Wednesday's Writer's Tip - More on Character Development

Bringing characters to life involves making them into individuals. Another way to do this is by labeling them. So how do you do this. There are a number of ways to explore and add details to the people in your story. So how do we label people in fiction. Sometimes we do this in real time as well.

The first is appearance. Molly becomes the red haired woman with the flashing blue eyes. She's tall but not exactly slender but well-built. She is different from Susan who is short, blonde hair and hazel eyes. When giving the appearance of the characters in your story unless there's a reason they shouldn't all be blondes, red-heads or have dark hair. Maybe in a mystery you could get away with the three sultry blondes of if your characters are twins or triplets. So picture your characters as individuals.

The second way is by speech patterns. Sometimes when reading stories by beginning writers, all the characters, male, female all sound the same. Speech patterns should be individual. The way a person speaks and the words they choose often depend on many things. Their choice of a career, their family upbringing. They also can have little tells in their speech. "In my opinion," the man says many times. "Er" Uh" these are other things that can show who is speaking and makes the character more real.

A third way is mannerisms. He slicks his hair back. She chews on her fingernails. His gaze is always on the ground. She closes her eyes when she talks to anyone. These kind of manners also bring the character into view as a person.

The final way is attitude. The boy was eternally defiant. She was obsessed with perfection. He's so vain. She seems perpetually embarrassed.

Adding a bit from each area is a great way to make the characters alive. The reader will think they know the person you've created to make the story work.

Wednesday - On Plot - Temptation

Today Temptation is the plot or plot device to be looked at. Will the main character bite or not? That is the basis of temptation. The direction can either be showing someone constantly rejecting what ever tempts them or accepting the temptation. While resisting can be interesting the character who takes the temptation then must face the consequences of his or her action. This can make for a great story.

Using this device is shown through character development rather than action. Motives and needs are the important directions. This device demands the character change and the change is a great one. Most of the conflict when using temptation as a device is interior. Frequently this is the character against himself rather than vieing with another person, social group or natural disaster.

The hero or heroine's nature needs to be shown as well as the temptation they face. Once they give in and sieze the temptation there should be some gratification. The hero or heroine should revel in the choice they made and think they have won. Then slam them with the consequences. Their attempts to avoid paying for what they have done should show their slide to the bottom and then the decision to change.

These kind of plots or plot devices usually end with the character seeking redemption and atonement for their actions. There may or may not be a happy ending. The moment of redemption can come as the character is facing death.

Characters - Astrology - Saggitarius

Here goes with character traits for Saggitarians to help develop characters.

Saggitarian Sun or the inner person --These people are jovial, bright, hopeful and generous. They are generally self-reliant and out-spoken. There frankness can lead to problems. A Saggitarian heroine or hero is ambitious and not easily discouraged. They like liberty and out-door activity. Their strong will can present problems for they will not be driven.

Ascendant - Outer self. This is the face shown to the world. The Saggitarian hero or heroine is very independent and will not be ordered around. They can be impulsive and out-spoken. The hero or heroine can be found with their foot in their mouth. He or she can be nervously energetic and quick to make decisions. They have foresight especially in regards to business. He or she can appear blunt and abrupt. They can be high-strung. This hero or heroine likes animals.

Moon -- the emotional nature. This character can be benevolent and humanitarian. He or she can be sociable and loves to travel. They often change their residence frequently. This is a quick worker who may find themselves in the public eye either in a positive or negative way. The hero or heroine can benefit through women.

Astrology -- Libra

Developing Characters Via Astrology

When I use Astrology to cast my main characters, I use the Sun sign, the Moon sign and the Rising sign. The Sun denotes the person's inner self. The Moon shows the emotional self and the Rising sign shows the face the character shows to the world. When using this for characters this system gives one a vast variety of traits for their characters. I'm no mathematician but think of twelve times twelve times twelve and probably even more. There's something for every character. And even more. Minor characters can have just one set of traits. What I'll be doing here is making lists of traits for each of the three types of signs. Sometimes the characteristics are even opposites or if you're designing a multi-layered villain the traits can be turned from positive to negative. Each week, I'll start with one of the signs and list the traits.