I’m excited to have YA author Medeia Sharif here today to share with us her favorite writing tip for characterization. I do something similiar. It really does help prevent cardboard characters.
(Btw, am I the only one who wants that cupcake???)
<<<3
My favorite writing tip involves writing character journals before I outline and draft. Who are my characters? I want to know before I put them to action.
I have a plethora of notebooks in my endless stationery collection. So I crack one open and, for a few pages per character, I allow my characters to speak. I write as if I’m them. They bring up their pasts, what they want, how they’re doing in school, relationships with people…they ramble, and this is how I find out who they are. I character journaled for the first time with my latest draft. It was easier to write the outline as well as the draft compared to previous manuscripts. I remember how my other first drafts had shallow characters who I had to deepen with revisions, but through journaling the depth has already been created. I have a good feel for who my characters are after getting to know them inside and out. Sure journaling takes days—when I could be outlining or writing the first few chapters—but it’s time well-spent. I’m actually saving time since the flow of my writing improves with this method.
I’m a blog hopper. I follow blogs, comment on them…I adore the blogosphere. I came across this writing tip from following Paul Greci’s blog. Here’s the blog post that started me on a journaling path. Isn’t it amazing how one blog post can change the way one writes?
How many of you journal in the voice of your characters? Is this something you’d be interested in doing?
About BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER.:
During Ramadan, we're not allowed to eat from sunrise to sunset, for a whole month. My family does this every year, even though I've been to a mosque exactly twice in my fifteen years. My exercise-obsessed mom—whose hotness skipped a generation, sadly—says I could stand to lose a few. But is torture really an acceptable method? I think not. Things wouldn't be so bad if I had a boyfriend, but my oppressive parents forbid me to date. This is just cruel and wrong. Especially since Peter, a cute and crushable artist, might be my soul mate. Figures my bestest friend Lisa likes him, too. To top it off, there's a new Muslim girl in school who struts around in super-short skirts, commanding every boy's attention—including Peter's. How can I get him to notice me? And will I ever feel like a typical American girl?
Author Bio:
Medeia Sharif is a high school English teacher residing in Miami Beach. Her young adult debut novel BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. was released July 2011. Where to find the author:
42 comments:
I've delved into motivations behind characters but usually only truly journal for the main character. But I might with some of the secondary characters too and see what happens. great tip!
I've never journaled from my characters' points-of-view. However, I just outlined a short story from the pov of a secondary character I'm just getting to know, and I think it's really going to help as I write a novel in which he plays a key role.
I write up short bios of them almost like an interview. They speak to me when I write the story. Sometimes I see and feel what they feel a little too much. :)
Fabulous, fabulous guest post!!!!
The last novel I wrote the main complaint was cardboard cutout characters. Seeing as I wasn't sure how to fix my novel, I started a new one. THIS TIME FOCUSING ON CHARACTERS. I had the plot. I outlined. I did a character arc along with taking the time to learn all about them.
Just got my critiques back. Turns out, it paid off. They felt my characters, now, they didn't feel them in a good way (at least some of them), but the improvement is they felt the knew a little something about them!!! I figured that was worth it!
First, I definitely want the cupcake. Second, the story sounds fantastic! Thanks for the insight :)
I've heard this works really well for a lot of people. Glad it works for you. I'm really big into getting into the head of my characters, but I haven't tried this yet. Good post! :)
Yummy cupcake! That really makes the cover "pop." I've never done any outlining before I began writing. I'm more the type to sit down and see where my story takes me. Outlining comes later, when I get myself into a mess I have to work myself out of!
I really want that cupcake too!
I agree Medeia! I always do in depth character sketches before writing and it makes such a huge difference while writing the first draft. Mainly because even if it's not relevant to the story, it's relevant to the character's behavior and will offer depth to them as a whole. :)
I keep hearing more and more good things about this book!
Love the character journal.
this is intereting! i think i might try the character journal...
and i want to read media's book SO bad!
What an interesting idea. I'm still feeling my way and trying new stuff out, so this could be one to try.
I do the bios too, but the journaling is a great idea!
There is a big difference in the qualities of my writing when I understand my characters and when I don't. Journalling is so different.
Character journaling helps me hone voice, for sure. Sometimes I even do it for characters who don't have their own pov, just to get a better idea of how they tick.
Thanks for the guest post, Medeia and Stina!
Ooh, neat! I do something similar where I freewrite in the character's voice. I find it a lot more effective than character worksheets for me. Thanks for sharing, Medeia!
Yeah!! I got to meet Medeia in person for the first time yesterday!!! She's just as awesome in person. :D Great tips! Character is SOOOOO important!
Great post and your book sounds wonderful. I love the idea of character journals. I've always done character interviews, but I also sit back, close my eyes, and 'daydream' about meeting them ('seeing' how they'd be).
Journal in the voice of your characters, what a fantastic idea! I'm going to try that. Thanks for the great post Medeia!
I don't do this, except, I suppose, in my head. I do have spreadsheets with a lot of details for each character, but I don't go much further than that.
Hi Medeia!!!! GREAT great advice and your book is on my list (can't WAIT)!!
Your book sounds awesome, Medeia. I'll definitely check it out. Kind of like journaling, I interview my main characters each day before I write. I have a pretty good outline before I start, and I ask them questions about the events I'm going to be writing that day, as if they've already happened and the character is telling me about them. It's amazing how the voice starts to come through--when you keep up with it.
yes! I want that cupcake!!! :D And that's a super tip. I do that, but in my head mostly. Sounds like a great book--the premise cracks me up~ :D <3
I've never journaled in their voice. I do character profiles, kinda like a wrap sheet :) but its a work in progress until I get through the first draft. Just notes to keep for backstory and keeping myself on track.
Journaling is a good idea though. Thanks.
........dhole
I always make character profiles when I'm outlining a story, but journaling is such an awesome idea! I'm totally doing that for the next one. Thanks for the advice, Medeia!
Do people wish each other Happy Ramadan?
What a book. I can't wait to read it!
This is a really great tip, and something James Scott Bell suggests in his Revision and Self Editing book (which I'm currently reading.) I definitely want to do this for the characters in my WIP. :)
I've never journaled from my characters' POV either. It sounds like a great way to get in their heads.
I haven't journaled from my character's pov, but I've drawn cartoon panels of them and pick out songs for them. Since I began rewriting my wip in first person I've seen how powerful writing from their perspective is. I think I'll try the journaling thing.
I write as my characters, if that makes sense. The ultimate goal is giving them all a unique voice. It helps to know them inside and out, and to learn about them, as you write on. All can be revealed...if you let it!
Great suggestion, Medeia. I've tried something like that but never before outlining. But this makes sense - I think I'll try it!
Great blurb - sounds like a fun book!
I don't journal in the voice of my characters but I for sure have rewritten whole chapters in their voices just to see. I know I'll never use them but sometimes, it is super important to the process. Nice interview.
What a great idea! I haven't actually tried this yet, but I think I might. I did a couple of paragraphs for the MC of my current WIP and I loved the results. Definitely worth doing more.
And congrats Medeia! So excited for you. :)
I love journalling - for myself and for my characters. There's something amazing that happens when you write with pen and notebook, as opposed to typing the stuff somewhere.
But, I've been doing this for awhile. What do you do with all those notebooks? They are so hard to throw away . . .
I've just saved a copy of this tip, as it's excellent. Thank you, Medeia, and to you as well, Stina, for hosting one of the Bestest. Authors. Ever.
that sounds like a good idea... i've yet to try that, but will in my next tale... thx ladies
I read BRE and I loved it!!! You know I've heard this character journaling advice before, but haven't followed up on it. But I will now!
I read BRE and I loved it!!! You know I've heard this character journaling advice before, but haven't followed up on it. But I will now!
Thanks for commenting, everyone. I'm glad you got something out of my post.
Love this post!!!
Great writing tip and I'd kill for that cupcake. ; ) I keep a character file for each manuscript. This is the only way I can keep everyone straight. And it really helps to journal in each character's voice, I think.
bestest ramadan ever is such a fun and intriguing title for a book. and nice tips on character development.
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