Become Your Character as You Write

In today’s post, I’ll be discussing how to put yourself into the head of your character to write stronger characters.

As I discussed in a podcast titled, Book Bible, I write a detailed character profile for each of my cast members in what’s called a Book Bible. When I need to write in the POV of a specific character or maybe reference how they may respond to a given situation, the first thing I do is consult with my Book Bible. I create one for each and every book I write. Why do I do this? Because my Book Bible contains the personality, the likes, the dislikes, the verbal dialect or slang a character speaks with, and any other trait. It also contains a character history which is known as a backstory.

The character may have a lie that they have been telling themselves from an event that occurred in their past. Or they may have skeletons in their closet that I need to reference. The Book Bible is the go to reference for anything and everything about a character. Know your character inside and out. What are their core desires? What are their fears and foibles? Every character has something that motivates them? What is yours? What are your character’s most painful or defining moments? It is these moments in their past which help shape their present.

So, after I consult with my Book Bible, how do I put myself in the head of a specific character? I try to think like the character. Much like an actor puts themselves into the role to prepare for a film, a writer must do the same for each and every character in the book. They must know the character inside and out in order to know how they would act or not act in certain situations.

I ask myself several questions starting with, what would my character do? How would they sound? What would they say? Along that same thread, based on my character’s profile and personality, what would they NOT say and do in a given situation? Remember, you are thinking, feeling, and acting as the character would, not as ‘you the author’. One of the most important rules of managing a character is to keep their actions (and inactions) consistent. If you don’t remain consistent and begin writing off-script, then you run the chance of confusing the reader at best and possibly have the reader not trust the character at worst.

One of the best ways to get into character is to go out in public and watch people. Watch and observe how they talk, how they gesture with their hands, what type of body language they use, what do they say with their words and what do they leave unsaid? Then try to think like the people you are observing.

When you return back to writing, do some creative role-play. Actually act out the scene in your head or physically perform the actions in your living room. Don’t be shy. Think creatively. Don’t simply watch your characters in your head, but think and act like them. Be them. How do they feel? Are they nervous? Does their skin tingle? Is their stomach upset causing their hands to tremble? Or are they so excited and happy that tears stream down their face and their breath gets caught in their throat as they try to speak? Whatever the case, become your character so you can think and feel and act and react like they would.

Here’s something else if you’re too shy to act out your character. Write about them in your journal. Use free form writing. Don’t censor. Don’t edit. Don’t stop and think. You are that character. Argue, vent, ramble on in their dialect or way of speaking. This allows you to understand them all the more as they spit out idioms and metaphors that come naturally to them.

Thank you for joining me as I explored my writing journey. Continue reviewing my blogs and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter where I share writing topics, behind-the-scene details, and members-only content. Remember to go over to my media page to watch my podcasts and learn additional content or view them on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok. Like and subscribe for more content.