In Human X, the one and only time we see Ted, Colin’s original partner, he say he’s headed to Della and Lisa’s house. Presumably, Della and Lisa are friends of Ted’s and acquaintances of Colin’s. Their role at first is twofold. First they symbolize the estrangement between the two partners, as the two men seem to live in separate worlds. Continue reading “Anatomy of a Character: Della and Lisa”
Anatomy of a Character: Antonia Milos
In Human X, the character of Antonia Milos is a textbook example of the organic way I develop characters, especially my supporting cast. I put a fair amount of a planning into my major characters, while still giving them room to develop with the story. I knew who Colin Jeffries was and where he had come from before I wrote a single word. When I started typing chapter one, however, Antonia Milos didn’t even exist. In fact, when I typed the words “Chapter Two,” she still didn’t exist.
Before I finished chapter two, however, I needed to fill in a bit of Collin Jeffries’ back story. Continue reading “Anatomy of a Character: Antonia Milos”
What Do Your Characters Look Like?
One of the hardest things for me as a writer is to describe the physical appearance of my characters. I grudgingly understand the need to do so, if only because I’ve had readers complain that they don’t know what my characters look like.
What Am I Doing Here?
If you write fiction, your characters will ask you that at every turn. Of course, I don’t mean they will step off the page and literally put the question to you, unless you are smoking something especially potent.