My
summer writing goal is to bring one of my favorite characters to
vividness on the pages of my novel-in-progress. I've gotten good
feedback about her, but she has a ways
to go. I haven't been listening to her as much as I ought, and it's
showing in her scenes. Some are sluggish, repetitive, and she's hiding
much of her inner story from me still.
So
this week I decided to ask her (I know, this is weird) to help me out.
Give me some clues. Maybe in a song or a snippet of overheard
conversation, let my creative brain hear some ideas on how to bring this
character into more relief.
One
of my recent music favs is a singer/songwriter named Gretchen Peters. I
was driving to Vermont, listening to one of her CDs, Hello Cruel World. And a favorite song, "The Matador."
Love that song. Circles in my brain over and over, but since I asked my character for help--whoa. Something clicked in these lyrics. They may not speak to you, but did they ever speak to me!
Love that song. Circles in my brain over and over, but since I asked my character for help--whoa. Something clicked in these lyrics. They may not speak to you, but did they ever speak to me!
His rage is made of many things: faithless women, wedding rings
Snakes and snails and alcohol, his daddy’s fist thrown through the wall
Ah but he’s beautiful when he’s in the ring, the devil howls, the angels sing
Sparks fly from his fingertips and words like birds fly from his lips
Read more here.
These two concepts--my character's rage and when she's beautiful--really woke me up. I've never imagined asking about these. They are unexpected character questions. They open up worlds inside.
When I got back to my writing office, I sat down at the computer and began to brainstorm. I pretended I was interviewing my character on the page. I asked her:
What is your rage made of?
When are you beautiful?
And I let it rip. I got images, ideas, and enough material to build several new chapters and rework others. Somehow, this dichotomy of rage and beauty--something that is in all humans--brought me the inner story.
Try it this week, if you have a reluctant player on your story's stage. It works for memoir too, especially if you're writing a secondary character you think you know, but may not know as well as you think.
Snakes and snails and alcohol, his daddy’s fist thrown through the wall
Ah but he’s beautiful when he’s in the ring, the devil howls, the angels sing
Sparks fly from his fingertips and words like birds fly from his lips
Read more here.
These two concepts--my character's rage and when she's beautiful--really woke me up. I've never imagined asking about these. They are unexpected character questions. They open up worlds inside.
When I got back to my writing office, I sat down at the computer and began to brainstorm. I pretended I was interviewing my character on the page. I asked her:
What is your rage made of?
When are you beautiful?
And I let it rip. I got images, ideas, and enough material to build several new chapters and rework others. Somehow, this dichotomy of rage and beauty--something that is in all humans--brought me the inner story.
Try it this week, if you have a reluctant player on your story's stage. It works for memoir too, especially if you're writing a secondary character you think you know, but may not know as well as you think.