How do you create your characters--their quirks, habits, values, and what part they will play in the story, etc.? Do you have a process, or do they come to you instinctively?
Thank you, Rhobin, for this month's topic 📓💭👩
Over time, my writing process has evolved. When I first began writing, I published magazine articles, educational materials, and nonfiction. All relied heavily on research, hands-on, and often extensive on-site impressions (visiting a Reservation, historical archive, or site, speaking with those who lived the life, so to speak). This resulted in 3 - 5 years of research for my YA/MG novels.
I had also published in romantic fiction during this time. My first contemporary romance was published by Kensington/Zebra (under a pseudonym) 💎 Precious Gems imprint.
When I accepted a part-time position as an acquisitions editor 👩for an e-book publisher (during the infancy of this market) and a part-time job in public education 👦👧🏫🚌 I realized my writing had become instinctive. I no longer interviewed my characters. I simply knew them and heard snippets of dialogue in my head. Of course, plot/pacing/goals/conflict were left-brain skills and can never be ignored :-)
Quirks! I adore character quirks.
Now habits are often defined by the position held in life, the physical environment in which one is raised, and personal likes/dislikes.
A rodeo bull rider's habits 🐴🐮 will differ significantly from a corporate executive's 🗽✈. Of course, there may be someone who grew up on a spread in Montana who had a burning desire to work on Wall Street...but what are the odds?
But quirks are so much fun to discover. So unexpected.
💭Do these quirks come from the writer? Or the character of the story?
Likes and dislikes, I believe, come subconsciously from the author.
Do I have research to substantiate this assumption? No.
I do not like mint ice cream. To me, it tastes like toothpaste 😬 . However, when I was expecting my first child, I ate mint ice cream daily as part of my lunch. 🍨🍦 So, if my heroine was expecting, she might eat mint ice cream.
I love coffee; my characters seem to love coffee ☕ and animals, too.
Personality Quirks
high levels of enthusiasm
likes to be the center of attention
makes assumptions about others’ motives
tendency to react emotionally
tendency to respond objectively
tendency to take things personally
tenderhearted nature
tends to be argumentative just for the sake of arguing
Behavioral Quirks
I'm a night owl forcing myself to crawl out of bed at sunrise:
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| I erased the typo! 🎃🐓🌞⌚ |
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Please visit these fabulous authors' websites. I'm confident they have delightful stories to share!
Happy Reading,
Connie
XOXO
- Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
Dr. Bob Rich https://bobrich18.wordpress.com/2022/08/hatching-people/
Rhobin Courtright https://www.rhobincourtright.com/
