I wonder what my characters do for a living? How can they afford to do all the awesome things they need to get done?
It would be easy to make them independently wealthy. Of course it leaves me to figure out how they came by that money and how it has effected them. Maybe that isn't so easy.
When you meet a new person they often ask what do you do. I can say from experience they don't mean when you're at leisure or the community service your family participates in. They are looking to categorize you by your working life or lack there of. The same is true for our characters. The readers want to know them and knowing their work history is a helpful clue to where, in our societies fabric, characters fit. Even if the characters are not at work during the story I think it's important to know where and how they work. It doesn't have to be super in depth, but the more I know about my characters the easier it is for me to write them.
My main character is in school and working. Her job doesn't pay well and she probably doesn't even get 40 hours. Her school and choice of major are other clues to help feel her out. Since this is an urban fantasy I have planned on using an actual school. I am going to contact the school admissions and find information about courses offered and when a student would usually take certain classes. I was thinking about scheduling a tour, but since none of the scenes will actually take place at the campus that would probably be a waste of time. What is your opinion on using a real school or business for that matter? My main characters goal is to be a dancer so I know that a lot of her time would normally be eaten up practicing and such. Maybe it would behoove me to talk to someone who dances for a living.
The things we put our free time into also tells a lot about us. Someone who fixes cars for their hobby is usually good with their hands and able to figure out how things work. A few of my characters hobbies will be revealed in The Most Magical Place, but I want to focus on something that will further the plot or help the characters in the final confrontation. I found this
huge list of hobbies. Do you have any hobbies that you might want to give a character? Have you ever used a characters hobby as an excuse to learn something new?
How important do you think it is to know where a characters money is coming from and their time is going? Please leave a comment and don't forget to let me know where you came from so I can follow you back.
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Pixabay.
Visiting through A-Z. I think it's important to interview or shadow someone that is in the career of your character. Will definitely make your character more believable!
ReplyDeleteYes, believable is something I am working hard to achieve.
DeleteI think it is very important for us as a writer to know how the character's money comes from, as that would decide the status of living and general bahaviour throughout the story. Great post and theme.
ReplyDeleteRead K for Kill and the ways one could die :)
I agree that it will in some ways dictate their behavior. For instance I can't afford to eat out several times a month so I wouldn't see the inside of a restaurant unless I was working there, if I was a character.
DeleteI think a character's background story is so important. It paints a picture for the reader and, especially if relatable, it can bring one closer to the character. I think your idea of using a real school is a good one, especially if it might be a well-known institution. I like reading George Pelacanos books because he uses his experiences and knowledge of the streets of Washington DC ("the streets" being both literal and street-smart culturally) and weaves them into his stories. I used to live in DC and it's so nice as a reader to be able to place myself in the story because I've been there or I've seen that or, most important, I understand it. They always say that your setting should be someplace that you're very familiar it helps make your story more authentic. I believe that. And I do think that it's important to know where a character gets their money because that's a critical question most readers want answered. Just my opinion, for whatever that's worth...
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying your A-Z posts!
Michele at Angels Bark
I have heard that it makes a story easier to write if you are familiar with the place you are writing about. In this case I do have that advantage.
DeleteWhen I'm asked that question, I usually list off a bunch of mundane, everyday things. Until the person asks what my job is. I'm kind of weird like that. :)
ReplyDeleteSo much awesome! I am totally stealing that idea.
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