There’s something sacred in the way you describe where characters begin… like they don’t arrive fully formed, but drift in carrying invisible stories stitched into their bones.
I could not agree with you more. Until I know what my characters are struggling with, I can't know how they react in different situations. My essays are all psychology focused and I write almost stream of consciousness. It allows me to find my truth and make connections my conscious brain can't.
I think writing from this perspective gives you deeper, realer characters.
I begin every story with character journals. They're talking to me, telling me what to write in a journal entry. As we get down to experiences, I'll ask questions, like
How did that make you feel?
What happened after that?
What did you learn from that experience?
...until finally we get to the event that created their wound because that's the event that drives their beliefs and desires. And every single character has said, "You can't tell anyone!" Of course, I promise. I know that they'll end up telling, talking about it in the story.
Character journals are incredibly important to my own, thanks to you. In fact, one of my earliest Substack posts was inspired by you: "Character Journals - A Game-Changer for Deep Storytelling." [https://read.jltooker.com/p/character-journals].
I wish I had better answer than "I just write." My stories start with a question, "What would happen if..." and I go from there. Sometimes I'll write a character that is based on a real-life character/experience that is bizarre enough to be fiction. But I don't write up profiles or traits, they emerge.
Charlene, I'll be the first to admit that "just write" has never failed me. When it comes to fiction, though, that first writing is often from the head of the character, and for me the natural flow comes from knowing her 'wound.' I love the reality that we all have diverse methods for arriving at the same place ... story. It's one of the things I love about this space.
Great stuff, and I really like how you developed your new character! I tend to iterate on my characters more, going back and forth between character development and story. I usually start with a basic character, maybe with one defining trait, and then discover more about them as they move through the story. It's not terribly efficient and is probably one of the reasons I struggle to finish stories! 😅
Josh, we all have our own processes. I think I devote so much time to nailing down the psychology of my characters because my strength is not in plotting action. But once I know the what and why of my characters, the plotting almost happens on it's own. I can't tell you how many times "Jayla", for instance, has blown my mind. :-)
I totally agree! I will always remember when I first exclaimed to my protagonist, "Are you kidding me?" While the motivations etc may not surprise me, her actions certainly can. John, thanks for the words of wisdom.
There’s something sacred in the way you describe where characters begin… like they don’t arrive fully formed, but drift in carrying invisible stories stitched into their bones.
Belinda, thank you. I love your words “drift in carrying invisible stories stitched into their bones.” It’s how how it feels at times, right?
I could not agree with you more. Until I know what my characters are struggling with, I can't know how they react in different situations. My essays are all psychology focused and I write almost stream of consciousness. It allows me to find my truth and make connections my conscious brain can't.
I think writing from this perspective gives you deeper, realer characters.
Two peas in a pod? LOL
Stream of consciousness writing is so key for me, especially when I need to test the waters of an unexpected situation for my characters.
Love that you have found your process!
I begin every story with character journals. They're talking to me, telling me what to write in a journal entry. As we get down to experiences, I'll ask questions, like
How did that make you feel?
What happened after that?
What did you learn from that experience?
...until finally we get to the event that created their wound because that's the event that drives their beliefs and desires. And every single character has said, "You can't tell anyone!" Of course, I promise. I know that they'll end up telling, talking about it in the story.
Dr. Diana, thank you for sharing your process.
Character journals are incredibly important to my own, thanks to you. In fact, one of my earliest Substack posts was inspired by you: "Character Journals - A Game-Changer for Deep Storytelling." [https://read.jltooker.com/p/character-journals].
It really has been a 'game-changer' for me.
🙏 Jennifer
I wish I had better answer than "I just write." My stories start with a question, "What would happen if..." and I go from there. Sometimes I'll write a character that is based on a real-life character/experience that is bizarre enough to be fiction. But I don't write up profiles or traits, they emerge.
Charlene, I'll be the first to admit that "just write" has never failed me. When it comes to fiction, though, that first writing is often from the head of the character, and for me the natural flow comes from knowing her 'wound.' I love the reality that we all have diverse methods for arriving at the same place ... story. It's one of the things I love about this space.
Thanks for sharing, Jennifer
Great stuff, and I really like how you developed your new character! I tend to iterate on my characters more, going back and forth between character development and story. I usually start with a basic character, maybe with one defining trait, and then discover more about them as they move through the story. It's not terribly efficient and is probably one of the reasons I struggle to finish stories! 😅
Josh, we all have our own processes. I think I devote so much time to nailing down the psychology of my characters because my strength is not in plotting action. But once I know the what and why of my characters, the plotting almost happens on it's own. I can't tell you how many times "Jayla", for instance, has blown my mind. :-)
The secret to keep a character interesting is to stay surprised by them yourself, Charles Dickens. Always a neat trick if you can pull it off.
I totally agree! I will always remember when I first exclaimed to my protagonist, "Are you kidding me?" While the motivations etc may not surprise me, her actions certainly can. John, thanks for the words of wisdom.