My husband and I have been watching a PBS special on Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. Fascinating biography and thoroughly enjoyable. I remember reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when I was a child, and not just once. I have never been one to read a book once and move on. I have a tendency to re-read books several times, always picking up on something new each time. I would love to hear how many of you do the same.
"Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life." - Mark Twain
Always interesting is the obvious differences between the writer’s life and the lives of the characters that come from the imagination of said writer. Not just with Mark Twain, but with writers in general. Or…what about the similarities? From deep within the writer spring forth characters and settings, each with unique attributes and personalities and each a part of the writer.
"There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable." - Mark Twain
Have you ever considered the characters that you create? Not just the physical attributes and simple personalities, but a true analysis of who the character is. What has happened in your character’s life to make him violent? Why is she such a victim? Why is the hero always wealthy? Why are they in a particular occupation?
"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." - Mark Twain
How do you develop your characters? All of our characters come from within ourselves, so each has a connection to some part of our psyche. Perhaps consider an exercise where you vet out a character that may star in an upcoming story. Ponder the reasons behind the personality you have created and let’s see if our writing benefits from our pre-planning.
The Fall session of Callahan Creative Writing Workshop will begin soon! I am excited to see everyone and I am ready for fresh pieces!
Happy Character Development!
~Michele
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