Words of wisdom such as "Actions speak louder than words," "These people pay me lip service" and "Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you" come to mind in thinking about this week's discussion of character definition. We're talking about defining fictional characters by the way they treat others.
Melanie Hamilton Wilkes pops into my mind when I think of a character being defined by the way she treats others. Remember how kindly she treated the prostitute Belle in "Gone with the wind?" Remember how generously the prostitute treated Rhett, Ashley and Dr. Mead when they were trying to escape the Yankee soldiers after having burnt out a dangerous encampment?
In both of these instances the attitudes these characters have toward fellow human beings goes a long way toward defining the hearts of Melanie and Belle.
In my book "Stephanie's Surprise" there is a married couple who has taken in the mentally handicapped sister of the wife. Showing this act of kindness in the early 20th Century when mentally handicapped people were often hidden in shame or institutionalized makes these folks look as though they've behaved heroically. The protagonist, Dr. Aaron Wesley, however, discovers the poor woman has been badly treated, and her sister and brother-in-law have taken her in merely to get their hands on her monthly stipend.
Showing readers the hearts of characters by revealing how they treat fellow human beings, especially in private, is highly effective in defining fictional characters.
I hope your week is beginning to show signs of spring.
Fran
Fran Shaff
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Characters and their Belief Systems
Whether or not characters in fictional stories live up to their belief systems tells readers a lot about what kind of people they are.
Consider fictional character Alvin Pastorini, a beloved preacher in Mapleton, a beautiful fictional Midwestern town.
Preacher Pastorini has a lovely, kind sixteen-year-old daughter who has become pregnant.
As a respected Christian pastor it would seem this man's reaction to his child's situation would be one of compassion.
Readers would expect this beloved and respected man to stand by his daughter and help her find Christian solutions to her challenges. Some of her options would include raising the child on her own, marrying the father and raising the child with him or placing the child for adoption.
What if, however, Reverend Pastorini secretly forces his daughter to have an abortion because he doesn't want his congregation to learn his daughter behaved immorally?
What if his daughter is so emotionally scarred by being forced into the abortion she turns to drugs and the preacher hides her away in a clinic and pays for her treatment with church funds?
Every character in every story has a belief system. As writers we can more thoroughly flesh out our characters as "real" people by showing how they live up to their belief systems.
While it may be adequate for a writer to simply tell a reader, "Reverend Pastorini was a hypocritical, cold-hearted, thieving SOB" the reader gets a much clearer picture of who Pastor Alvin Pastorini is when she sees first hand how the reverend does or doesn't live up to his belief system during challenging times.
Accountant Annie who considers herself an honest person but frequently takes home office supplies can't hide her true nature from the observing eyes of readers. The "Thou shalt not steal" sign on her desk fails to keep her on track with her belief system.
Second string Steve who secretly works after hours with first string Frank night after night to help him become the best quarterback in the conference is a shining, heroic star in the shadows of the readers' minds. Steve obviously lives by the simple motto written on a piece of notebook paper and taped to the inside of his locker door "Team work."
Showing whether or not characters live up to their belief systems is an excellent way of illustrating characters in fictional pieces.
(For more on character development, see previous posts on use of comparisons, actions and illustrations in fleshing out fictional characters.)
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Consider fictional character Alvin Pastorini, a beloved preacher in Mapleton, a beautiful fictional Midwestern town.
Preacher Pastorini has a lovely, kind sixteen-year-old daughter who has become pregnant.
As a respected Christian pastor it would seem this man's reaction to his child's situation would be one of compassion.
Readers would expect this beloved and respected man to stand by his daughter and help her find Christian solutions to her challenges. Some of her options would include raising the child on her own, marrying the father and raising the child with him or placing the child for adoption.
What if, however, Reverend Pastorini secretly forces his daughter to have an abortion because he doesn't want his congregation to learn his daughter behaved immorally?
What if his daughter is so emotionally scarred by being forced into the abortion she turns to drugs and the preacher hides her away in a clinic and pays for her treatment with church funds?
Every character in every story has a belief system. As writers we can more thoroughly flesh out our characters as "real" people by showing how they live up to their belief systems.
While it may be adequate for a writer to simply tell a reader, "Reverend Pastorini was a hypocritical, cold-hearted, thieving SOB" the reader gets a much clearer picture of who Pastor Alvin Pastorini is when she sees first hand how the reverend does or doesn't live up to his belief system during challenging times.
Accountant Annie who considers herself an honest person but frequently takes home office supplies can't hide her true nature from the observing eyes of readers. The "Thou shalt not steal" sign on her desk fails to keep her on track with her belief system.
Second string Steve who secretly works after hours with first string Frank night after night to help him become the best quarterback in the conference is a shining, heroic star in the shadows of the readers' minds. Steve obviously lives by the simple motto written on a piece of notebook paper and taped to the inside of his locker door "Team work."
Showing whether or not characters live up to their belief systems is an excellent way of illustrating characters in fictional pieces.
(For more on character development, see previous posts on use of comparisons, actions and illustrations in fleshing out fictional characters.)
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Monday, February 7, 2011
Defining Characters by their Actions
What a person does in secret defines who he is.
I'd wrap punctuation around this statement if it were the exact quote, but I don't think it is. Nevertheless, you know what I mean.
We've all known someone either personally or politically who preaches the importance of helping those in need publicly then gives little of his time or money privately to do as he claims to advocate. We may want to call this person a hypocrite or duplicitous or maybe a dirty, rotten scoundrel.
This week I'm continuing to offer more ways for writers to define the characters in their fictional writing.
Last week we talked about using comparisons in character illustration; the week before we discussed using examples. This week we're looking at defining characters by their actions.
Here is a simple telling of a fact about Jack: "Jack is a dirty, rotten scoundrel."
To better describe Jack's private convictions so our reader can get to know him intimately we might define him in this way.
"Jack stole $60 from the blind man's donation cup when the bystanders, upon hearing a crash, turned to see the aftermath of a bus accident."
While Jack was robbing the blind man blind, Carey was doing something else.
"Carey had never had a day of medical training, but when she saw the bus accident, she went immediately to the passengers to offer whatever help and comfort she could."
While Carey was offering aid to accident victims, the driver of the bus had her own agenda.
"Louise left the driver's seat as soon as she felt the bus hit the fire hydrant. She figured if she ran off and hid for a few hours the alcohol content in her blood would no longer be high enough to warrant another DUI conviction."
Jack was a jerk.
Carey was a caring person.
Louise acts irresponsibly.
Characters are so much better illustrated when writers show who these people really are at the very core of their beings by using the characters' actions to define them.
Hope your week is a good one!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
I'd wrap punctuation around this statement if it were the exact quote, but I don't think it is. Nevertheless, you know what I mean.
We've all known someone either personally or politically who preaches the importance of helping those in need publicly then gives little of his time or money privately to do as he claims to advocate. We may want to call this person a hypocrite or duplicitous or maybe a dirty, rotten scoundrel.
This week I'm continuing to offer more ways for writers to define the characters in their fictional writing.
Last week we talked about using comparisons in character illustration; the week before we discussed using examples. This week we're looking at defining characters by their actions.
Here is a simple telling of a fact about Jack: "Jack is a dirty, rotten scoundrel."
To better describe Jack's private convictions so our reader can get to know him intimately we might define him in this way.
"Jack stole $60 from the blind man's donation cup when the bystanders, upon hearing a crash, turned to see the aftermath of a bus accident."
While Jack was robbing the blind man blind, Carey was doing something else.
"Carey had never had a day of medical training, but when she saw the bus accident, she went immediately to the passengers to offer whatever help and comfort she could."
While Carey was offering aid to accident victims, the driver of the bus had her own agenda.
"Louise left the driver's seat as soon as she felt the bus hit the fire hydrant. She figured if she ran off and hid for a few hours the alcohol content in her blood would no longer be high enough to warrant another DUI conviction."
Jack was a jerk.
Carey was a caring person.
Louise acts irresponsibly.
Characters are so much better illustrated when writers show who these people really are at the very core of their beings by using the characters' actions to define them.
Hope your week is a good one!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Monday, January 31, 2011
Character Comparisons
Using comparisons in illustrating characters can be very effective. Check out these various ways of describing characters.
1a. He was graceful.
1b. He moved as fluidly as Michael Jordon executing a perfect layup.
2a. The room smelled horrible.
2b. Even skunk odor would be an improvement over the smell in that room.
3a. Ellen was the smartest woman in her class.
3b. Ellen could give science lessons to Einstein.
4a. Fred was too handsome to be a Fred.
4b. Cary Grant, Brad Pitt, Adonis, Apollo--every one of them would envy Fred's classic good looks.
5a. Fido was the ugliest dog I've ever seen.
5b. Fido's looks would be standard fare if he were a bulldog, but he was a French poodle.
Using a comparison in describing a character adds punch and style to a story.
Have a great week!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
1a. He was graceful.
1b. He moved as fluidly as Michael Jordon executing a perfect layup.
2a. The room smelled horrible.
2b. Even skunk odor would be an improvement over the smell in that room.
3a. Ellen was the smartest woman in her class.
3b. Ellen could give science lessons to Einstein.
4a. Fred was too handsome to be a Fred.
4b. Cary Grant, Brad Pitt, Adonis, Apollo--every one of them would envy Fred's classic good looks.
5a. Fido was the ugliest dog I've ever seen.
5b. Fido's looks would be standard fare if he were a bulldog, but he was a French poodle.
Using a comparison in describing a character adds punch and style to a story.
Have a great week!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Monday, January 24, 2011
Character Characteristes Revealed
"George was a stupid man."
Pretty boring, right? There are many ways to say "George was a stupid man," and they are all much more fun to read than this plain, colorless statement of fact.
"The teacher explained four times the process of opening a jar of peanut butter, but George still did not understand the procedure."
"The third time George placed the nail into the electric outlet, he decided it was too painful to indulge his curiosity."
"When the banker handed George the loan agreement and asked him to sign his name he explained he wasn't deaf and had never learned to sign."
Showing the traits of characters when writing a piece of fiction instead of telling facts always makes perusing the story more interesting for readers.
So remember, we don't say: "Judy was old." We say, "When Judy was twelve she witnessed President Harry Truman's marriage to Bess." or "Judy lost a fortune when the stock market crashed in '29."
Next week, more on character creation.
Have a great week,
Fran
Fran Shaff
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Pretty boring, right? There are many ways to say "George was a stupid man," and they are all much more fun to read than this plain, colorless statement of fact.
"The teacher explained four times the process of opening a jar of peanut butter, but George still did not understand the procedure."
"The third time George placed the nail into the electric outlet, he decided it was too painful to indulge his curiosity."
"When the banker handed George the loan agreement and asked him to sign his name he explained he wasn't deaf and had never learned to sign."
Showing the traits of characters when writing a piece of fiction instead of telling facts always makes perusing the story more interesting for readers.
So remember, we don't say: "Judy was old." We say, "When Judy was twelve she witnessed President Harry Truman's marriage to Bess." or "Judy lost a fortune when the stock market crashed in '29."
Next week, more on character creation.
Have a great week,
Fran
Fran Shaff
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Monday, January 17, 2011
Flash Blogging and Characters
Stories consisting of a few hundred words, maybe a thousand words are referred to as "flash fiction."
I've been thinking about brevity in writing, and I've decided to start "flash" blogging. We're all too busy to read long posts, no matter how much we may enjoy taking in a well developed column. So, starting this week, as I resume my blogs on writing technique, for the most part, I'm going to keep my posts brief, but highly informative (hopefully).
Character creation is challenging for beginning writers. They wonder, how can I make the people in my stories as real as possible?
Here are two easy ways to jump start creative juices when inventing believable fictional characters.
1. Let your character emulate a real person you know or let him be a composite of two or more people you know (know personally or through the media, etc) Write a complete description of these real people, embellishing where you see fit in order to create the character you envision for your story.
2. Let your character emulate a fictional character you see as very real, someone who is as messed up, evil, good or heroic as you want your fictional character to be. Write a complete description using this fictional character and embellish as liberally as you need to in order to create the character you want.
Naturally, character development is much more complicated than this, but these two starting points are excellent places to begin to get the creative juices flowing.
Try it!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
I've been thinking about brevity in writing, and I've decided to start "flash" blogging. We're all too busy to read long posts, no matter how much we may enjoy taking in a well developed column. So, starting this week, as I resume my blogs on writing technique, for the most part, I'm going to keep my posts brief, but highly informative (hopefully).
Character creation is challenging for beginning writers. They wonder, how can I make the people in my stories as real as possible?
Here are two easy ways to jump start creative juices when inventing believable fictional characters.
1. Let your character emulate a real person you know or let him be a composite of two or more people you know (know personally or through the media, etc) Write a complete description of these real people, embellishing where you see fit in order to create the character you envision for your story.
2. Let your character emulate a fictional character you see as very real, someone who is as messed up, evil, good or heroic as you want your fictional character to be. Write a complete description using this fictional character and embellish as liberally as you need to in order to create the character you want.
Naturally, character development is much more complicated than this, but these two starting points are excellent places to begin to get the creative juices flowing.
Try it!
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Calling Writers of All Skill Levels
Do you know about Watt Pad? (wattpad.com)
I just discovered this writing website recently. It's quite an ingenious site, and it has millions of readers.
At Watt Pad everyone can post her creative writing for everyone else to see, comment on, like, vote for, etc.
Teens through adults, male and female, truly everyone is posting there. It is a blast to see the variety of stories. I especially enjoy reading posts from teens. Some of them are quite talented though their stories often need lots of work from a technical point of view. Most of the time they've got great titles, premises and usually they're about things of interest to young people--peer relationships, school-related activities, etc.
I'm looking forward to learning more about Watt Pad as I try to figure it out. (Maybe I should message one of the teens for help.)
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
I just discovered this writing website recently. It's quite an ingenious site, and it has millions of readers.
At Watt Pad everyone can post her creative writing for everyone else to see, comment on, like, vote for, etc.
Teens through adults, male and female, truly everyone is posting there. It is a blast to see the variety of stories. I especially enjoy reading posts from teens. Some of them are quite talented though their stories often need lots of work from a technical point of view. Most of the time they've got great titles, premises and usually they're about things of interest to young people--peer relationships, school-related activities, etc.
I'm looking forward to learning more about Watt Pad as I try to figure it out. (Maybe I should message one of the teens for help.)
Fran
Fran Shaff, Award-Winning Author
http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff
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