Do you pay close attention to the people you meet? Do you have good observation skills? Do you listen to the true stories that others tell about people they know and have observed?
This is a good way to build believable characters in your stories, don’t you think?
I knew a writer some years ago who used to sit where people gathered and just observe them. She especially enjoyed sitting on the pier and watching the fishermen, the onlookers, the tourists, the romantic couples, the parents with rambunctious children in tow, the elderly folks out for a stroll on a nice California day and the occasional homeless person enjoying the view from atop the wharf.
Sure, you can purposely put yourself in areas where various types of people mingle—each with a different agenda. You can also pay attention no matter where you are—airport, playground, Little League game, beauty pageant, assisted living facility, art gallery, nightclub, rodeo, even the grocery store. In fact, if you are writing a story that includes a fine artist, a cowboy, someone with dementia, a street vendor or a magician, you might make it a point to go where you will find several people in this category and spend some time observing them.
What should you be mindful of when you are observing someone?
• Their demeanor.
• Their characteristics.
• Mannerisms.
• Style of dress.
• Way of communicating—language, gestures, etc.
Does the person you are observing look others in the eye, smile easily, touch their companion often while talking to them, seem aloof? What are the physical responses that denote aloofness in this person? How would you describe the stance and walk of someone with a cane? How do people relate to their dogs when they’re out walking them? How do others react when they see dogs on a leash?
It’s fun to make up characters. But not every writer can describe their characters so readers feel an emotional connection to them. You want your readers to be able to visualize your characters. They should either like, love or hate your characters. Your characters are effective only if they evoke an emotion—does he make the reader laugh, disgust him, anger him or touch his heartstrings? In order to build characters that stir up emotion, you really must have good observation skills and the ability to describe what you envision.
Observe people and learn to describe them accurately. I also suggest behavior study. Think about how you and/or people you know behave in certain situations. Even watching sit-coms, TV dramas and talk shows can add to your understanding of human behavior and help you to create interesting and believable characters for your stories.
Do you plan to publish the book you are working on? Be sure to order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book to learn how to navigate the publishing industry. This book is designed to save new authors tons of money and heartache by helping them to understand the publishing industry, their publishing options, the possible consequences of their choices and their responsibilities as a published author. This book covers traditional publishing, self-publishing and the pay-to-publish option. It includes what you need to know about distribution, marketing, and so much more. It’s marked down to $14.95. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
To find out if you are ready to become a published author, download my FREE ebooklet, “50 Reasons Why You Should Write That Book.” http://www.patriciafry.com