As I've been doing final edits of the book I've gone back and updated my character sheets. I want to make sure that I'm keeping all of my characters' actions and decisions in line with their personality and true to their story arc.
It's been good to rediscover the idiosyncrasies of Ash and Ana. Their quirks and foibles make them more human. And while every detail isn't part of the book, it gives depth and purpose to some of the smaller points of their behaviour.
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| Ana and Ash geared up for battle |
How to capture a character
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| The legendary Eldol |
Back in November 2015, some characters were who they were already meant to be. Ana was always Anansia, the proud, smart African daughter of a witch woman. Her parents were already Henry and Rowena and were then who they are to me now. However some characters grew with the narrative.
Like most writers I borrow bits and pieces of friends and family and people I know to build my characters. But, I first drafted the story in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I didn't have time to stop and agonise over the finer details of some characters. So, to write at speed, I straight up turned people I know into characters in the book. One such character is Eldol. He's basically my friend Ian with a giant stag for a pet. There's no getting around it. And, as I've been revising, Eldol hasn't departed too much from his real world counter part. He was written with all the warmth and hard edges necessary to tell the story. But I think that's more a testament to Ian's big character than the deftness of my craft.
Ash was a character who's become clearer with every draft. He started as a fiery tempered, meat-headed, ginger-haired kid. However, through editing, I know him better - his flaws, his fears, his hopes. With that his face came into focus. I actually work with a chap who reminds me of Ash. And suddenly it was like, 'Holy crap! Ash and this guy are the same person!' Obviously they're not the same person. But, now, in my head, Ash looks like he could be a member of this guy's family.
Like most writers I borrow bits and pieces of friends and family and people I know to build my characters. But, I first drafted the story in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I didn't have time to stop and agonise over the finer details of some characters. So, to write at speed, I straight up turned people I know into characters in the book. One such character is Eldol. He's basically my friend Ian with a giant stag for a pet. There's no getting around it. And, as I've been revising, Eldol hasn't departed too much from his real world counter part. He was written with all the warmth and hard edges necessary to tell the story. But I think that's more a testament to Ian's big character than the deftness of my craft.
Ash was a character who's become clearer with every draft. He started as a fiery tempered, meat-headed, ginger-haired kid. However, through editing, I know him better - his flaws, his fears, his hopes. With that his face came into focus. I actually work with a chap who reminds me of Ash. And suddenly it was like, 'Holy crap! Ash and this guy are the same person!' Obviously they're not the same person. But, now, in my head, Ash looks like he could be a member of this guy's family.
Multicultural Britain
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| Eopa and Pascent |
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