and phrases is to fill up your mental toolbox with lots of choices. It's always easier to pick and choose from a given set of options (think multiple choice) than it is to start from scratch (think essay question). With all the rewriting I've been doing lately, I've had to refill my mental toolbox a lot. Here are some of my favorite places to do so:

• For the perfect smell, I visit the Demeter fragrance library: http://www.demeterfragrance.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID=8. If I find one particularly inspiring, I suppose I might buy it--but usually, it's enough to read through the list of names. (Did you know you could buy laundromat-scented cologne? Or baby powder?)
• If I need to sample some scents, my local natural food store is a great resource. I can wander the aisles and smell fresh kumquats and star fruit; or I can skip straight to the essential oils aisle for a sensation explosion.
• For the perfect voice, I visit the shopping mall and hang out on the plaza outside the movie theater. Kids, parents, and sweethearts of all ages meet and talk and laugh. Friday night's especially great for eavesdropping on the teen crowd....
• Another voice pick--check out the pizza parlors or other eating establishments within walking distance of the high school.
• The perfect sounds can be trickier. My choice here depends what I'm writing. Right now, I can hear goldfinches arguing over sunflower seeds; a chain saw; traffic noise like the surge of the ocean; warbling sparrows; a scolding squirrel. For something more exotic, I'd have to travel--or hit the Internet, where you can look up just about any sound bite imaginable. Ever heard the call of the New Zealand bellbird? (http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/bellbird/song.asp)

There are more sources I could list, but there's a fine line between research and procrastination. I need to get back to my own rewriting! Meanwhile, the next time you need a little of your own rewriting inspiration, trying filling up your mental toolbox with a sensory excursion.

:) Cheryl

Getting to Know Your Characters

The best characters, whether heros or villains, are those you know intimately. So how do you get to know them? Different methods work for different people. Here are a few tricks that work for me and for other writers I know:

• Head to a public place and borrow character traits from the people you see.
• Journal from that character's point of view.
• Tell the story from another character's point of view. This is especially helpful for understanding your villain. After all, most villains think they're doing the right thing.
• Fill out a "character questionaire." Numerous are available on the web and in writing books (for ex., http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/106) --or you can design your own.
• Take a particular scene and free write the character's emotions in that scene. What is her reaction to events? Does the event trigger any memories? What are they?
• Sometimes it's helpful to start with your knowledge of a real person (or, preferably, a few real people). Put together your character based on the characteristics, quirks, and speech patterns from your real-life observations and go from there.
• Act it out. Bring your whole body into the experience by donning a costume, a walk, or an attitude taken from your character. Walk down the street as your character (mentally, if you're worried what the neighbors will think....) Journal about your insights.

How do you get to know your characters? I'd love to hear!

:) Cheryl

Rewriting from the Inside Out

I've been thinking about one of the secondary characters in my current novel rewrite, a character by the name of Khess. Khess needs a "tell," something that will help her character come to life as unique and distinct from the other characters. I realized that I'm going about it the wrong way. I've been making lists of speech patterns, expressions, and character quirks, trying to find one that fits. Instead, I need to start inside the character, so that the quirk/expression/physical characteristic extends naturally from who she is. I need to figure out where Khess is coming from.

So I did a little journaling from Khess's point of view. She's not the main character. How does she feel when the main character comes waltzing into her life? What's her family situation? Who are her friends? How does the prejudice of her city affect her?

I'm not big on those "lists" people fill out to gain insight into their characters--you know, the ones where you fill in name, age, occupation, hobbies, car make and model. The list concept is a good one, but the list needs to be personalized for your particular characters and your particular story. The key is to get inside your characters' heads so that they become real people to you. When they're real to you, they can become real for the readers, too.

Khess is a much fuller, rounder character now--which is both good and bad. Good, because she's much easier to write. Bad, because I think I might have to rewrite a few scenes that I'd thought I finished. I'm not sure the Khess I've gotten to know would be quite so cheery and eager-to-please--and flat--as I've drawn her. More work (sigh), but definitely on the road to a better story. And after all, that's what it's all about!

:) Cheryl

Back to Re-Writing

I'm finally digging back into the rewrite of my WIP, after the various distractions that come with summer, kids, life, and coordinating a contest. I feel as if I'm getting together with a long-lost friend, all happy and hyped and full of too much to say.

I'm busy incorporating the changes I've outlined (which will keep me busy for a while) but I'm wondering it I should dive into a few writing exercises on the side as well. For inspiration :). I've had great luck with the exercises in Donald Maas's Writing the Breakout Novel workbook. For worldbuilding, Lee Killough's Checking On Culture: A Checklist for Culture Building is unparalleled.

I also just stumbled across a series of blog posts designed for the novel-revising writer. So far, they look excellent. So if you're busy revising your own WIP, check out Darcy Pattison's "30 Days to a Stronger Novel" series at: http://darcypattison.com/revision/30-days-to-a-stronger-novel/

Happy writing!

Cheryl