A short a-ha! lesson in drawing characters your readers will swear exist in "real life."
Even as we know enough to round out our characters, we can fall prey to tropes—especially if we’re lingering on the outskirts of our own story. If you find yourself writing a sad clown, bumbling professor, or taciturn cowboy, pause for a moment and take a step back. There is nothing inherently wrong with a taciturn cowboy, but if that’s all he is, your readers’ eyes will glaze over...they’ve been to this rodeo before.
But don’t be too hard on yourself.
Instead of running off in a frenzy—researching famous cowpokes, filling out character questionnaires, and writing 20-page explorations of our man on the ranch—try giving him an unexpected detail or two. In addition to being a man of few words, maybe Tex is also a math whiz. Maybe he has a subconscious habit or running calculations in his head, and his face twitches whenever he's got numbers on the brain. Maybe his facial tic is a source of anxiety for him—after all, cowboys are supposed to be cool. And just maybe...that’s precisely why he's so quiet. As much as he might resemble Clint Eastwood on the outside, his “nerdiness” and physical quirks have made a shy man out of him.
We all know characters should be round, layered, and complex...but those concepts feel vague and hopelessly academic. A better way to think about it is this...
Characters should surprise.
EXERCISE
Here’s a fun meditation on the art of character that doesn’t require pen or paper. Give yourself some time with each question, forming answers in your mind.
1. Think about a Caucasian, male Marine who’s served in Iraq.
2. What does he look like? Picture him in your mind’s eye.
3. Where did he grow up? What was his upbringing like?
4. What were his reasons for joining the military?
5. What has his life been like since coming back to the U.S.?
6. What are his thoughts about the war?
Now, I’d like to introduce you to this gentleman.
In what ways does he meet your expectations? In what ways does he surprise you?
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