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How do you create your characters? Do you make a profile of them? Do you know your character before you start writing the story?
My writing process is a little wild. I usually start with a premise, prompt, trope or idea and almost simultaneously, my characters show up. They are fully formed people, in need of a name and something to do.
Of course, I do all the things – character profiles, GMC, interviews, exploratory writing, etc., – but it’s not for the purpose of creating characters but simply to get to know them – their backstories, their passions, their wounds, their fears. I also hear the cadence of their voices and none are the same. I know it sounds a little metaphysical but it’s the best metaphor I can use to describe what is happening when a character makes their appearance.
Because I write primarily romance, I’m usually a little in love with my characters. It’s not something I can help. Each of them has to be an object of desire to another character, so they have to be appealing to me as well, defects and all. As I write them, I feel intense love for all of them. Sometimes it gets in the way of plotting the sometimes painful events that they need to grow and complete their arcs.
I think there are writers for whom the plot arrives first, some for whom the characters appear first, and many who skirt this continuum. Maybe the same author will have a different process depending on the project. What matters is that whatever a writer does, it works for them.
About the 100 Days of Writing Challenge
For more about the #100daysofwriting challenge, check out https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/100daysofwriting to see all the posts for each day. Thanks to https://the-wip-project.tumblr.com for organizing this fascinating challenge!
If you get stumped on what to write, check the https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/100daysofquestions for prompts to help you write, the way I did today.