Spotlight on Character Development
There I was--more than a couple years ago--sitting at my kitchen table, proud for having just completed the first chapter of my first book. It was a smiling moment, one I relished for all of two minutes before my mind moved on to other matters; character description. Everyone does it, that’s how you do things…right? I suddenly had a mental struggle on my hands and, thus, required the immediate counsel of my love, Michael. Marching out to his shop, I sat down at his workbench and stated my case for each point of view. On one hand, people liked detailed character descriptions. On the other, I found myself skipping over them when I read books, so what did that say? He agreed to both points, quite eloquently I might add, and advocated writing my characters how I wanted them written. “What direction did I want to take the book?” He asked. “Hmmm….” I hummed as I sat there thinking. Who was I to stifle the imagination of others and their immersion into my story?
I let fly my intentions, boldly declared as my course of action. I’d leave it to the imagination where I wanted and be detailed where I thought it mattered to the story and its tapestry--overall realism of the world if you will. Since that time I have tried to write by this guideline; anyone can be the heroine or hero of the story.
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