Monday, July 27, 2009

The Swimming Factor

Back to character quirks. Sorry about the diversion last week, but I figured you'd be more interested in conference tidbits.

Today we're talking about the swimming factor. When I'm not sure how my character would react, or when she's reacting more like me, the author, than her, the character, I like to go off on a tangent and think of her as if she were a close friend of mine. And that's when I wonder about her swimming preferences.



Does she like to swim? Love to swim? Or is she afraid of the water?

Does she jump in the deep end, fingers pinching her nose, and whooping for joy? Does she dive in gracefully off the diving board? Or does she sit at the side, sloshing her calves in the water, but never venturing into the pool itself?

This leads me to more questions. What kind of bathing suit would she wear? Or is she comfortable wearing one? Maybe she just sits by the pool in shorts and a t-shirt? Or does she flaunt her stuff in a string bikini? Hide her thighs with the skirt suit?

What about her sunglasses? Movie star big or dollar store practical? Her beach towel? Monogrammed or faded Scooby-Doo?

None of this stuff will probably show up in a book, but it can help me get closer to my character. Someone who cannonballs into a pool, wearing a string bikini, will be very different from the monogrammed-towel-toting non-swimmer. And when I get bogged down writing the same old actions (hint: smile, grin, shrug...), it can help me see other actions she does. It also reminds me who she really is: an individual.

For all of you non-romance writers out there, transplant your character to a mental swimming pool and think about how he or she would react. If it's a historical character, would she be appalled at the immodesty of today? Or would she be excited? If it's a vampire slayer, would he long to join the happy families, but has no idea how? No matter what genre, what time period, you can learn something by sticking your character next to a pool.

What tricks do you use to get closer to your characters?

Side note: I forgot to tell all of you inspirational romance writers out there that Steeple Hill Love Inspired is actively looking for new authors. Don't be afraid to send your books! This might be just the right time for you to get published. eHarlequin.com lists the writing guidelines and submission information.
Happy Writing!

35 comments:

  1. Wow, you really do dig deep into your characters!!! I'll have to try the swim question on mine.

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  2. Awesome post, Jill! My main character is very comfortable in the water. She prefers swimming holes in the middle of the rain forest to swimming pools filled with chlorine and other chemicals. She wears a string bikini, but is embarrassed when it causes others to notice her.

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  3. This is awesome! I immediately thought of my character and I just know that she'd be the one in shorts and a t-shirt, cooling her legs in the water. What a cool idea.

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  4. Sorta modeling them on people I know, or a combo of people helps. I can just think of those people and the characters flesh out.

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  5. You're characters must be so well thought out that I would LOVE to read your writing.

    I should really try some of these exercises with mine. Great post!

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  6. I agree with Marybeth...you're characters are so well thought out. When I start writing a novel, typically I don't know the characters any better than a casual friend. Only when situations arise to I consider them more deeply. lol... Of course, this leads to serious rewrites b/c of a stronger ending than beginning. Ack!

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  7. Eileen: Smiling--I don't ask my characters every question I'm posting, but if I'm feeling stuck and not quite sure how she'd react, then I ask questions to un-block me.

    Heather: I can really picture your character. You've told so much about me with that simple description: she's confident, strong, enjoys life, daring, yet a little shy. Very cool!

    Jessica: Isn't it wild how quickly the answer comes to you? My heroine would never jump right into the pool. She'd wear a cute, yet unrevealing bikini, and she'd dip her toes in and ease herself into the water. No cannonballs for her!

    Angie: A picture is worth a thousand words, isn't it? Mental pictures reveal our character's traits. Nice!

    MaryBeth: I tend to fall in love with my characters, but their uniqueness doesn't always translate onto the paper. I'm working on it.

    Ralene: It sure is fun getting to know them, isn't it? Don't you love it when they surprise you?

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  8. I always need new ideas on how to circumvent the nods, grins, shrugs and laughs. Thanks for this!

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  9. It's crazy to me how these simple questions can really dig deep into our characters. Where do you get these questions? Do you just make them up? If so, I'm majorly impressed. :)

    Definitely going to be thinking about my hero/heroine as swimmers today. Love the post!

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  10. You gave me a new thought today, Jill. I haven't thought about my characters diving or dipping into a pool, but I bet I know what they'd do...Love this!
    ~ Wendy

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  11. MeganRebekah: Oh good, I'm not the only "grinner" in the bunch! What a relief!

    Katie: I do not know how my brain works. And I don't want to. It's scary up there! But, I suspect your brain is always whirling around too, isn't it?

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. Wendy: I'm astonished at how quickly we realize exactly how our characters would respond to situations. They are practically real!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  13. Cool post! I just had to ask myself a question similar to this about a scene in my book. A whole bit about a lake and falling in from a canoe. And at first, my heroine was shocked, scrambling to get out of the water but I realized it was all wrong. So I had to change it. She'd laugh, of course, think it was amusing and probably stay in the water a little longer. I'm going to remember this for the future. Thanks!

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  14. Cindy: Amazing! I'm curious if you had her reacting more the way you would react at first? The only reason I ask is because it's a habit I'm trying to break.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  15. Hmm...you just gave me an idea for a scene in my next novel!

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  16. This is a great idea. I'm already picturing my mc by the pool. Wow! It's already helping. Great post!

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  17. I love how you get to know your characters.

    I think my characters would be mortified at today's fashions, but then again, they're from the 1800's

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  18. Sometimes I write a page of my character's traits. That is very helpful. I love the question: what kind of a bathing suit does she wear? That truly gets to the heart of her personality. Thanks for the great tip.

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  19. Melissa: Now I want to know what that scene is!

    Lazy Writer: I'm so curious--what's your mc wearing?

    Erica: Mortified, or secretly excited? Hmmm....

    Nancy: Clothes do tell a tale, don't they?

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  20. Your posts have been such fun this month, Jill! You've give such great ways to start thinking about our characters on a deeper level! I'm going to have to think of some historical situations that can help me understand my characters, like: do they prefer outhouse, nature, or chamber pot. :)

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  21. Jody: Yes! Outhouse, nature or chamber pot! Delightful! You crack me up!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  22. Your ways of knowing your characters are so creative!

    I think my character (historical) would probably be appalled by the idea. If she were alone, she would probably try it out. But she would never admit it.

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  23. MY MC is actually enjoying the beach right now lol and yes I had to answer all these questions. She's deff. her own person! I feel like I just know her.

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  24. Icy Roses: Intriguing--if she were alone, she'd probably try it out. A little rebel, huh? Love it!

    T.Anne: Awesome! I'm glad you know and enjoy your character. I feel the same way about mine!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  25. Wonderful post! One of my characters wouldn't know how to swim, and thus would be in a panic if she was ever confronted with a swimming pool. Another would be nearly like a fish--loving it. Another is in frog shape, so bathing suits really wouldn't be an issue. O:)

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  26. love your cute new picture on the side bar...pretty thing, you :D

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  27. Danyelle: How interesting--so one is panicky and the other can't get enough. And yeah, the frog shape probably doesn't need much!

    Tess: Thanks--I struggle with photos!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  28. I love this idea. I'll have to use it. I usually base certain characteristics of my characters on people I know so I try to visualize them in certain situations and how they would react.

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  29. Kara: Great idea!

    It's funny, but my characters are NEVER based on people I know. Weird, huh?

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  30. Oh wow Jill! This is an AWESOME IDEA! I actually have two swimmers in Monarch. They are by a lake, so I already know their swimming preferences. It's so fun to stick my characters in a scene almost naked, haha. I'm evil.

    But once again, good ideas here. I could definitely have fun with this with some of my other characters. Just gotta drag 'em down to that lake!

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  31. Lady Glamis: I agree, it is fun to stick almost naked characters anywhere! Ha!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  32. Jill: I love the way your brain works--- so creative!
    Do you ever find yourself praying for your characters, since they are so real to you?
    Jen

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  33. Jen: Ha! No, I haven't prayed for them, but now you've put the idea in my head... Thanks for the smiles!

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  34. I love how you literally dove into great details about our characters. I have a swim scene with mine and it made me think about it more--and did I write it the way it should be. I'll be expecting a great critique from you when you get there:)

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  35. Terri: I know it will be great! I can't wait to get to it!

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