Character Journals

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Permalink Reply by Vi Huntley-Franck on February 8, 2010 at 10:57pm

There are books that have been written journal style, ones that were best sellers. One of them started with the kids finding their deceased parent's journal. They were shocked to find out what was in it, who the parent really was on the inside. So some of it was written as a journal and some of it in third person.

But I assume that's not what you are talking about. What you are saying is that this is how you will get to know your character, right? I've never tried this approach. Maybe you could start by picturing your protagonist in a setting. Say at a bar overlooking the river. Something traumatic has just happened to her. Say maybe she witnessed a murder. Now as she sits there listening to piano bar music and drinks her drinks, she starts writing down her reactions to what she just saw. In that manner, you could choose all kinds of arbitrary scenarios/events off the top of your head and have her write down her reactions. You don't have to use those scenarios in the story. But from her reactions to them,you could learn a lot about her.

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Permalink Reply by Sharon Cousins on February 9, 2010 at 7:04am

Sarah, I have never done a whole journal, but I have written myself letters from characters, a technique that gets some mention on my Freewriting Prompts page if you scroll down far enough. It was enormously helpful with my favorite-of-all protagonist. I had no trouble coming up with virtues for her, but faults and weaknesses were very hazy. I did the letter write prompt and freewrote a letter from her that gave me an amazing amount of useful information about her weaknesses and insecurities. She really did not want me to think of her as perfect. It is too heavy a burden, even for a fictional creation of the imagination.

A journal could be an excellent idea as a character tool, but (like map-drawing and some aspects of world-building) one could get so lost in it that the main project would languish far behind. So I might keep an eye out for that trap, but I could imagine using a journal technique the same way I used the letter one, focusing on entries from times of special relevance. It's a very interesting idea, especially for writers who practice freewriting enough to do that sort of writing process, because I think you will get better results just going for it than trying to 'think' about her journal and write it. At least that's how it seems from what works for me along those lines. I'd be very interested in hearing if you find it helpful if you give it a try. Thanks for posting about it. Write on.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Guy Lipuma on February 9, 2010 at 9:08am

It sounds like an very good idea to me, one I have used. Not only will it helfp you get to know your character better, it should help you find her unique voice.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Ochoa on February 9, 2010 at 12:20pm

Thank you for the replies, all. :) I'm semi-new to the writing world. It's nice to have people to bounce ideas off of! I still haven't decided if I'm going try the journal. I've been working on my draft for the last couple of days and it feels good. :)
@ Vi: It seems that you're right. I could plunk my character down in any setting and see how she reacts to it; this approach might also lead to actual scenes.
@Sharon: Thank you for the warning! Getting caught up in the journal and putting my focus in the wrong spot is definitely something I am concerned about. I will give the letter-writing idea some thought.
@Michael: Thank you for the encouragement.
If I do go this route, I will update on how it goes.

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Permalink Reply by Vi Huntley-Franck on February 9, 2010 at 3:48pm

Keep on keeping on. It's worth it.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Wilcox on February 9, 2010 at 7:47pm

My short answer is no. Instead develop a system where you can reliably store and recall ideas you have as they come.

More details on my blog:
http://pilgrimscreams.com/wtlas/should-you-have-a-character-journal/

Regards,
Mark Wilcox
http://pilgrimscreams.com/about/

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Ochoa on February 10, 2010 at 2:23pm

@ Vi: Thank you for the encouragement.

@ Mark: I read your article and appreciate the advice. I am very good at finding ways to procrastinate and the journal thing might be one of those ways. ;) I do have a notebook that I try to keep handy . . . and post-its, lots of post-its.

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Permalink Reply by DJ Salac on March 8, 2010 at 2:22am

i think dialogue is the best way to get to know a character. because talking to someone is the best way to get to know real people. if youre aiming to flush out a character, you should start there first. a journal might be a nice idea to throw in as a supplementary device.

and btw are you filipino?

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Permalink Reply by Linton Robinson on March 8, 2010 at 8:27am

If you are talking about a "journal" incorporated in the book you are working on, it's been done and can work.

If you are talking about one of those things that people spend a lot of time on that DOESN'T go into the book, I'd suggest you knock it off and write your book.

There is, to me, no greater mark of an amateur who won't finish their novel than these kinds of "character dossiers" and such sideline material that are continually recommended by people who haven't gotten a novel out there.

If you don't know who your characters are without going to these extremes, you are probably on the wrong track. If you're trying to procrastinate writing your novel, then approach that problem head-on.

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Permalink Reply by Linton Robinson on March 8, 2010 at 8:34am

Another problem with this sort of thing... sometimes "flushing out" a character is exactly what happens.

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Permalink Reply by Duane Lee on March 10, 2010 at 6:49pm

Linton, on the flipside, keeping a character journal might actually lead to a better story than the one you're writing. If, however, you are one of those people who get lost in character development, than this approach isn't such a bright idea. For first-time novelists, I believe any approach is worth at least one try. They just have to know when to quit. (That's the biggest problem, not just for first-time novelists, but for most seasoned ones as well.)

Linton Robinson said:

Another problem with this sort of thing... sometimes "flushing out" a character is exactly what happens.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Ochoa 1 day ago

Thanks for the input.

lol. Half filipina.

DJ Salac said:

i think dialogue is the best way to get to know a character. because talking to someone is the best way to get to know real people. if youre aiming to flush out a character, you should start there first. a journal might be a nice idea to throw in as a supplementary device.

and btw are you filipino?

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