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As you just observe people take notes on the way they walk, hold themselves, even the way they dress; as an exercise make-up first person scenarios for what you see in each one, two hundred words or less, what caused their limp, why the particular hair style, who they are, are they social or reclusive, active or inactive, employed or unemployed, if unemployed are they students, independently wealthy, retired, etc.. There are infinite combinations that may be used to give verbal life to those you see. You may be totally incorrect in these mute studies, however you have given your imagination one of its most powerful exercises and in restricting your per person biography it helps you to learn how to tighten your work and still give a reasonably complete character description. All these tidbits of observation and listening will only help you to develop real three-dimensional characters when next you sit down at your computer or typewriter and begin to spin your tale. Before you know it your characters are one in the same with the image of one of those passers-by that you observed and including your supposition as to their inner thoughts and unique actions. Developing into strong, honest, real representations of individuals forming the whole of your storys society. This is true whether you write fiction or non-fiction; your characters, real or fictitious, have to appear in your readers eye as the person or a person as the case may be. Someone they can picture mentally, and hopefully say, I know that person, he is just like Joe Blow or Jane Doe down the block. You have given a life like quality to your character. He can be a hard fighting, two fisted, leader and in his own mind a man of many self doubts who, by his actions, overcomes those doubts or personal demons. You might even volunteer at a Senior Center, sit and talk with those who have lived long and eventful lives. They, every one of them, have a whole stockpile of stories they would love to have someone to tell them to. Some of these stories are good and full enough to stand on their own; in those cases ask if they would mind if you wrote about what ever that event in their life was. You will be surprised how happy that would make some of them and how much more detail they will go into to tell you their story. In other cases, some of the little tidbits you gather will inspire good fictional short stories or even novels. Not to mention the character study of these differing individuals. Another source is at an AA meeting; the Friends of Bill W have some almost unbelievable stories not to mention the characters in the group - from the lowest down and out, to those that are the last people you would expect. Probably the most fun and insightful group to sit with and listen to are children. In their innocence they see things, sometimes clearer than most adults whose minds are now so cluttered with knowledge and life experiences. Continued On Next Page (those, Page 3) ... AUTHOR: Walt Lange  TAGS: Journalism time memories BOOKMARK: Digg it | Add to Del.ICIO | Add to FARK ACTIONS: Comment Save Print Register free acount  |
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