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April 26, 2006
Character Education
Ann Lamott (Bird by Bird) says plot is character and I agree. The most intricate story machinations don't mean much if the characters are duds. Flat characters are generally the result of lazy writing. Do you know what your character is afraid of? Whether she cheats at board games or collects ceramic hippos? Does he tattle on his big sister or help little old ladies learn to skateboard?
One way I got to know Hattie was to have her write letters to every other character in the book. Through those letters, I learned she was jealous of Mildred Powell, that she knew her teacher didn't think much of her and that what she really wanted more than anything was a place to belong. Very few of these letters actually ended up in the novel, but without having written them, I wouldn't have known where Hattie's story was headed.
You say your character wouldn't write letters? Would she send emails, text messages, keep a ship's log or field journal, compose an opera, create a recipe or a comic strip or a blog? Pick one and go for it! You'll be amazed at what your character reveals to you about himself.
Posted by kirby at April 26, 2006 04:13 PM
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