Getting to Know Your Character From the Inside Out

Sometimes in the writing world, the lingo is the scariest part. Hearing words like indirect characterization causes you to flashback to 7th grade ELA class bringing with it all the sweaty nervousness that comes along with being a preteen. How-tos are packed with these terms, sometimes making them scary to pick up and read. After several searches on Google, you still don't feel any closer to breaking down these terms that should be your bread and butter. Luckily for you, I teach 7th grade ELA class, and I'm here to break it down in a much more approachable way. 

When you sit down to write your protagonist, antagonist, or supporting characters, you're faced with two options. Will we, the readers, get to know this character from the inside, the outside, or both? 

Indirect Characterization simply means that we're getting to know your character from the inside.  We get full access to their thoughts and motivations, as well as a peek into their flashbacks and internal struggles. You see this a lot with the first-person point of view and with third-person omniscient. Sounds great, right? It sure is, but this also means that you have to write a character that is loveable despite their flaws. Remember that what the character sees and thinks has to (unless you are purposefully making it not so) line up with their actions. Because as we all know, actions speak louder than words. 

Direct Characterization is when the reader gets to know the character from the outside. We can see how the act and what they say to those around them, but we have to make our opinions based only on what we can directly see. Welcome to the third-person point of view. A lot of times, this is how readers get to know the supporting staff of a novel. 

See, the lingo isn't too bad, right? 

Remember that the goal of getting to know the character is so that the reader gets emotionally attached. Once we're invested in their fictional lives, reading the book becomes a necessity and not an option. So when you're sitting down to write that next scene or chapter, take a moment to ask yourself: Will this scene work better from the inside out, or the outside in?

Happy writing!

Dragons, Swords & Sorcery...Winter is Here! by C.J. Burright

I’m one of those people who 99.9 percent of the time prefers the book to the show, but one exception is Game of Thrones. I’m not necessarily saying I prefer HBO’s version to the books. There’s no way the show could adequately capture all the intricate plot lines and characters without going on for eons…not to mention fans are in a strange position right now, something I’ve never experienced before: the show is ahead of the books. It’s hard to prefer the book when it hasn’t even been published yet, right?

Nevertheless, Sunday was the season premiere (YEAH!!) and I’m super-excited to see what happens next in one of my Favorite Shows of All Time. If you’re a fan, gush with me. If you’re not…I’m not sure we can be friends anymore. Kidding (sorta). Here’s a quick list of a few of my favorite things about GOT to tide me over until next week.

DRAGONS

There are dragons, fire-breathing, flying, magnificent dragons. That’s all I have to say about that.

SWORDS AND BATTLES, WARRIORS AND CASTLES

Medieval fantasy is my catnip, and GOT has it all. Glorious warriors with brutal swords, fighting for their land and families to the death. Battles, sometimes whole armies, sometimes one on one…and some knives in the back. Or arrows to the chest while sitting on the pot (and deservedly so). Amazing castles in every kingdom, even one in the sky. The whole world is absolutely brilliant.

MAGIC AND OTHER SUPERNATURALS

Not everyone has magic, and what magic there is seems hard won…usually with a staggering price. Think twice before copulating to produce a shadow. Just sayin’. And besides the dragons, there are a myriad of terrifying, supernatural creatures to watch out for. I love that most of the people are normal humans, which makes defeating the supernatural creatures feel insurmountable, especially since the humans are always fighting for dominance among themselves. How can they possibly come together to defeat a mighty, supernatural foe? Stay tuned.

CHARACTERS TO LOVE AND HATE

There’s the noble, rejected bastard. The clever, snarky imp. A girl who’s lost it all, intent on vengeance. A queen who thirsts for power. Another queen who seeks justice and peace. A slippery spymaster. A spoiled princess forced to face harsh reality. Knights who are a human blend of good and bad, all with their own agendas. Just to name a few. These characters bring out the love—intensely. And the hate. There are a few that, even though you know you should despise them, they’re impossible not to like. And once in a blue moon, that character who SO deserves justice actually gets it or the character who FINALLY gets the break they need. BAM! Those are some very satisfying moments.

GAMES AND POLITICS...WIN OR DIE

One thing I learned early on—getting too attached to characters may lead to deep, deep regret. And throwing of books, gnashing of teeth, and yelling. Lots of yelling. There is political intrigue everywhere in these stories, and people die. Good people, bad people (yep, some of those in the poster above are already goners). It’s not always justice, and it often seems the most powerful and clever and ruthless people are the only ones who will survive. At one point, I vowed I’d quit reading and watching if either Jon Snow or Arya Stark died. I’d be done. And then I read somewhere that Arya is G.R.R. Martin’s wife’s favorite character, so I know at least one of my favorites will last until the bitter end. I hope it’s not a bitter end, but whatever happens, emotions will be invoked. Oh yes, they will be invoked.

I could go on and on, but ain’t nobody got time for that. I have a show to watch! If you’re a GOT fan, who’s your favorite character? Or do you prefer to stick to the books and avoid the visual?