I get asked all the time how I craft the deep, powerful characters (both primary and secondary) that litter the pages of my books. Truth is, I believe that every character ever created has the potential to be as deep and intricate as you or I. It’s about putting the right character(s) in the right situation, at the right time.
How do you do that? *smiles* It works a lot like casting a movie. Start a file (either paper or on your computer) that contains nothing but characters. Whenever you have an idea for a character trait or a certain type of character, or a name and age, or whatever, plop it into your character file. About once a month, go back through the file. Does anyone spark any creative thoughts? If so, add to the character until the creative spark runs out (don’t force yourself to keep creating when you no longer feel inspired… that only makes flat, insipid characters). Then tuck that character back into the file, satisfied to know you’ve gotten to know him/her a little bit better.
Have an idea for a plot, and ready to write? Now’s the time to decide what type of character you need. Need a beautician with a creative streak, who makes funky hairdos all day long? Go into your character file. Maybe there’s someone in there who has green and pink, spiked hair and a flair for the unusual…. If so, he or she might be perfect for your avant-garde hairdresser. And don’t be afraid to play around with gender types, either. Maybe your hairdresser will end up a guy, and the straight-laced business person whose life he turns upside down with a funky hairstyle will be that uptight blonde woman in the power suit. The roles are limitless, when you take a step outside the “norm” of thinking.
Now that you’ve dug through your character file and selected two characters, screen test them in the role. Write a scene between them, perhaps over the atrocious green dye-job he gave her… Do they seem stiff and awkward in the roles, or do they flow naturally into them? If the former, then you’ve found your leads. If the latter is true, however, go back to the character file and dig some more. Remember, at this point you’re like a Hollywood Casting Director. You have to find the pair that has the best “screen” chemistry. Don’t get your heart set on one character, if he or she doesn’t work in the plot.
Once you’ve had a successful screen test, it’s time to interview your characters. Find out what’s going on behind the blue-green hair, the power red business suit. Is there a secret life there? A fantasy desire? A psychological quirk? Does she keep her house white-glove inspection ready? Does he drive a funky, rainbow colored VW? If so, these add dimensions to the characters, and provide them with still more story to work in… And what happens if he turns out to be an undercover agent, sent to protect her without her knowledge? What if she turns out to have a softer side that prompts her to devote hours of her time to a local rescue shelter for abused animals? These are the things you find out in interviewing your characters. Sometimes, even if there’s chemistry, however, the interviews make it clear the characters aren’t going to work well together. Say he’s got a problem with alcohol, and she’s a prohibitionist who’s going to end up preaching at him all the time about the evils of alcohol. Well, maybe they’ll work it out, and he’ll get clean. But chances are better he’s going to tune her out, get angry, and walk away before he even gets a chance to get to know her. These are the kinds of questions you need to ask.
Once the interviews are done, and you’re satisfied you’ve chosen the right two leads for your story, it’s time to go back to the file, keeping them in mind, and search out villains (if you need one) and secondary characters. The process is going to work much the same, though you’re looking for a different kind of chemistry, in these cases.
and followed either by excerpts from your book(s) or interviews with your characters. 