Creative Writing Exercise to Get Fictional Characters Outside of Your Head via Writing Prompts

Creating your own character is probably the most important ingredient for a compelling novel. But how does the writer use creative writing prompts to create characters that the reader will really believe in? Well, here is a technique that will bring the character to life.

Character Creation Technique

Interview your Fictional Character

Conceiving characters from the top of your head is not the only way to create characters. Every writer needs to try various techniques that will spark the imagination. Some writers base characters upon real people, tweaking detail and altering aspects of that character, such as appearance or background. Other writers prefer to come up with totally imaginary characters that will undoubtedly source unconscious memories from the many people we have known in a lifetime.

Create your own Person with a Character Questionnaire and Interview

This creative writing blog shows how to complete a character questionnaire, a quite effective way of getting into the minds of a character, but the really interesting thing is what to do with the questionnaire afterwards (and I don’t mean putting it in the bin). But first, I shall explain the questionnaire itself.

To get an idea of what the character will be like, begin with sketchy detail, which can be answered on a questionnaire. Don’t worry if you have to force yourself to write answers, the magic will come later. Begin the questions with the essential, like:

The basics: Gender, name, age, race. Now follow this with

Physical appearance: eye colour, hair colour, height, weight, build, defining features, scars.

Character traits: patient, arrogant, laid back, pessimist, chatty, easy-going, narcissistic, bossy, easy going.

Attitude in life: a corporate climber, a leftie, a liberal, live-and-let-live, right-wing, traditional views.

Mannerisms: vocal accent, pitch, quirks, personal habits, twitches, facial expressions.

Family: parents, siblings, pets, marital status, lovers, adoptions, skeletons in the cupboard.

Now look at position in life: accommodation, job, car, financial situation.

How about tastes: hobbies, music, films, dress sense, perfume, education, talents

Likes and dislikes. What peeves the character? What puts the character in a good mood?

Now let’s look at your character in a little more detail:

What does your character want in life? What are his/her goals, ambitions?

What are your character’s motives?

What stands in his/her way?

What does the character end up getting?

Interview your Fictional Character

Once this questionnaire has been completed to the best of your ability, bring it into life. This means getting a willing participant to ‘interview’ your character. This will entail getting into character. You don’t have to be a great actor, just imagine being that character and answering questions that have been put in the questionnaire. Actually vocalizing the answers is quite different to simply writing them down. Further details could emerge once in-character and feeling more spontaneous. Here is an example of an interview I had undergone after completing my character questionnaire:

What’s your name? Millie Daws

Where do you work? I am vice president for a jewelry design workshop

What is your ambition? To get to the top.

What is standing in your way? My younger sister-in-law, Rose.

Do you have a family? No, only two cats.

What physical attributes do you dislike about yourself? I have a haughty laugh that I wish I could get rid of. I don’t like people laughing at me behind my back. (See how I volunteered a little here?) And then I added, I want people to see I mean business.

What are your hobbies? Hmm, well if I have the time, I enjoy ice skating, though my ankles have got strained from wearing heels all the time (more volunteering here). To be quite honest, I see hobbies as a waste of time. My father used to tinker in his workshop all day long and he never fulfilled his dream of being an architect. (From this we can see Millie has issues with her father, not wanting to end up the ‘loser’ she sees him. Perhaps she has a secret fear.)

After answering more questions, this spurred more volunteering of information I would not have written in the questionnaire. I even began to speak in a particular manner and adopt postures. Don’t worry if getting into character feels stiff at first. Just answer the questions and get into the interview.

Interview Your Character for Fiction Writing

Getting someone to interview your character after completing a character questionnaire will help bring the fictional person into life. This may entail a little role-play or acting, but giving your character a voice will engage the senses in a way the written word cannot. Giving your character a voice may also spur mannerisms, facial expressions and temperament. Filling in the gaps about your character will give the persona added complexity and character traits the reader can really believe in.

Insider’s View of Amazon, Self Publishing and Traditional Publishing

I attended a major writing festival in the UK recently, including writing workshops as well as a question and answer session posed to literary agents of traditional publishers in the book industry. Some of the viewpoints certainly struck a chord with me, having been published with Amazon for some years now. And here’s what I learned.

The Big Players in the Publishing Industry Versus Amazon

Closure of Book Shops due to the Kindle

It seems a general consensus that Amazon is viewed as a monopoly without democracy. This publishing platform is so efficient, cutting out all middlemen, postal costs and production that no room can be found for opposition. There is no healthy competition and things look set to remain that way. Let’s face it Kindle books and online publishing have basically created a hole in paperback sales. The other digital book platforms such as Nook and Apple just don’t compete with Amazon.

The Future of the Paperback Book

This means many chain books stores are screwed. Amazon is terrifyingly efficient and cuts all the fat. The large, traditional publishers are forever consolidating. The big five: Penguin, Random House, Harper Collins, Simon Schuster and Macmillan are the only big players standing. But one day, the big five might become the big four, as more is consolidated.

The result of this is that there are fewer places to sell your book. Author advances are going down and inflation is up. Gone are the days of huge advances, but perhaps this is not all bad. A huge advance equals huge books sales to break even, and expectation of the author to maintain commercial success is not so high.

And royalties are also down.

Some big authors have actually gone self-published, enjoying the big royalty share of Kindle books (being 70% if priced above $2.99) as opposed to smaller royalties when selling on paperback. Some big author names have come back to traditional publishing after defecting to self publishing on Kindle. However, most big authors will remain with the traditional published route, believing it gives them validation. This is the one big thing the traditional route offers and being self published on Amazon does not.

The Worst Thing about Amazon: Their Rating System Sucks

Amazon's big Problem: its Rating System

The worst thing about Amazon is its rubbish rating system. Anyone with an Amazon account can leave a review whether they have read the book or not. I have received reviews for the Amazon customer service rather than my book. Amazon is rife with political reviews left by shotgun sockpuppets who are competing authors (these leave one or two rubbish reviews and then never leave another). They might leave a five star for a big book to prove they do leave good reviews after all. Meaningless one or two sentences make it plain they have never read the book.

Big Author Sponsors Versus the Single Self Published Writer

Even worse, the moment a big name or celebrity gets a book out, dozens of reviews appear as if by magic, saying what a wonderful book it is. In fact, the genuine reviewer seldom posts reviews like this. I have several books that sell like hotcakes, but have only one or two reviews. And the more reviews a book gets, the more reviews it gets. It is reasons like these that many readers are so disappointed in a book with rave reviews, saying what was all the fuss about? Amazon is rife with books that are overrated.

Amazon’s Big Problem: Its Appalling Book Review System

The sad thing is, Amazon doesn’t care. It only cares about growth and customers ordering products from them. They have branched out to a diverse landscape, including household products, games, films and more. Books are just another limb to its machine. Since many self published books on Amazon have no isbns, sales are difficult to track. In fact, no one really knows how many self published books are selling on Amazon, but is sure to be millions and set to get bigger.

Self Published Authors on Amazon

Amazon has offered a great opportunity for self published writers to get their book out there, but their system possesses many flaws which can actually work against the self pubbed writer. One is their appalling rating system. On top of this, many authors still do not sell a single book because there is just so much out there. Amazon doesn’t care if you publish an epic literary masterpiece or a two-page pamphlet full of typos. All it cares about is growth and profit. And it seems, the trad pubbed writers are being hit too (albeit in a different way).

It all goes back to what the traditional publishers offer: validation – and getting into the supermarket. Yes, Amazon has been revolutionary for the self pubbed writer, but without validation, the indie writer is like a small boat out at sea and a stormy one at that. Few avid readers are going to upload a book by an unknown and untested writer with no validation.

Conclusion on Self Pubbed Route via Amazon

I had come away from the literary festival with a balanced view: how Amazon has impacted upon the self published writer as well as traditional publishing. The self pubbed writer like me has found a way of getting my book out there, but am up against impossible odds when it comes to competition, getting reviews and being noticed. 

The trad publishers are concerned about the monopoly of Amazon, and how it seems to be contributing to the closure and/or amalgamation of book shops and book publishers. Amazon can only get bigger and there seems to be little anyone can do about it. Their review system will remain rubbish. But only time will tell what the future will hold, but doubt much will change in the foreseeable future: competition for the self pubbed writer will get bigger and the trad publishers will continue to struggle to keep afloat.

And of course, the big name authors and celebrities will continue to get hundreds of reviews overnight saying what a wonderful book it is.

Nora by Charles Jay Harwood Half Price at Google Books

My novel, Nora is half price for one week only at Google Books. Read an excerpt below.

Her harsh brand of rehab hides a bitter secret. Nancy is hurled into the world of celebrity when she performs a shoot with odious playboy, Vince. A horrendous car crash hurls her world into a nightmare, where her alter-ego, Nora is born. A bizarre, gritty and unforgettable psychological thriller that will stay in the mind for days after finishing.

Sample the Shuttered Room on Google Books

The shuttered Room is a dark psychological thriller centred upon the abduction of a tycoon's daughter, Jess. But little do her thugs realise her little secret. In an escape attempt, Jess cuts a hole in the floor, gaining access only to her abductors secret lives as she spies upon them from above.

In a bid to escape, she starts to play little mind games with them.

If only they knew what she was up to, what would they do to her?

Excruciating Moments in a Writing Career: The Tramp that Kept Laughing in my Book Talk

Every writer may have moments he/she would rather forget: a gaff during an author talk, noticing bowl had been spelled bowel only after the book has been published. Yes, I have noticed this confusion in a few books – trad published as well. Well I did a book talk the other day – an event greatly anticipated as always. Little did I know what was in store.

Book Talk Agonizing Moments

I had prepared a book reading for the author event from my novel, Falling Awake, a story that relates on how a mother, mired in debt, performs routines for a client. The woman’s twelve-year-old son, after overhearing the word ‘voyeurism’, misconstrues the word to mean an audience watching a show, like the X-Factor. His mother does not correct him on the definition, too embarrassed.

He also assumes his mother’s evening performances is for a glitzy show. In this vein, he makes her a cat mask to wear. His mother is bewildered at how this project could cheer him up in the face of his father’s desertion and losing their home. She doesn’t tell him the seedy truth, instead fostering his fantasy and letting him make her the cat mask.

Classic Author Talk Moment

The excerpt of my book described a climactic moment when the mother’s client appears unexpectedly in her garden. Her son is there with her cat mask providing the setup for an excruciating moment mired with misunderstandings.

Great, I thought, this is an ideal material for keeping an audience interested and alert! How can it fail? Only trouble was, my book talk took place at a city library, meaning I could not know who would turn up.

The audience during my author event included an 80 year old lady with memory loss, and a tramp who would explode with laughter for no apparent reason. The woman was very intelligent and well-read, but had trouble communicating. She also (perhaps because of her age) nodded off a few times. The tramp laughed at comments that had no comic value, and otherwise stared into space.

What Not to Do During an Author Talk

Only after the event had finished, did I realize that I had talked about voyeurism to a tramp and an eighty-year-old lady. Had that really happened? The lesson from this is that a writer must never make assumptions about the reading profile of an author talk. In future, I will prepare several excerpts and choose the one most suitable for the audience that happens to arrive. What a steep learning curve!

My York Festival of Writing Experience: Invaluable for Every Writer

An important even for writers, the York Festival of Writing is a great way of meeting publishers, agents and other writers. I have booked a place on Sunday. But what is this important writing event and what does it entail?

Details about the York Festival of Writing

My Visit to the York Festival of Writing

This writing festival in Yorkshire lasts from Friday 12 September until Sunday 14 September at York University. You can stay on campus for two nights for the whole package, one night, or just come on Sunday, as I have.

Competitions at the York Festival

There are loads of events great for writers hoping to improve on writing skills or looking for an agent. There are also competitions, being, Friday Night Live, which is a competition looking for the best 500 word excerpt from a literary work. The judges will shortlist entrants down to 7 by the 8 September. The winner will read out his/her 500 word extract after a gala, filled with big-name publishers and agents.

You can also enter a competition looking for the best opening chapter of a novel. This must not exceed 3000 words. The winner will be notified on Saturday night.

One to One Book Doctor or Literary Agent

As well as meeting other writers, agents and book publishers, the package includes a one to one feedback with a literary agent who knows the publishing industry inside out. Alternatively, the writer may decide to have a one to one with a book doctor, providing an invaluable evaluation on your novel.

Each applicant can choose two one-to-ones, which might be two book doctors, two agents, or one of each. Big publishing agents include Watson Little, Conville and Walsh and AM Heath. Exposure to these big names has resulted in some writers winning representation from a literary agent or even to get nominated for the Richard & Judy Summer Read.

Workshops for Writers at the York Festival

The weekend is jammed packed filled with workshops, which you must book before visiting the York Festival. These include all sorts of vital subject matter relating to writing, publishing and book marketing. Included in the writer’s workshops are creativity, self-publishing, the art of writing thrillers and much more.

You can also enroll on mini courses (Friday only) which informs on writing issues: submitting your novel, editing your novel and pitching your novel.

Charles Jay Harwood Visit to the York Festival of Writing

I have booked my visit for Sunday September 14 and hope to meet other writers and literary agents that will offer valuable advice that may enhance any writing career. Writers of any genre can visit: thrillers, screenwriters, children’s authors and non-fiction writers.

How to Enter the York Festival

You must include within your pack, a short bio, including a synopsis on the novels you wish to discuss on the day. The first 3000 word excerpt from your work is enough for any literary agent to make a judgment on whether you are ready for the publishing industry or issues need fixing. Entries are now closed, but I am looking forward to visiting York and mingling with other writers on the day.

Inappropriate Three Short Stories by Charles Jay Harwood

My short story trilogy, Inappropriate, delves into irrational feelings between two people, bringing unexpected consequences. Inappropriate aims to leave a lasting impression upon the reader’s mind, even after finishing the story. Each tale has contrasting in narrative and deals with very different emotional situations. Here is a short rundown of what this emotional anthology is about.

Inappropriate by Charles Jay Harwood

Buy from Amazon

The first story, Deadline follows the life of mature student Andrea, who finds herself emotionally isolated whilst watching films. She cries at Robocop and Total Recall, yet doesn’t shed a tear at Titanic. This cannot bode well for her theatre studies, as her thesis is late and she could fail her course. In the dead-end town of Colby, she cannot afford to get too hopeful, and believes her best chances lies with cerulean-eyed Kieran, the ideal boyfriend. But her tutor Mr. Linton is insistent upon her completing her thesis to the best of her ability. But does something else lurk behind his insistence?

Story of an Ex Convict doing Community Service

My second short story Outside relates on Deke, an ex-jailbird doing community service outside the home of single mother, Elaine and her son Fin. Deke’s delinquency is borne from a troubled upbringing and he soon realizes he is trapped in a life he doesn’t want. People look upon him with suspicion and anger. He always feels on the outside looking in. That is until he is commissioned to clear rubbish from the fields backing Elaine’s house. Beneath her cool exterior, she has a vulnerability and goodwill that resounds with Deke. He sees the life he could have had and obsession starts to lurk. He stalks her life with unforeseen consequences.

Story of Suspected Infidelity – is She Faithful?

My final short story, Nice, tells of Durante, the director of a government sector that funds businesses that benefit the community. He has had a string of failed relationships but his current girlfriend, Kate seems different. Should he lose her, he would be truly heartbroken. His suspicions are aroused when an in-law keeps calling her. In the face of this glamorous admirer, Durante feels dull. Does Kate see him in the same way? Does she think he is too ‘nice’ for passion; will she opt for her funny, good looking admirer?

Stories about Human Relationships

Inappropriate is my second short story trilogy after Blood and Water. Each story is between 2,500 words to 5000 words, providing more than enough distraction for spare moments in the day, but will have a lasting impression. A must read about feelings running high between two people, with unexpected consequences.

Inappropriate: 3 Short Stories by Charles Jay Harwood is available exclusively on Kindle at the moment.