#5: Characters: Brainstorming Exercises for Creating Characters

"Back up a minute. My main character is new. I don't know its eye color much less its goal in life." Don't panic. You probably have a better grasp on your new characters than you think you do. You just need the framework to organize the ideas. And just like there are many ways to organize your brainstorming, there are many ways to help you organize your brainstorming on your characters.

The first one we'll look at is the Character Questionnaire. The most complete form I have ever found is in Building Believable Characters by Marc McCutcheon. (Incidentally, this book is a treasure trove for descriptions of everything a character could possibly do.) The blank form is copied here at Character Questionnaire. Fill it out as completely as you possibly can for your character before you start writing. Here's the one I've filled out for my new character, Charley and Jack's daughter at Hannah. I recommend filling them out for established characters as well, if you're worried about how well you portray them.

Now if the thought of filling out the questionnaire makes you cringe, there are other techniques. Write out the character's biography. The thing to remember is to keep the focus on the character and not get bogged down on how his or her parents first met. And that this bio material is to provide you with ideas for mini-flashbacks or references to the character's past. Your first chapter should not be the bio reprinted.

Example:

Charlene "Charley" Davidson was born in January 20, 1971. Her father was Charles "Chuck" Davidson. Her mother left them both when Charley was just six-month old. Jack MacCyber was a childhood friend and romance blossomed between them after Rod Van Hamm dumped Charley at her Junior Prom.

Another technique is the Interview. This is where you play an obnoxious, prying reporter with target-locked on the character. Ask those hard questions and see how your character responds.

Example:

The BookWorm: So Throttle, what's the real reason you won't go back to Mars? Afraid Carbine's going to drag you down the aisle?

Throttle: No! Earth is still in danger as long as the Plutarkians are here. My staying here has nothing to do with how I feel about Carbine.

The Monologue is written in first person and allows your character to vent their feelings and give their observations about actions taken, other characters, their past, the universe, and everything else. Even if you're writing the story in third person, this is a useful exercise to get into a character's head.

Example:

Who do think they are? Coming to our planet, bringing their war with them, stealing our women. Charley belongs to me. They'd never understand her, not the way I do. I was wrong to leave her. Wrong to try to find another woman to replace her. They're just going to get her killed or worse. She needs me to protect her. And I need her. She's the only one who has ever looked out for me. She's the only one who is perfect for me.

The Secret is one I find the most fun. You have to ask yourself what the character's most closely guarded secret is. As Thomas Trebitsch Parker shares, "That will take you to deeper parts of that character than the usual vital stats about siblings and income." (Levin 21) Now what you do with that secret is between you and the character.

Example:

Modo's most closely guarded secret is that he has killed before the war started to protect his family. His brother-in-law, the father of Rimfire and Primer, was abusive and Modo fed him to the saber squids before the twins were born.

Another exercise along the lines of the Monologue is to make your character write his or her own obituary. Writing it forces you to examine your life and how you perceive it. Doing it from the character's point of view helps you determine the same for him or her.

Make lists. This is a good exercise to do to vary the task of writing. When you need a break, write a list of something. Here are some suggested lists:

• The last five entries in the character's checkbook register.


• Ten items in the character's shopping cart.


• Five or more items in the character's purse, briefcase, school locker, or bike storage compartment.


• The last three books the character read.


• Make up you own variations of these lists.
  
  Mine: The six CDs the Bros keep in the stereo at all times.
  
  
  
  1. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet
  
  
  2. Metallica Garage Inc. Volume 1
  
  
  3. Guns 'n Roses Appetite for Destruction
  
  
  4. Heavy Metal Motion Picture Soundtrack
  
  
  5. Styx's Greatest Hits
  
  
  6. M.A.R.R.S "Pump Up the Volume"
  
  

Last but not least, a game of let's pretend. Have the character email one of your friends. (It's probably a good idea to warn your friend in advance.) To make things more interesting, have that friend email you back in the voice of their character. Pretending that the character has a life of their own (because ultimately that is the effect you want to create for the readers) is a good way to avoid just creating an idealized version of yourself.

Homework: (Aren't you glad to see this section?) Do character exercises for all of your characters. But please don't post messages here in the voice of your characters.