Getting to know Jack

[pegkerr]

I have been thinking more about my entry yesterday, how I don't have Jack's voice. (Thanks everyone for their comments to that entry; they were very helpful.) I sat down for my writing hour today and thought I'd take a look at that book I bought a little while ago, List Your Self: Listmaking as the Way to Self-Discovery. Flipped through it, thinking, how would Jack answer these? and realized, I didn't know. It made me realize, with chagrin, that Jack is very much a stick figure in my mind.

So I decided to sit down and copy every one of these questions into my computer, and I'll use them as a check list as I build my characters BTW: I am SO glad I bought this book. Excellent questions for building characters, e.g.:

List all the items in your wallet

List the things you think you can't live without

List the first thoughts that run through your mind the moment you get up

List the food that's always left in your refrigerator after everything else is eaten

List the fantastic pranks you've successfully pulled off

List all the accidents you've been in

etc., etc.

So I'll spend the next several days, thinking about some of these questions for Jack. I am sure I'll know him much better as a person when I'm done.

One thing that occurred to me about him as I was working on this, apropos of nothing: he likes camping. I'm sure he's spent quite a bit of time up in the Boundary Waters.

Gotta dash to work.

Peg

Comments

[anoisblue.livejournal.com]

What an EXCELLENT idea!

[skg.livejournal.com]

I went out and bought this book after you mentioned it previously, and have found it very useful.

One thing I find disturbing, however, is the fact that it is much easier for me to answer these questions for my characters than for myself.

*ponders*

[nsmom.livejournal.com]

This is an awesome idea! Thanks! Am off to stick book on my Amazon Wish list!

[eal.livejournal.com]

I think you are responsible for most of the books on my wish list these days :)

Actually bought the Pocket Muse the other day and I love it. And I'm really not so much a follower when it comes to books, but these are really interesting.

One book that I love that helps me work out relationship dynamics for my characters: John Gottman's The Relationship Cure -- that it's also helped me to learn to relate better to my husband, sister, and parents has simply been a lovely added value bonus.

Beth

[daedala.livejournal.com]

I second the Gottman rec. His discussions of the research he does and how he does it are fascinating.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

This is such a very good idea! Thanks - I think I'm off to get that book!

[kishmish.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that as well as character building, there's also character dynamics (the way they relate to each other) and you could ask yourself questions that would involve all of them . For example, I was reading this TErry Pratchett interview where they gave him some of his main characters who all like to be in control and asked him if they were all having tea, who would pour? I'm sure there are better, deeper questions than that, but I thought that might help. I'll try to think of some if you want.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Maybe Jack is the wine snob.

B

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I think if anyone would be a total snob about wine, it would be Rolf.

(Goes off to think some more)

[megancrewe.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should get myself a copy of that book... Sounds great. :)

A technique I've used for novel characters (which you may have already used) is sitting them down for a free-written interview. I try to lock the internal editor in the mental closet and let the conversation go the way the character naturally directs it. That's resulted in some pretty interesting discoveries. Also have written journal entries (not in my LJ, just on paper :)) from the POV of characters, which can be enlightening, too.

BTW, hope you don't mind, I've friended you. :) Always nice to find other writers out there, and I'm sure I can learn quite a bit from you.

[fathoming.livejournal.com]

Hi Peg,

I've added you as a friend; your journal inspires me to write.

Thanks.

Thanks

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I've added you as a friend, too. Looking forward to discussing writing with you.

Cheers,
Peg