Becoming your character

Jonathan_Philips

What a pretentious subject title!

I am not talking about living the life of your characters. I suspect with our sordid little minds we'd be doing that anyway given half the chance. No...it's something I kind of discovered last night while editing a story I am working on.

I really do not want my male characters to be me all of the time - I suspect my readers are sick and tired of hearing about a dashingly handsome and sophisticated older man (*cough*) seducing a woman of a highly unsuitable age, but when writing in the first person biographical style I found it hard not to come across as me (obviously not when writing from a female perspective you understand!).

I am a big fan of reading aloud when editing a story, you can spot sentences that just don't flow so much more easily, but, last night, I discovered if you kind of get into character, even change your accent a little, you can begin to realise exactly what your character would say even if you would not have said it that way yourself. I am sure my cat thinks I am nuts, but I can live with that.

I was just wondering if anyone else employs little tricks like that in their writing?

JP
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msounds

Good morning JP!

Oh, I understand this so well!

*chuckle*

[soft high-pitch scream 'AAAaaaaAEEEAAAAAA!!']

Unfortunately - I do not have a cat and I cannot confirm this.. nor infirm it, for that matter.

Did I play with accents? Yes. While writing one of my [few - so far] stories? No.

Didn't need to - I wrote them as myself - however, I did play with a few ideas and tried them out on my.. turtle!

[oh, yes, I forgot to mention I have a turtle, instead of a cat.. and I am not sure how much she understands my words - however she does blink often. I took that as a very, very compassionate understanding - or at least a break from her daily boredom of unending chase of fish that she never catches.]

Hmm.

I actually prefer to somehow get-into-the-skin of that character I am trying to describe.. and even try to think like that person - as best as I can.

[yes, I did smack myself a few times trying to get out of it - I actually loved the idea and, last try was to imitate a southern accent while on the phone; it didn't go well only because I have my own accent which is difficult to, umm, ignore. Yes, I am aware of it myself, too].

Another trick would be to try and match your character to someone you know in real life - maybe you know that person better - or - to some extent - can relate certain behaviors from your story.. to that person. I am sure it can be much easier this way, given that you have such crazy perverted people as, umm - friends - or family.

[wait, I think I do.. hmm - interesting - just realized that - and I should probably write 3-4 more stories.. hmm]

Hope this helped a bit JP :-)


Here,
MSounds

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lushi

Actually, I do the reading aloud bit quite frequently thru the edit of the story for the reasons you mentioned.

But as for me getting into the the character being written about, that wouldn't work so well for me. My main character springs to life of his/her own accord. This may be because the main character, at least, appears to me fairly well formed before I start to write. [I do think though that if the story were to be longer, that character would evolve and could cause problems or delightful surprises too.]

My characters are the ones that tell the story, if you will. It's never a, "I think I'll have him do this or her do that." He pretty well says where he's going or what's he's doing and why. The same with "she" if the "she" is the secondary character. Then I have a bit harder time with it. .........

So your idea about reading it out loud AS the character would probably be very good for my secondary character, unless I am fortunate enough to have someone write the secondary character with me, then it all works out beautifully.

Not sure if this makes sense.

[No cat or turtle, just Floyd the pekingese, who upchucks if things aren't up to snuff.]

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cabinboy

Dashingly handsome JP !!!! trying to shag unsuitable girls in your storys. !!!!!!!! , i had you down as a southern version of Compo, lol.

My female characters are all based around someone i know in real life. I write the storys from a male perspective, not always with me in mind if that makes sense.

Yeh i read em aloud as well, only i have to make sure my cats are out of the room so they dont blubbing to the mensab, you know what fickle animals they are.

As for accents, i find it difficult to write in scouse or geordie, so trying to do american midwest is a real no go. Having said all of that i do sometimes find myself writing in american.

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lilypad

Quite an interesting topic!

I do always write with me as the main character - it's the only way I can relate to what is being felt throughout the story. I can envision everything that is going on. I sometimes dream of them as well.

But... although I'm sure you are quite dashing JP - none of my characters ever have a physical description. I don't add one because I want the reader to imagine he/she is doing this to the person of his/her choice. I find it easier for me to pretend to lets say.... be having my way with JP - if the writer isn't calling him Paul all the way through the story! smiles!

I do read aloud and have to have complete silence. I find some times that doesn't always work - so I stand up - paper in hand - and read to my make believe audience. I moan and feel the part as I read. If I'm wet or needing to make a quick exit to the nearest toy - then I feel the story is fit for publication.

As for accents. My men never seem to have one - along with no face either. And.. we've already determined that I do not have one! I find that it's much easier to continually fantasize about someone - that I do not know. And.. to keep from ever knowing him.. I have given him no face. Also.. I think my hubby might appreciate this approach as well.

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