originalit, posts by tag: character development - LiveJournal

Michael himself: There's not really much to tell. I'm just an ordinary guy. I'm kinda short , kinda skinny - work at the Java the Hut to put myself through college. I'm in this band called Never Cry Wolf with my best friends Mac and Jules. I've got this girl I like, Jenny, who dates this real jerk. Someday I hope to change her mind about all that. She deserves better. I lived in New York until I was 14, then my mother left and my dad and me moved to Hoboken. I lived there until I graduated high school, then I went to California. I don't talk about California. I came back from there when I was 22, and started college at University of Perinthus. I play guitar. Sometimes I dream about the band making it big. I don't really talk a lot.. people tend to scare me, so it's kinda hard to make friends. I've been trying to cut back on the drugs lately, and I've pretty much given up drinking and smoking. I think my mother lives in Mexico, don't know for sure though. It's been almost ten years since I've seen her.

Jules (Michael's bandmate) about Michael: I've come to realize I kinda love him more than just in the friend way, but that's more my issue than his. I mean, he's all about Jenny now and we only made out the one time and we were both drunk and I don't think he remembers so it doesn't count. Besides I'm not gay. Completely not. Or bi, either. It's just a thing, you know? It's just because he's Michael. It's hard not to love Michael, really. There's just something about him that gets to you. Life has kind of kicked Mike in the ass more than once, but he keeps going, more or less. He's been my best friend in high school. Sometimes I wonder what happened to him in California, and I was kinda pissed he left me to go to college by myself- but that's water under the proverbial bridge now. He's the frontman for our band, the singer which is real funny considering he hardly talks at all - but he's so good at it. He's got this presence that makes people notice us. I think he'll go far, and hopefully take us along with him.

Mac (Michael's bandmate) about Michael: The best way I can think of to explain Michael is this: externally, he's like a still pond while internally he's more like a whirlpool. He's always thinking about things, always observing. And he's got a very kind heart. Michael's just not all that good at relating to people, socially. Maybe it's because he's had a lot of disappointment in his life. Never Cry Wolf provides some stability for him, and that's a good thing. He's the kind of guy you can depend on to be there when the chips are down. He's not entirely aware of his own self-worth, and I think he struggles with his identity. But he'll get it together someday, I have faith in him.

Arthur (Michael's father) about Michael: Kid has issues. I tried my best, but it wasn't easy to raise him after his mother up and left us. Michael was very silent, very sullen - kinda like he was quietly accusing me of making her go away. It didn't do wonders for our relationship. Plus, he's not very practical - he's into that music of his to the point that it overrides his common sense. I understand that he's got talent, but that's not dependable. You need more than that to make a living. I'm worried that he'll someday wind up poor and penniless and alone. I'm not getting any younger, and he doesn't come home to see me all that much. I've been trying to make amends for my transgressions, AA's been pretty helpful with that - but I'm not sure Michael forgives me. With his nature, it's hard to tell what emotion he's feeling at all.

Jenny (Michael's future girlfriend) about Michael: He's a great guy, really. He's my co-worker at the Hut, and he's always there to cover a shift or make me laugh. More than that, we're friends - I can always count on him to listen, and he's very kind. And so talented with his music- he's going to be famous someday, I know it. And he's attractive, though he doesn't really realize it. Too attractive. It causes problems, sometimes, and it's causing me to have quite a few dilemmas that I really wasn't prepared for. He's confusing, and sometimes difficult to read.

Anzack (Jenny's current boyfriend) about Michael- Little shit better stop sniffing around my girl, that's what I say. He's all emo-boy, acting like he's so sensitive with that guitar and those songs. You know it's just an act, right? I mean deep down, he belches and farts and scratches himself just like the rest of us. Nothing special about him. And he's short, too. He pisses me off something fierce, the way he's always talking to Jenny at work, and sometimes calling her up, and sending stupid emails and everything. If he's not careful, I'm going to bust his head in one of these days.

Fsau himself: When I was 15 and taking a history course, I tried to rebel by doing nothing. I never studied, refused to give any reports, and daydreamed during class. Nobody noticed. Finally, as the course came to a close and the threat of failing loomed over me, I poured myself into sculpting figures and made an elaborate battle scene out of them. The instructor gave me passing credits just for that, but otherwise, nobody noticed. And that pretty much sums up my life.

Fsau's mother: Lèan was always a good kid. Very quiet; not much trouble. Not much ambition, either, but he does his best. People think I'm ashamed of him, but that's not true at all! Some people are naturally cut out to be ordinary, and I'm perfectly comfortable with the idea that my son is one of them. He's very handsome; it's a shame he doesn't try harder to find girlfriends. But again, that's his decision.

Fsau's father: I love him. He's my son. He hasn't always had the best breaks in life, but come on. My childhood wasn't perfect either. You take your lot in life and build upon it till you reach your goal. I don't know what Lèan's goal is. Maybe he's still trying to find one. When he does, he'll apply himself. How's he doing on that gunship? I haven't heard a thing about it.

Fsau's CO, Capt. Hraith: Admiral Koschà stuck me with the kid as a favor to his father, whom I don't know personally. Normally, this would stink of trouble, and I admit I was skeptical at first. He hardly said a word besides "Yes sir! Yes sir!" for his first couple of months serving under me. He's very difficult to talk to and I've never heard him laugh. He just smiles for a moment, goes "Heh," and then stops. He's proved himself competent, though, and loosened up a bit. Hey, I don't care who your mommy and daddy are or what your ethnicity or educational background is. If you can do the work, you're all right.

Fsau's best friend, Cwm. Ucht-alau: Fsau's a good guy. Trust me, he is. He's grown a lot since I met him. We joined Knifeclaw Company at the same time, so we were the plebes together. That probably helped us bond. I don't want to say I took him under my wing; he's older than me and has had more life experience. But back then, he was... I don't know, kind of messed up. Directionless! Yeah. I just helped direct him a little. The secret is, you gotta get him alone if you want him to open up. In crowds he fades into the background.

Fsau's superior, Ens. Nulu: Sorry, I don't know much about him. His father's a high-ranking officer and his mother is... somebody. A politician, maybe. Did he have a difficult childhood? I can't recall. He struck me as somewhat immature at first, but he's doing well now.

Those of us who roleplay are familiar with the concept of a character sheet - one sheet, where all the information you need about your character is at your fingertips. A character sheet, or questionnaire, is a good tool for writers as well. It's also fun to question your character and see how they would answer a variety of questions - the more information you uncover about who your character is and how he or she thinks, the more believable your character will be. Even if the information isn't immediately useful to your story, you're bound to hear his/her voice more clearly.

The following are some good character development resources:
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Exercise: Four Perspectives

Using one character, write four short bios of that character from the following points of view:

1. Character's bio from the author's perspective
2. Character writing his/her own bio.
3. Character's bio written by a friend.
4. Character's bio written by an enemy.

Extra credit! Throw in some more perspectives - a teacher, an employer, a lover, an ex-lover... etc. etc.

You can have infinite amounts of fun with this one.