A Step in Editing
I’d been picking at the manuscript, fleshing out certain areas with description, when it dawned on me: who are the people populating my novel?
Descriptions have never been my strong point; I prefer just plowing along with plot and leaving the details up to the reader. Yes, I know, not nice. Also? Not popular with publishers.
Of course, I always hit a point where I have NO idea what to do next, and I begin mentally writhing around, kicking and flailing like toddler in full tantrum mode. Don’t worry, on the outside, I’m just mopey and irritable.
When I’ve reached that point, I realize I don’t have enough information about the characters to make a decent description of them, so I stop editing the manuscript and go with character sheets for each of them. I’ll make a list of physical attributes, flaws, strengths, idiosyncrasies, personality traits, and a bit of history.
The history is the most helpful, because it tells me why they do what they do. Does their race have innate abilities that make them stronger, faster, smarter? Do they have special talents that make them valuable to others, ie magical or healing powers?
What about their families? Even if their parents never show up in the manuscript, I’ve found that including them in the history helps round out a character. The same with siblings.
I’ve even gone so far as to describe a race in general, down to genetics (um, not detailed, just what happens when two races have offspring, what mixes, what doesn’t?). Perhaps it’s more detailed when it comes to special races in fantasy settings, after all, knowing how they work is important way to help keep continuity throughout the work.
Once I’ve pieced together all these people and beings, editing becomes a bit easier, because I can refer back to those sheets when I get stuck. I know some writers will create these sheets before they begin their work, but I find that doesn’t help me much. I need a place and a plot for these people.
Somewhere, in my stacks of files both online and on desk, I have actual fill-in-the-blank sheets that an editor handed out during a class. I found them useful, but there wasn’t enough room for the details I needed. Still, it was a jumping-off point and I find them quite handy. When I can actually…find them.
Oh, and if you happen to run into a character that you’ve written, do not stare. It makes them uncomfortable, and if they’re not writers, they won’t understand when you tell them, “Oh, you’re in my manuscript! You’re bad and no one likes you and you die in the end.” (no, I’ve never done that, but I have met some of my characters after I’ve written them, and it’s a very odd feeling. Very. Odd.)
How about you? When do you write your characters? Before, during, or after?
Have I ever told you I admire you for the way you create these worlds and people? IMO, you’re writing in the most difficult genre because it’s not just about the plot, it’s about everything else too like what utensils they use, what they wear, dialects, customs and so on. It is a huge undertaking.
Once again, I go back to the film thing when planning characters. I will do a post about this very soon.
I kind of plot out scenes and the way the characters look and act in my mind. I often think of the characters before I think of the plot and I can be inspired by people I know or people I’ve seen in film. It’s a very weird melding process.
My characters definitely drive my plot. It’s like I hand the whole thing over to them and say – ‘Go for it.’ I wish they’d do the editing for me, though.
I do the same as you; work out many of those details afterwards. Incidentally, the less physical description of protagonists the better as it lets the reader imagine herself as the main character – for those readers who like to do that. It can also jar the reader if they’ve decided Joe has black hair and you come in afterwards and say he’s blond. If their appearance doesn’t drive the plot or their character arc, then it’s actually not all that necessary and can be considered padding – ie, keep if there’s room; delete if there’s not.