I’m brain deep in character development, right now. Unfortunately it’s for Faye, the main character of a novel I’ve been writing on and off for 4 years. Same novel. From the very beginning, I knew Faye. Who she was. What she wanted. The concept in my head was brilliantly clear. Unfortunately, my writing wasn’t.

After 3 revisions, Faye’s personality still isn’t coming across in my writing. I keep getting critiques (like the one at the conference) where people say they don’t want to spend an entire book with my character. To say that’s a big problem is like saying ‘I kinda want a book contract.’

And it’s not fair to Faye. I’m not doing her justice. Yes, she’s a little angsty. Yes, she might be crazy. But she deserves the reader’s affection or, at least, their undivided attention. She is, after all, the heroine.

And I think I’ve uncovered the problem. It isn’t that I don’t know who Faye is, but more I don’t know what Faye does. In the same way that you can love someone deeply, but not really know them until you’ve lived with them and discovered that they leave blobs of toothpaste in the sink and cute post-it notes scattered around the house.

So, I’m moving with Faye. Ransacking her CD collection. Mooching her chocolate hidden in the butter compartment of her fridge. Wearing her thrift store clothes out dancing. Peeking in the box of stuff shoved under her bed.

Unfortunately, since Faye lives in my brain, this is a bit trickier than it sounds. So I’m trying unorthodox methods. I’m desperate. I’ve made a mix for her/my ipod. ‘Get me away from here, I’m dying’ by Belle and Sebastian, ‘Psychobabble’ by Frou Frou, ‘Homesick’ by Kings of Convenience, are just a few of her songs. So, maybe she’s not so cheery. Give her a break, she’s 15.

I’ve also found a picture of Faye. She looks like the above picture of Juliet by John William Waterhouse, minus the renaissancey outfit. I’ve filled a shoebox with things that make me think of her. Pictures of Maine, smooth river rocks, packets of coffee.

There’s also some note cards in the box. I’ve jotted down questions I have for her, possible new scenes, food she likes, pretty much anything that comes to mind.

Hopefully, some of these things will help me channel Faye. Before I need an exorcism.

Posted in Characters, Revision, Writing

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