Character developement - Writers Forum

Lpspider · 10-22-2005, 11:25 AM

I hope this is the right place to post this.

Anyway, character developement. This tends to be the hardest thing for me as a writer. I can't really like people KNOW my chracters, give them emotions, etc. I'm too consered with the action. Any advice or resourses?

Thanks.

mammamaia · 10-23-2005, 08:35 AM

you could do what screenwriters often do, to 'connect' better with their characters... write a back story for each of the main ones... a bio that will let you get to know who/what they are and how they got that way...

your problem could also be that you're simply too young to have had enough experience yet, in understanding what makes people act the way they do...

observing people, reading lots of the best fiction of all ages, and letting time add to your store of people-knowledge can all help...

Londongrey · 10-23-2005, 10:51 AM

Well behind every action there is an emotive trigger. Perhaps as an excercise in your own writing, look at action and consider the emoption of your character in that moment. It may start to paint a coherent picture that you have not fully intended.

Lpspider · 10-23-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

you could do what screenwriters often do, to 'connect' better with their characters... write a back story for each of the main ones... a bio that will let you get to know who/what they are and how they got that way...

hmm...I like that idea. I think I'll work on that.

Thanks for the replies.

Black Phoenix · 11-08-2005, 12:24 PM

I'm with Londongrey, here. I'm gonna go a little further though and say, the emotion is the action! Anger, love, hatred, adrenaline highs, fear etc, hell, without that stuff, you're just recording events and it just won't come out as very exciting after a while.

One of the tricks I'm starting to learn is, let the characters think. Or rather, let us see what they're thinking. What's driving them to do what they are doing?

Oh, and I know, it is sometimes hard to write a domestic scene (on that subject, which no, not all emotion occurs in the domestic). One without guns going off and buildings collapsing and mosters running a muck (well it is for me anyway), but I would seriously advise doing it. We need to see the characters in a more natural light sometimes, to see if they're people we can start to like, or people we hate, or even people we want to fear.

Lpspider · 11-13-2005, 07:41 PM

Thanks for the advice.

I've been working on a book and had several chapters done, but it was pretty emotional-less. I started again from scratch - I'm just on the first chapter, but I can already tell it's doing better.

CabinFever · 11-19-2005, 09:39 AM

To give an example of character development, here's one I'm working on that might help you get an idea of how it might look on paper. This is not completed but you get the drift of how important character development is. Some of this comes from a character development software package I have and some parts come from a variety of sources. Anyway, by having a complete character profile it's much easier to keep the character in context through the story.

CHARACTER SUMMARY
Scott Countryman

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
43 years old
5' 8" tall
160 Lbs
Green eyes - no glasses or contacts
Black hair
Clean shaven

THE ENNEAGRAM:
The Caregiver (Type 2)
Needs to help others, afraid of being unloved
Giver, Caretaker, Helper, Nurturer
The Two’s focus goes to flattery, other's needs and being helpful.
Self Definition:
I am caring, I am nurturing, I am helpful.
Twos put a lot of energy and love into their personal relationships and they expect to be appreciated for their efforts. The act of helping others makes Twos feel good about themselves. However, all this helping can sometimes create a sense of entitlement. They can become intrusive and demanding if their unacknowledged emotional needs go unmet.
Because Twos focus so much energy on helping others meet their needs, they can forget to take care of their own needs. This can lead to emotional exhaustion and emotional outbursts. Healthy Twos understand they can only be truly helpful to others if they remain balanced and centered in themselves.
Examples of Twos:
Mother Theresa, Dr. McCoy (Star Trek), Mr. Rogers

GENERAL PERSONALITY:
Scott is a genuinely giving, accepting and warm person, who calms his inner fear of being unloved by helping others. He is personally involved with the person helped, looking for and finding an emotional connection, but tends to put aside what's best for himself, seeing wanting or needing as selfish. Self-love is conditional; Scott loves himself only when giving. This subtype is people-oriented, so he will focus his attention on a specific kind of person and for a reason. For instance, he may be a helper for an invalid or care about and help cancer patients because a close relative had cancer. There's more of a personal connection to what he is doing. He can also see the good in almost anyone (even when no one else can).

PERSONALITY FLAW:
Scott 's character flaw is based on the incorrect belief that personal fulfillment comes through giving to others. He tends to repress his own needs to do what he feels is the right thing: giving to others. During the story, he learns that the correct path to personal fulfillment, love and respect is through focusing on his own needs and learning to receive.

UNDER PRESSURE:
When he's under pressure, he can become angry and aggressive. When he's relaxed and secure, he gets in touch with his own needs and lets the world take care of him for a while.

BACKGROUND - CHILDHOOD:
Scott desperately wanted to connect to his protective father figure, but this figure was somehow inaccessible. He identified with the care-giving mother figure, seeing being a little nurturer as a way to fit in to the family structure and earn love from the protective figure. Putting aside self-love has always been the way for this type. He has always put the good of others above his own needs and, as such, may not have a lot of money or possessions and may have unfulfilled dreams. Scott feels good about what he has done, but wishes he could have achieved more personal growth and material accomplishments.

BACKGROUND - EDUCATION:
Having had an average education, Scott tends to focus on helping individuals and large groups. He may still be involved in helping groups he helped in college. He also has diverse interests in many different areas.

BACKGROUND - WORK BEHAVIOUR:
At work, Scott is helpful, openhearted and relationship oriented. He wants to bring out the best in others without expecting much in return. He's attracted to jobs that help those less fortunate.

DIALOGUE STYLE:
Scott is very supportive of others and will give compliments and terms of endearment very easily. Also, put downs are harsh to him Not only will Scott not use them, but he will try to stop others from using them. He is genuinely caring and, because of this subtype, very willing to make that verbal. Personal needs of safety and protecting the psyche have been put aside. He is more daring in reaching out to others and very positive. Dialogue examples: "You did a great job." "You are an awesome person." "I love you." "If you ever need help, I'm here." Internal Dialogue: "I feel good when I'm helpful."

RELATIONSHIPS - GENERAL
Scott can be helpful and supportive in a relationship. Other characters are attracted to his giving nature, but eventually feel that there may be strings attached, something may be expected in return. He tends to be attracted to Type 4s (The Bohemian) for friends and generally avoids Type 8s (The Boss).

RELATIONSHIP - TO XXXXXX (name removed)
Both characters love freedom and the good life. However, Scott can find XXXX (love interest and a Type 8-Cheerleader) overly self-serving, not paying enough attention to the relationship or reciprocating in give and take. Scott can then feel neglected and get demanding. XXXXX can find Scott overly focused on others and too needy. Feeling smothered and limited, XXXXX can respond with escapism and rationalization and Scott with angry outbursts.

STORY ARC - HOW HE CHANGES DURING STORY
(Starts off as 'healthy' and 'remains that way')
Helper/other characters generally don't change very much. But if there is a psychological change, Scott will move toward being more healthy, finding that he is worth something without being so giving of himself. He finds an unshakable self love that saves him from the trap he was in and, as a result, may finally open up to someone who is not so needy and willing to give to him The other option is for Scott to slip further into unhealthiness, becoming so desperate to be cared for that he becomes psychosomatically ill or injures himself, forcing the world to take care of him. This usually ends in giving up.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Part 1- General Personality
What do I like most about this character?
What do I hate about him or her?
What does this character care about most and how is that threatened?
What is his or her greatest obsession?
What secret is he or she keeping?
Does he or she have any hidden illnesses?
What is this character most afraid of?
What really annoys this character?
What mistake is this character making in life?
What is this character favorite music?
Does this character have any pets?
What does he or she do to have fun?

Part 2- Background
What did his or her parents do for a living?
Where the parents rich, poor, or middle class?
What kind of home environment did he or she grow up in?
Does this character have any siblings?
Was this character ever teased for a physical condition as a child?
What person affected this character the most?
Did this character have any pets growing up?
How did his or her gender affect his or her life?
What was this characters happiest occasion?
What was this characters saddest occasion?
Has this character ever given up a dream?
Was he or she addicted to anything?
What is this characters romantic past?
How has this character changed in the last ten years?
What is this characters biggest failure to date?
What is this characters biggest success to date?
What is this characters biggest trauma to date?

Part 3 - Relationships
How does this character contrast with the other characters?
How does this character conflict with other characters?
How does this character feel about other characters at the beginning?
How does this change during the story?
Does this character know any other characters before the story (give history & backstory)?
What affect does this have on the relationship?
Are there any misunderstandings between this character and any other characters?
How does it affect the relationship?
How is this character different around each other character?

Part 4 - Arc (changes during story)
What mistake is this character making in life?
What incorrect attitude does he or she possess?
How has this affected his/her life?
In what way has this attitude barred him or her from getting what he or she wants?
Generally, what would have to happen to change this character?
What are some examples that show this character the error of his or her ways?
Is this change positive or negative?
How does that change affect the story?
What could happen that would cause a relapse near the end of the story?
What act would prove this character has changed?

Aurelio · 11-19-2005, 07:11 PM

WOW!!!

Very impressive.

This is an out-of-left-field suggestion that is a non-specific way to help with character development (and dialog as well). I took several improv classes at a local improv theater, and the training was completely applicable to writing. When you are forced to come up with scenes on the spot, there are techniques they teach you in order to get a decent scene to emerge out of nothing. It's harder to explain than experience, but trust me, you'll have an epiphany if you try it.

Oh yeah, it's as scary as hell, but what the heck.