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rainbowlounge2012-05-10 10:50 pm
walkwithheroes) wrote in rainbowlounge2012-05-10 10:50 pm
Getting to Know Your Characters
Getting to know your characters is really important. A lot of writing groups/work shops actually have whole lists and character interviews you can do. Well, I've made my own and thought I'd share. Maybe someone will find it helpful?
Douglas Andrews:
- Was married, but lost his wife in a car accident. Wanting to know if his wife was better on the “other side” was the reason he went to see Maggie in the first place.
- As a young man, he was the black sheep of the family. He was into heavy metal, wore a leather jacket, and had very long hair.
- Actually really enjoys being a janitor, and thinks he’s doing a good thing by cleaning up the university where he works.
- When he tells Maggie to make him some tea, he’s really telling her he loves her.
- Considers Maggie and Simon to be his two best friends and his family.
- Has a fear that one day his family will find them. Liam will take his place as Maggie’s rightful Keeper and he and Simon will never see her again.
- Has Maggie try and remember random lists in order to help with her lacking short term memory.
- Childhood Nicknames: Las. He hated it. Now just has everyone call him Andrews.
- First Kiss: Aged fifteen. He and his brother went to a party and got very drunk. A random girl, whose name he never caught, kissed him during a terrible pop song.
- First Sexual Encounter: Aged seventeen, with his first serious girlfriend. This girl would later become his wife.
- Loves: Maggie and Simon. The memory of his late wife. Lazy Sunday mornings where Maggie, Simon, and he all sit around reading books and watching tacky shows. Maggie’s cooking. The times he and Simon spend in their “office” at the university, just reading and talking. That sense of belonging he gets around his friends. Henry Harker’s smile. Musicals. Classic heavy metal.
- Hates: James Warren. The fact that Maggie cannot go outside. He may be partly responsible for his wife’s death. Henry likes him, and he just can’t deal with that at the moment.
- Worst Memory: Finding out his wife had died.
- Fondest Memory: Meeting his wife at school. She was lost and looking for her locker and she accidently ran into Andrews and stepped on his feet. He took one look at her: this petite, beautiful, ballerina with a cute smile.
Top Ten Things Douglas Andrews Doesn’t Like About Simon Turner:
01. He has no drive to better himself.
02. He leaves his magazines everywhere.
03. He never wants to discuss what happened to him, but he still has nightmares.
04. He’s a bad influence on Maggie.
05. He never does his fair share of household chores.
06. He never does his job.
07. He has a crush on Henry Harker.
08. He likes James Warren and hangs out with the vampire.
09. He always wants to watch stupid action films.
10. He tries to cook, but just burns everything.
Top Ten Things Douglas Andrews Likes About Simon Turner:
01. He gets along well with nearly everyone; even if he is snarky.
02. He always buys the beer when they go out drinking.
03. His always there, ready to talk about anything.
04. He loves musicals too.
05. He makes those snarky comments that are actually funny.
06. He doesn’t judge the situation that they are in.
07. He’s overcome so much.
08. He’s the brother Andrews never had.
09. He makes Maggie happy.
10. He’s family.
Basically:
- write seven to ten facts about your character.
- childhood nicknames?
- first kiss
- first sexual encounter
- things/people they love
- things/people they hate
- worst memory
- fondest memory
- top ten things they dislike about another character
- top ten things they like about that same character.
Douglas Andrews:
- Was married, but lost his wife in a car accident. Wanting to know if his wife was better on the “other side” was the reason he went to see Maggie in the first place.
- As a young man, he was the black sheep of the family. He was into heavy metal, wore a leather jacket, and had very long hair.
- Actually really enjoys being a janitor, and thinks he’s doing a good thing by cleaning up the university where he works.
- When he tells Maggie to make him some tea, he’s really telling her he loves her.
- Considers Maggie and Simon to be his two best friends and his family.
- Has a fear that one day his family will find them. Liam will take his place as Maggie’s rightful Keeper and he and Simon will never see her again.
- Has Maggie try and remember random lists in order to help with her lacking short term memory.
- Childhood Nicknames: Las. He hated it. Now just has everyone call him Andrews.
- First Kiss: Aged fifteen. He and his brother went to a party and got very drunk. A random girl, whose name he never caught, kissed him during a terrible pop song.
- First Sexual Encounter: Aged seventeen, with his first serious girlfriend. This girl would later become his wife.
- Loves: Maggie and Simon. The memory of his late wife. Lazy Sunday mornings where Maggie, Simon, and he all sit around reading books and watching tacky shows. Maggie’s cooking. The times he and Simon spend in their “office” at the university, just reading and talking. That sense of belonging he gets around his friends. Henry Harker’s smile. Musicals. Classic heavy metal.
- Hates: James Warren. The fact that Maggie cannot go outside. He may be partly responsible for his wife’s death. Henry likes him, and he just can’t deal with that at the moment.
- Worst Memory: Finding out his wife had died.
- Fondest Memory: Meeting his wife at school. She was lost and looking for her locker and she accidently ran into Andrews and stepped on his feet. He took one look at her: this petite, beautiful, ballerina with a cute smile.
Top Ten Things Douglas Andrews Doesn’t Like About Simon Turner:
01. He has no drive to better himself.
02. He leaves his magazines everywhere.
03. He never wants to discuss what happened to him, but he still has nightmares.
04. He’s a bad influence on Maggie.
05. He never does his fair share of household chores.
06. He never does his job.
07. He has a crush on Henry Harker.
08. He likes James Warren and hangs out with the vampire.
09. He always wants to watch stupid action films.
10. He tries to cook, but just burns everything.
Top Ten Things Douglas Andrews Likes About Simon Turner:
01. He gets along well with nearly everyone; even if he is snarky.
02. He always buys the beer when they go out drinking.
03. His always there, ready to talk about anything.
04. He loves musicals too.
05. He makes those snarky comments that are actually funny.
06. He doesn’t judge the situation that they are in.
07. He’s overcome so much.
08. He’s the brother Andrews never had.
09. He makes Maggie happy.
10. He’s family.
Basically:
- write seven to ten facts about your character.
- childhood nicknames?
- first kiss
- first sexual encounter
- things/people they love
- things/people they hate
- worst memory
- fondest memory
- top ten things they dislike about another character
- top ten things they like about that same character.