NaNoWriMo Prep: 5 Alternatives to the Character Sheet

Character sheets are pretty popular among the NaNoWriMo crowd. I understand the appeal, it's an organized, easily-referenced way to get to know the people you're writing about. If they work for you, great! Personally, I've never had success with character sheets.  Half the stuff they ask about your character are things I don't even know about myself. Best thing that ever happened to me? Depends on the day. Worst thing? Ask me December 1st.

I've taken to a less linear method of character development. The character sheet, it seems, tends to push the writer toward developing characters that are outwardly dynamic, what with their dark secrets and quirky quirks and easily digested motives. But that's only one kind of person. The quieter folk don't tend to look like much in such arenas. Writing isn't just building giants. We've also got to look closer at the quieter people. Here are some of the exercises that help me to get to know my less forthcoming characters. 

1. Write a Paragraph About Your Character From Another Character's Perspective

Choose someone peripheral, someone who doesn't have much stake or interest in your main character's plight. A coworker, distant relative, or colleague is perfect. How would they briefly summarize or gossip about your character? This is a quick n' dirty way of finding some of the external traits that stand out the most (eg: loud talker, likes the Red Sox, argues a lot in meetings.)

2. Make a List of What You Don't Want Readers to Know

This is different from the well-known conceit of deep dark secret that's for the author only, buried in the bedrock of the piece. These are carefully chosen places where you want to consciously leave room for the audience's imagination. Maybe you don't want to describe your character's physical appearance ( a lot of authors don't.) Maybe you don't want to address the character's childhood at all. Maybe we don't need anything beyond the bare logical bones about what your character does for a living. Sometimes if you give your reader a little room to engage, they'll be more connected to your story.

3. I Know, and I'm Sorry, But...

What does your character want? You're never really going to get away from this one successfully. Now, not everyone in the novel has to want something significant, For example, I'm at Panera Bread at the moment. I want a pastry, but I don't want to get up and get it, because there are too many crying children to navigate around. That's what I want. What I'm doing, however, my action, is writing this blog post. As illustrated by my daily life, sometimes wants are petty and sort of stuck in the background. They don't necessarily dominate our every action, and they won't dominate your character's every action either. But for us to want to read about your character, they need to want something serious, and they need to be seriously pursuing it the majority of the time. 

It gets confusing to put it in those terms. Most people don't know what they want. It's kind of a subconscious thing. Try to think of it in these terms instead: what would make it better? What would resolve the pain or fear or uncertainty or whatever the hell the character is wrestling with for the majority of the novel? The thing that solves the problem (or the thing that the character thinks will solve the problem) is usually what they want. 

4. How Would Your Main Character Describe The Setting?

We humans tend to think that many of our problems will be solved by greener grass - the new job, the new city, the new home. What does your character think of the various places in his or her life? Explore this by jotting down a couple of paragraphs describing these settings from your character's perspective.

Does she feel comfortable? Is is the place old or new to her? Does see the beauty in it? Does he plan to stay or leave? Does he use positive or negative language when describing it? Where would he rather be?

5. Who Do They Want You to Think They Are?

There's a disease sweeping the theatrical community called personal branding. This tends to manifest in the form of actors building websites that describe them in three whimsical words, followed by a list of stars that they fancy themselves to be like. For example, I know a lady who is a "quirky, loquacious cupcake with all the vim and vigor of Rachel McAdams." Like, what now? If we're playing that, then I fancy myself a discerning, erudite Calla Lily with the sartorial pretense of Anna Wintour.  I own a lot of big sunglasses and on good days, when I wake up early enough to put on makeup, I believe it. In reality though, I'm kind of a cynical and borderline unkempt bitch sometimes. Also, I just looked up the word discerning and it's actually not synonymous with "hates everything." I fall short of the vision in my head. Most of us do.

Who does your character want to be? What version of her stars in the music videos inside her head? How does she fall short of that vision?

Whether it's by way of the traditional character sheet, one of my crackpot ideas, or your own tried and true method, spend some time getting to know each of your main characters today. After all, they'll be spending the night tomorrow. At least buy them a drink first.