Lots of writers
come up with an idea for a book but then aren’t quite sure where to go from
there. I always start with character, and by doing that, the book becomes
character driven, rather than plot driven. Character driven books are more
emotional, connect more, than plot-driven stories.
For me, I have
often have a What-If situation—What if a commitment phobic Coast Guard
Lieutenant is suddenly saddled with two kids? What if a woman who is trying to
start a new life finds out she’s walked into a money pit of a change?
Then I decide on
WHO my character is. Is she a murderer? An actor? A chef? Is she the
protagonist or antagonist? Is he the father of the murder victim? The doctor
who diagnoses a life-threatening disease? A lot of times this vocation will
come from the plot. If you’re writing a murder mystery, obviously you need a
killer, a victim and a hero. If you’re writing a romance, you need a hero and a
heroine who have a few conflicts between them but not so many that they can’t
get together. If you’re working on a children’s story, then you need a child
protagonist who goes through a life-changing event.
For THE
SWEETHEART RULES, my latest in the Sweetheart Sisters series with
Berkley, I chose a hero and a heroine who were opposites in everything from
their jobs to their approach to life. Responsible single mom and veterinarian
Diana has decided never to rely on a man again. Then she has a one-night stand
with no-strings Coast Guard Lieutenant Mike Stark. Six months later, when Mike
returns (after being saddled unexpectedly with his two daughters), she ends up
having to rely on him when her life is un upheaval. So I had two great
characters, with sparks between them. The next step was to figure out who each
of these people were and why they were who they were.
Many things help
you make these decisions. What kind of person would be thrust into this
situation? And why? This can send your plotting into a 100 different directions
so brainstorm on this. One of the best ways to brainstorm, and something I
teach in my class on my “Brainmap” method, is the spoke and wheel. Draw one
word in the center of the page (protagonist, murderer, and antagonist) then
draw out lines that lead to all kinds of possibilities. Maybe the murderer is
an innocent framed for the crime. Maybe it’s a desperate woman backed into a
corner. Maybe it’s an accident. Maybe it’s a serial killer. Feel free to let
yourself go, even if you end up with 100 ideas on the page, and come up with as
many ideas as you can. Even if you don’t use all these ideas, hold on to the
paper. When you get stuck later in the plot, pull this out and see where it
leads you.
With THE
SWEETHEART RULES, I had my heroine show a secret she is keeping at the
very beginning of the book. That secret underlies every decisions she has made,
and will come back to haunt her in several different ways. Then I figured out
why she would keep such a secret, and what toll it has taken on her life and
her relationships.
Third, you need
to name your character. For me, I like names that have meaning. I have a baby
name book I use to look up meanings, derivatives and nicknames. In THE
SWEETHEART RULES, I wanted names that showed their characters. Dependable,
reliable Diana and sexy, charming Mike seemed to fit well!
Fourth, create a
character “bible.” This can come from a character interview, from your own
thoughts, however you want to develop it. The character bible is comprised of
the simple stuff - eye color, hair color, etc. But also tackle the bigger
issues -- what happened to this character as a child? What is he or she afraid
of? What’s his worst habit? Greatest trait? Biggest weakness? How does he feel
about his parents/ pets? Last girlfriend? All of these things become fodder for
great, well-developed characters. For THE
SWEETHEART RULES, this became even more vital because it’s part of a
three-book series, and I needed to keep everything and everyone straight.
These are the
kids of details that give characters life. One of my first rejection letters
praised my writing up and down but aid that my characters didn’t breathe and
live on the page. I had no idea what this meant at the time, but learned later
how to pump life into people on a page.
How do I do it?
I filter EVERYTHING through that character’s past. When my character looks out
the window at a tree, there is a memory associated with that tree, a memory
that impacts on the plot, and that makes the tree and the moment with the
character have ten times more meaning.
Characters
shouldn’t be static -- they should have past habits, annoying traits, likes and
dislikes, etc. Those are the little details that make them as real as the
neighbor you don’t like or the favorite aunt you love. And creates books that
readers love!
If you pick up THE
SWEETHEART RULES, I hope you’ll share with me your favorite character!
If not, tell me: Who was the most
memorable character you read about? What made them so interesting? What kind of
traits do you love in heroes and heroines?
If you love THE
SWEETHEART RULES, it here
or in a bookstore near you! And read an
awesome review here, if you’re so inclined :-)
Don’t forget to
enter the giveaway, too!
Shirley
New York Times
and USA Today bestselling author Shirley Jump spends her days writing romance
and women's fiction to feed her shoe addiction and avoid cleaning the toilets.
She cleverly finds writing time by feeding her kids junk food, allowing them to
dress in the clothes they find on the floor and encouraging the dogs to double
as vacuum cleaners.
Look for her Sweet and Savory Romance series, including the USA Today bestselling book, THE BRIDE WORE CHOCOLATE, on Amazon and Nook, and the debut of her Sweetheart Club series for Berkley, starting with THE SWEETHEART BARGAIN in September 2013.
Visit her website at www.shirleyjump.com or read recipes and life adventures at www.eating-my-words.com.
Look for her Sweet and Savory Romance series, including the USA Today bestselling book, THE BRIDE WORE CHOCOLATE, on Amazon and Nook, and the debut of her Sweetheart Club series for Berkley, starting with THE SWEETHEART BARGAIN in September 2013.
Visit her website at www.shirleyjump.com or read recipes and life adventures at www.eating-my-words.com.
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