Where do you get your ideas for characters?
By Katharine Swan On Wednesday, July 30, 2008 At
2:30 PM
I saw a really interesting story on NPR yesterday, about a performance artist who develops characters from grocery lists. Hillary Carlip hunts for discarded lists, and then — based on clues such as what the list contains, what it is written on, and the handwriting — she creates a character sketch of each. She also goes a step further, though, dressing up as these characters (and boy does she look believeable!).
I'll definitely be checking out (her pun, not mine) the book, a la Cart, but this story made me think of how fiction writers — myself included — get ideas for characters. I know that I am fascinated with people, and often draw entire characters from short glimpses of strangers on the street. People-watching for character ideas isn't a new concept... but grocery lists?
How do you get ideas for your characters?
I'll definitely be checking out (her pun, not mine) the book, a la Cart, but this story made me think of how fiction writers — myself included — get ideas for characters. I know that I am fascinated with people, and often draw entire characters from short glimpses of strangers on the street. People-watching for character ideas isn't a new concept... but grocery lists?
How do you get ideas for your characters?
Labels: fiction writing
Characters often just start "talking" to me, telling me their stories, or I overhear a snippet of conversation and think, "what if?" and run from there.
Sometimes they're inspired by actual people, but when I do my job properly, they evolve away from the inspiration into unique individuals.
HEX BREAKER releases on Friday, and I am nervous!
http://hexbreaker.devonellingtonwork.com
I think the name Hillary Carlip is great in itself. :))