Why is it that some books linger in the recesses of our consciousness, but others are forgotten as soon as the last page is read? The answer most probably lies in the author’s ability to make us believe in, and care about, the characters inhabiting the pages. No matter how intriguing the plot, or breathtaking the setting, it is the characterisation that makes or breaks a story.
In order to ‘flesh out’ characters, there are certain points that should be introduced: age, gender, physical description, mannerisms, occupation and marital status. In short all the things that make up a living, breathing human being. On top of that we have to make life difficult for them, give them character-changing situations to cope with. Make the reader care about what happens next.
So, why don’t all authors and short story writers succeed in breathing life into their creations? Possibly because too much information is given in narrative form, rather than letting the individuals speak for themselves.
To illustrate, I’d like to introduce a fictional character called Molly.
Molly is 37, and married to David. She has long, brown hair and hazel eyes. She has a nervous disposition, not helped by the fact that David constantly criticises her. He particularly dislikes the habit she has of chewing the ends of her hair when feeling low. She works part time as a school dinner lady, but has always wanted to be a writer, an ambition that David has ridiculed so often she rarely mentions the writing course she would like to take. Her unhappiness causes her to comfort eat, which in turn has led to a weight increase that adds to her misery. A teacher at the school discovered Molly writing and encouraged her to submit her poems to a magazine. Today she received a letter from the magazine accepting three of them for publication.
What happens next to Molly? Who cares? She’s a flat two-dimensional cardboard cut-out. So, let’s try again, this time using dialogue and Molly’s own actions.
“David, you’ll never guess what came in the post today.”
“Mmm, what? Can’t you see I’m watching the news? What’s for supper?”
“Oh, please listen. It’s something really exciting.”
David dragged his eyes away from the screen. “I thought you were going to get your hair cut? You know I can’t stand it hanging around your face like that. Long hair doesn’t suit someone of your age.”
“I’m only 37, that’s not too old for long hair, surely?”
“I know how old you are, Molly, but you look about ten years older. You should get that brown mess highlighted, the grey’s starting to show.”
Molly’s hazel eyes glinted with unshed tears. Yet again David was finding fault, it seemed as though everything she did was wrong. Well, at least this time she could show him that she’d succeeded at something. She held out the letter.
“Do you remember when I sent off for details about that writing course…”
David snatched the letter from her. “If this is more of that promotional nonsense, it can go straight in the bin. I’ve told you before, we’re not throwing good money away on some harebrained scheme to turn you into a writer.” He laughed. “You’re a school dinner lady with no education. Look at you, chewing your hair like a baby. Oh, for goodness sake, stop sniffing. You look like Mrs Blobby with hay fever.”
“I’m s… sorry,” she whispered, trying to control her tears. “One of the teachers at the school read some of my poems…”
“That must have been good for a laugh.”
“… he said I should send them to a magazine.”
“He was making fun of you. You really are pathetic.”
“No, David. You don’t understand…”
“I understand only too well. How do you think I feel about the teachers having a good laugh at my wife’s expense?” He screwed the letter up and tossed it on the floor. “Now, where’s my supper? I’m starving.”
Molly walked slowly to the kitchen, picking up the crumpled letter as she went. She smoothed it out on the table, reaching for the biscuit packet. Crumbs and teardrops mingled on the page, almost obliterating the words.
Dear Mrs Mitchell,
I am pleased to inform you that XYZ Magazine will be publishing the three poems you submitted on…
Don’t you detest her husband? Wonder how she came to be so downtrodden? Want her to change her life? Take the writing course? Get a divorce? Hit David on the head and bury him in the garden? (That would be my choice.)
If you answered even one of those questions, I succeeded, however briefly, in letting Molly talk.
Visit the Writing Prompt at http://www.writelink.co.uk/Forums/ and see how some of our writers bring their characters to life. While you’re there, make a few posts. Your fellow writers will be only too happy to help you improve your writing skills.
Follow the links below for further character creating articles:
http://hollylisle.com/fm/Workshops/deeper-people.html
http://www.poewar.com/articles/characters.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/getwriting/
