Write to Excite! with Peter Biadasz
Being an author is one of the most exciting ways to be an entrepreneur. Let’s continue a discussion for those entrepreneurs who like to specialize in making things up, fiction writers.
In April you were shown how to write fiction immediately (You Can Write Fiction Today! http://thenationalnetworker.blogspot.com/2010/03/write-to-excite-write-fiction-today.html). Lately I have been teaching character development, as well as writing a fiction book, so I thought I would share a few thoughts on how to make the most of those fictional characters you are designing and placing in your stories.
As a quick reminder, there are, in my opinion, three major types of fiction writing:
1 – Writing Fiction Based On A True Story – This is one of the easiest ways to start writing fiction. Simply take a true event in your life which you deem as significant and feel passionate about, write it factually as it occurred and then re-write it in the way you really wanted it to happen or in a fashion that is either more dramatic or more relatable to others.
2 – Writing Fiction That Could Be Real (but isn’t) – This is similar to writing fiction based on a true story, but without starting with a factual frame of reference.
3 – Writing Fantasy Fiction – If you want to create a totally new world here is your chance. By writing fantasy the only rule is that there are no rules. The laws of science, or any other laws for that matter, do not matter because you can create new ones, both scientifically and legally. The challenge in writing fantasy is to be original.
To develop your characters, regardless of the type of fiction you are writing, you must have a clear idea of who they are and how they fit into the geographic locations and time periods in which you are writing about. The WORST way to develop a character is to develop him/her/it as you write the story. The BEST way to develop a character is to make a file on him/her/it from birth to death before you start writing your fiction work. You want to know the character so well you could sit down and have an interview or dinner with them. If your character is very real to you, then you can convey how real the character is to your reader.
Take the time and consider how your character was conceived, born, progressed through early childhood (friends, school, foods, etc), made it through full childhood into the teen years, the struggles (or lack thereof) in the teen years, early adulthood, adulthood, vocations, emotions, family, middle age, old age, death, eulogies, etc. Even if a particular character in your story is only being referenced too in a short part of their life, knowing their full life story will add depth and realness to your character. Plus, by fully developing each of your characters you will find that you have many more options with regard to your story lines(s).
Finally, unless you are writing just for your entertainment, when developing your characters please remember to be sure they are characters your target audience will relate too. After all, your target audience will be the ones spending their money to buy your book, or maybe even seeing the movie based on your book.
You may want to start a file of significant events, and characteristics from those who have crossed your path in the past or other people of note. In my own current fictional book, many of the characters are a combination of traits from several of my family, friends and others. These combinations make for some very interesting and relatable characters.
Feel free to post your comments about character development at the bottom of this article. I hope that as a writer you not only expand the scope of your writing by further developing your characters, but also find more passion in your life as a result of your writings.
Peter Biadasz, author of such book as Write Your First Book (available at http://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-First-Peter-Biadasz/dp/0881444243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262270868&sr=1-1), More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To discuss with Peter publishing or marketing your book idea, or to inquire about having Peter speak to your organization or meeting, feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com
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