Creating a boyfriend
Hi there. Taking a super quick break from the novel I’m working on (I’m having so much fun!) to answer this excellent question I received off-blog from one of you:
I was just wondering if you try to learn about your characters before you write or if you just dive into writing . . . Mainly, I’ve been trying to work on it from my lead guy’s point of view and I don’t really know a lot about him and his friends. Less so than, say, my main girl and her friends who I know SO much more about, I think. Also I feel I know more about her “world” than his, so I can’t really picture it. Basically for her I started thinking about it a bit first and then I grew to know a little more about her as I wrote. Maybe I should try that with him?
Let me say first that we authors get to make up our own rules about how we want to work. So the techniques I use may have absolutely no bearing on the ones you want to use. I don’t mind sharing, because I always love to hear how other authors write, but please remember that this is just one person’s opinion. Everyone has to come up with his or her own style and methods.
That said, when I create a lead guy–my boyfriend–I first pick an actor I want to model him after. In the case of my current novel, I decided it’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Why him? Because I decided this character needs to be quiet, sensitive, and with a mysterious undercurrent of resentment–the kind of character I’ve seen Joseph G-L play so well.
Next step, rent some movies. Last night I watched his most recent one, The Lookout. EXCELLENT. Hella smart script, fantastic acting. A real treat for the brain and eyes. I may rent Brick, too, which I’ve already seen and loved.
When I write a character I get to be him or her. So in this case I get to imagine myself being my main girl, and somehow eventually getting to kiss the hot, brooding, but surprisingly kind Joseph/David (my character’s real name). Makes it fun and also easier to write, because I’m basically method-acting my way through their various scenes.
Once I know what my boyfriend looks like, I can start thinking about the rest of his life–what clothes he wears, what classes he’s best at, who his friends are, what kind of car he drives, whether or not he gets along with his parents, etc. But those details come out over time as I let my mind wander on dog walks, in the shower, etc. I don’t sit down and write a bio sheet for my characters, although I know other authors do. I prefer to let the whole thing unfold for me without a lot of ceremony.
And then I notice that as I write scenes for these people, surprising details come out here and there. There’s a line at the beginning of this book about how my lead guy always smells like garlic and paint. What’s up with that? I had no idea at the time why I wrote that, but I was able to use it later. Love it when it all comes together.
So those are a few of my methods. Does that help? Or make any sense?
I’d be interested in hearing from all my other writer pals about how they create their main characters–particularly the love interests. Are you picturing people you know, modeling them after actors, or just inventing the kinds of people you wish you knew?
Take it away with the comments. I’m going back to work.
Technorati Tags: Writing, Publishing, Writer’s Tricks
I may not be published…yet. But I have numerous story beginnings, middles, and maybe one ending. In all of them are characters inspired by actual human beings. One dark brooder looks a bit like Johnny Depp, some girls are similar to ones I knew in high school, and various teachers remind me of my own teachers or professors. In my current project, the love interest, who is a minor character, is totally inspired by my brother, from his guitar playing to his general friendliness to his humor and even his build. Now, please no one interpret that I’m creating my boyfriend as my brother. I’m completely in love with my husband, who looks nothing like my brother. Still, I think my bro is a fun, lovable guy who makes an enjoyable character for my main gal. The world is full of real, fascinating people. Why not take bits of them for our characters? Of course, what does this do to that disclaimer at the front of fiction works? Something about any resemblance to actual people and events is purely coincidental?
Awsome! Thanks Robin I’ll have to give this a try!
Kelley, I totally expect to show up in more than one of your novels. :>
What Robin really does is she starts with me, then she tries to take away some of the perfection, because no one would believe the hero is as perfect as I am.
Well, Patrick, it is all about believability, isn’t it? (;
Katie, I don’t even know how to begin to base a character on someone of your caliber.
Robin, your post reminds me of Cornelia Funke’s inspiration for Mo in the Inkheart trilogy. I recall reading Inkheart and being intrigued by the dedication to Brendan Fraser, whom I’ve always adored. I did a little online research and found that when Cornelia created Mo, she always pictured Brendan. How awesome is it that he’s now cast as Mo in the film that releases March 2008? Please tell me some of you have read the first two books. Cornelia is a fabulous writer (wish I could read her German), and these stories are mesmerizing. I can’t wait for Inkdeath!
A little into ourselfs Patrick? >_
No. Not just a little. I’m actually VERY into me.
Good to know I’m above being eviscerated in fiction.
XD that’s ok we’ll like you anyways!
when i write i make a whole graph about my charectors, like who is related to who and likes who, then i pick out genders, and pictures for them, then i kind of write like i would in a diary
“omg im so in love with josh, today he almost fell on me and then he tried to play it off kewl” that kind of thing, then i go back and eraise all the OMGs or the TTYLs and write it like a normal human would
“…the techniques I use may have absolutely no bearing on the ones you want to use.” I love that. I get so frustrated at writing conferences when I see so many people frantically scribbling down other writers’ how-tos. I can’t even seem to get my OWN method consistent from project to project. I’ve tried the character questionnaire method, but the only way I can get that to work for me is to actually do it and then set it aside, otherwise it’s too overwhelming, like a weight on my mind. My last novel, I did the character questionnaire for my two main characters, but I tried to fill it out in what I imagined to be each one’s handwriting, and from their viewpoints. I found that somewhat helpful, but again, I had to do it and then file the paperwork away and actually write. It’s as though once I *know* the character I don’t really need the written info except as a reference, maybe. And sometimes I just write a short paragraph and that seems to work. Totally depends on the project!