Characterization

Neil O’Boyle Connelly provided a presentation on developing characters when writing.  Connelly is an author of four highly acclaimed novels such as “Saint Michael’s Scales” and “Miracle Stealer.” Connelly was visiting campuses as a part of a literary initiative called “Continuing a Literary Dialogue in the Easter Upper Peninsula.”  This project’s goal is to  bring together the community and Universities in a shared literary experience and persuade Michigan writers to tell their own stories. Connelly read part of his new book which was geared at enhancing the awareness of Lake Superior State University’s (LSSU) expanding creative writing program.  You can learn more about creative writing at LSSU by going to:  http://www.lssu.edu/engish/creativewritingatlssu.php. During the presentation and part of this project on October 4, 2013, Connelly provided the audience with information about making characters real.

Connelly told a story about his four year old son.  His son was watching “Kung Fu Panda” and he reacted to a scene.  Connelly tried to convince his son that it wasn’t real what he was viewing on television.  His son looking him straight in the face said “I know it’s not real; but it feels real.”  The writer of this movie personalized the characters and made them real.  When developing characters, we have to bring something of ourselves to the character. 

He went on to explain about the different levels of our relationships.  There are three levels: 1.  Strangers and acquaintances; 2.  Friends and probably most family members; and 3. Intimates.  How many people know us?  Connelly stated he doesn’t know himself half the time.  It takes a while to become intimate.  We need to know our characters deeply.  What kind of questions do you ask?  What do you do?  Where do you live?  What do you care about?  What are you reading? How did you become who you are?  What is your dream?  What would you die for?  Are you where you want to be?  What’s your epitaph? What do you feel guilty about?  These are questions that help you get to the bottom of your character.  More food for thought: people pray different in private than in public. Unlikeable characters have secrets too. Look in a person’s car. Our dreams and concerns are unique. Need to know the character like it is a sibling of yours. Fiction writers will look under the bed, not on the night stand. That will form your initial illumination.

Use your imagination and conduct an organic exercise involving a pet rock.  Give your pet rock a name, a place to live, favorite foods, fun things to do, way to make a living, greatest things it has ever done, and what is your pet rock afraid of?  There are three mode of character mobilization: Exposition; Description, and Action involving dialogue and thought.  Connelly gave us a set of pictures and we were instructed to pick one of the pictures and develop a story about that character’s life. 

Exposition is naked expression of the character such as Susan is an honorable woman.  It’s second hand information, and most people will accept it to a certain degree; but most want to see for themselves if this information is correct.  Description involves how we judge people but how they look for example. It is specificity such as the person has a sharp chin. Bob is 34 years old and lives in Chicago. Only use this information if it goes somewhere.  He suggested that not too much time is spent on this area. Action is where it’s at.  There needs to be a big push in this area.  This is where the character is judged. 

Character development consists of getting to know our characters fully by giving them characteristics that are relatable by putting part of ourselves into our characters.  Connelly strives to be a good father; however, he is able to create characters who are bad fathers.  There are different levels in all our relationships. Once we establish an intimate relationship with our characters our characters will blossom into personifications that our readers want to know and become interested in.