Since NaNoWriMo is only a couple weeks away, Fable and the Verbivore are having a three-part conversation that unpacks prep work that we do prior to writing.

Today, we talk about character development and questions and methods that we’ve used to help figure out who our characters are and what motivates them to act.

In this episode, we discuss some different approaches to connect with your characters and work towards finding out what they want, need, fear, and avoid. We recognize that there are many ways to approach this process. Here are a few that we touch on:

• Save social media posts that feel quirky and distinctive - maybe even like a character you have in mind

• Write down snippets of overheard conversations that feel interesting and connected to your story or sound like your character

• Look your character metaphorically in the eye, see them

• Directly interview (ask questions to) your characters

• Listen for the distinctive voice of your characters

• Give yourself and your characters the space and time to discover hidden truths

• Get introspective and check in with yourself as to what feels authentic for your character

• Fill out character sheets

• Embody your characters, as an actor would

• Pull tarot cards to see what ideas spark with your characters

• Ask yourself how each of your characters would react in a bar fight

These are just a few ideas to try out and there are a myriad of other options out there to use to explore, develop, and connect with your characters. And absolutely any method that works is valid, no matter how strange it may seem. :-)

We hope you enjoy this episode! Keep reading, writing, and putting your voice out there!

Into the woods,

Fable & The Verbivore

Notes:

In case you’re unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, here is some information: https://nanowrimo.org/what-is-nanowrimo

Both Fable and the Verbivore mention a variety of methods for connecting with and developing characters, some they’ve discovered through trial and error, discussions with other authors, and through research. Here are some articles that look at character development and a few articles that touch on some of these methods:

• https://blog.reedsy.com/character-development/

• https://blog.reedsy.com/character-flaws/

• https://blog.reedsy.com/character-profile/

• Lessons from the Screenplay - The Soul of Good Character Design - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM3IQFgP-d8

• Diane Callahan - Quotidian Writer - Creating Captivation Characters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrkY3WrJ_v8

• Diane Callahan - Quotidian Writer - Writing Exercise: Fleshing Out Your Characters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwJGon94Sx4

• Pixar in a Box: Character Development - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngZQUebMSEg

• https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/apr/27/majority-of-authors-hear-their-characters-speak-finds-study

• https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2018/12/14/writing-with-tarot-how-the-cards-point-the-way-to-your-story/

• https://www.masterclass.com/articles/character-development-questions-to-ask-your-characters

• https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/how-to-make-ordinary-characters-compelling

• https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/using-physicality-to-bring-your-characters-and-your-fiction-to-life

• https://www.novel-software.com/character-questionnaire/

• https://fuckyeahcharacterdevelopment.tumblr.com/post/50825149893/character-sheets-and-character-creation

The Verbivore references some of the legal aspects potentially connected with character development. First, when borrowing character attributes from another author, make sure you’re not infringing on someone else’s Intellectual Property (IP) and Copywrite as individual characters can be covered by this law. Second, when creating a character inspired from someone you know in real life, make sure that the elements and details you use aren’t readily identifiable as that specific person as this could open yourself up to a libel lawsuit. These are just good things to be aware of when you start writing. Here are a few articles on these subjects:

• Protecting Fictional Characters Under U.S. Copyright Law - https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/protecting-fictional-characters-under-copyright-law.html

• Protecting Your Stories -[Description of Copyright Law and the Protections in place for Authors] https://www.marklitwak.com/protecting-your-stories.html

• When Art Imitates Life: Suing for Defamation in Fiction - https://www.dmlp.org/blog/2010/when-art-imitates-life-suing-defamation-fiction

Our friend and writer Jo Mercer is hosting a NaNo prep month on Instagram @jmercerbooks under the hashtag #nanoprepandwin. It has some great story preparation prompts and questions. If you’re preparing to write a new story, we’d highly recommend checking it out!

Books Mentioned:

• Elements of Fiction Writing: Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell

Music from: https://filmmusic.io
’Friendly day’ by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)