The Journal, Monday, 7/24

Hey Folks,

On the road today, our first travel day. It’s only about six hours, but six hours these days is what ten or twelve used to be.

I’ll add to this if I’m able and have something relevant to say.

Topic: A Few Thoughts on Characters

It’s funny, in a way, how we (humans) — especially writers, with characters running around in our heads — often tend to think of other humans in one-dimensional terms.

Not long ago, a friend asked whether I appreciated beauty as expressed in my photos while I was still in the Marine Corps.

My response was “of course,” though I had less time available to express such appreciation back then. I wrote while I was doing the USMC thing too.

I keep waiting for someone to ask whether, during that time, I was as compassionate (read “wimpy”) concerning little creatures. Again the answer would be yes.

Several years ago, toward the end of a poetry reading I presented at a large writers’ conference, an attendee commented that I “seem more a biker than a poet.” (I was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and an open black leather jacket.)

Over the years, I’ve received similar comments in which the person commenting juxtaposed myself as a writer or poet vs. myself as my job while I was in the Marine Corps.

Finally one day I hit upon what I consider to be a universal truth. It’s a truth to keep in mind as you’re allowing your characters to develop.

What we Do (our vocation and/or our avocation) is not necessarily who we Are.

When others focus on what we do, they see us hard, uncaring creatures. Characters in this guise become one-dimensional, or flat. Stereotypes.

As writers, we initially introduce characters (just as “real” humans are introduced at parties) by what they do. Ms. Smith is a banker. Ms. Randolph is an entrepreneur. Mr. Billingsley is a lawyer. Or a plumber. Or a mechanic. Or a writer.

All of those stereotypes come with a set of assumptions. They enable the reader to “recognize” the character immediately. To that end, stereotypes are not only valid, but necessary.

But after that, you have to let the reader know who the character Is. Not just what he does, but other aspects of his life.

When the focus shifts to who we (or characters) are — and most of us keep most aspects of that hidden away — we quickly become multidimensional. And both we and characters quickly become more interesting. More real.

This is easy to do with characters, at least for me as a fiction writer. I never do a “character sketch” or whatever they call it. Never have that I can remember.

I don’t want to impress on a character what I want him or her to be. I want them to simply be who they are, as they reveal as the story goes along.

Today, and Writing

I added another 800 words before we hit the road. Out of time for today, so I’m just gonna count what I wrote this morning.

Back tomorrow.

Of Interest

Check Dean’s site. I recommend “Novel Three: Day Seven” at http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/novel-three-day-seven/. A lot of little “how it goes” writing stuff.

Fiction Words: 0816
Nonfiction Words: 540 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 1356

Writing of Graham’s Road (tentative title, novel or novella)

Words brought forward…… 1070
Day 1…… 3012 words. Total words to date…… 4082
Day 2…… 2675 words. Total words to date…… 6757
Day 3…… 2181 words. Total words to date…… 8938
Day 4…… 4913 words. Total words to date…… 13851
Day 5…… 2543 words. Total words to date…… 16394
Day 6…… 1207 words. Total words to date…… 17601
Day 7…… 0816 words. Total words to date…… 18417

Total fiction words for the month……… 22235
Total fiction words for the year………… 360192
Total nonfiction words for the month… 9900
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 117730
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 477922

The Daily Journal blog streak……………………………………… 606 days
Calendar Year 2017 Novel Goal (15 novels or novellas)………………… 7 novels or novellas
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 25
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 4
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………………… 179