Maureen Webster who writes as Maureen McKade for Avon Historicals was the featured speaker at the July 1998, HODRW meeting. Maureen also has the distinction of being a RITA finalist in the Best First Book category for her release, Winter Hearts.
Mo’s programs was fast paced, so fast paced that writers are encouraged to pick up the tape of this presentation from the HODRW library.
Maureen admits to being an instinctual writer. While published several times, she is still, always learning about the process of writing.
How many characters should you have in your story? No more than absolutely necessary. Only put in characters that are necessary to the plot and to move the story along. Don’t introduce them all in the first chapter. Remember:
Keep the story tight. Consolidate characters when possible. Use the same person for a bell-hop and a desk clerk. Does this mean your characters are contrived? Yes. But, it’s your story, so contrive skillfully so the reader doesn’t know.
How do you shape the development of characters? Give them stress, pressure, emotional baggage. Find out what is the bottom line for that character.
Do characters come alive and take control? Yes. Pull back if a character threatens to take over. As a general rule, a character should stay within the borders of his use. Secondary characters do have less depth. If a minor player takes over, get rid of them, or put them in their original use.
Is it a good idea to set up a character dossier? Yes, but if you do too much, or spend too much time, it may take away from your energy to write the story.
Creating Characters:
* Names. You must like the name and it must be a hero/heroine name. Keep the name
distinct.
* Physical characteristics. Establish them, but don’t hit the reader on the
head with them repeatedly.
* Social, ethnic and educational background. How does this affect them?
* Occupations. What are their values and concerns? Why did they choose certain jobs
and why do they do it?
* Find the core personality. This gives the reader expectations of how they will
act. Keep the motivation consistent.
* Find the paradoxes in characters to create fun. The first thing you noticed about
a person. Paradoxes do not negate consistencies, they just make fascinating characters.
* Add emotions and attitude values. Deepen the person’s humanity and how they
look at life. Use point of view.
* Behavior and how they do things. The special characteristics. Stride verses
walking. In Dime Novel Hero, Jake talks to his horse.
“Perfection is boring.”—Joseph Campbell
Dynamics or chemistry is often as important as any single character. What commonality between the hero and heroine brings them together and keeps them together? You need drama, conflict and comedy. It’s a balancing act. If they come together too soon the book fizzles. Too much conflict and the characters become unlikable.
Contrast the qualities within the hero and heroine. Strong characters are built through opposition. You can contrast them through: economic background, ambitions, motivations, attitudes and values.
The function of the secondary character is to reflect the world of the hero and heroine. They add depth of color and texture to the story. They can help the sagging middle by adding secondary plots. They move the story forward or help or hinder the hero and heroine in achieving their goals. The secondary characters can provide comic relief. You don’t have to follow the rules with secondary characters.
The secondary characters also give the hero and heroine someone to talk to. They can help impart the theme of the story.
Villains are primary secondary characters.
More important characters need to be filled out. Give them a physical tag, such as a clothes color, a phrase, or a gesture. Some are meant to be stereotypical to blend into the background.
The process of creating characters is ongoing. Remember that if a character doesn’t excite you it won’t excite the reader. Find just the right cast of characters that excites you to write.
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