I learned something about the writing process which most people have no idea about unless they’ve walked a mile in my shoes. That’s character. I suffered with bouts of writer’s block. Writing things, then despising them months later. What I discovered was, it all hinged on one person.
In my story, The Freedom To Rock I thought I had a character in mind. Okay, I’ll let the cat out of the bag and say it’s one of the main character’s future husband. If you really want to know, it’s Tina. If you’ve read the story you know who her husband is. It is Charleston Danvers. But, did you know who it was supposed to be before that? Mark Sutter. Obviously! Ah, but did you know there was somebody before that? That distinction would be bestowed upon a gentleman by the name of Russell. I can’t even remember his last name. That’s how memorable he was. Russ was a character I culled from an actor who’s personality I couldn’t quite figure out how he might work in the story. This was before any of the main characters were developed (Brendan or Jerome). He was a roadie who was supposed to be part of a different sound crew than what was later developed as McEvry Productions. So, as I couldn’t gauge a perspective on how things would happen in the ensuing years of MTH Records, Russell was soon dropped and the band which he was to be touring with The Silver Sardines/Highrise only got a slight mention in the first chapter of the story.
Then there was Mark. Luckily Mark stayed in the story. He was another roadie…this one being with McEvry Productions. I had based him off of somebody else. Most of my characters are based on somebody who already has or does exist. Chances are they’re an actor. You can draw a lot from someone’s characters they’ve portrayed or how they are in interviews. Writing is a lot like theatre. It’s about storytelling. So, getting back to Mark. I had a whole back story about him. He was in the story a lot more than what he turned out to have. It worked great for a time until the story and his character became too contrived simply because I didn’t know where to take him. Mark was already familiar to the way MTH worked. Maybe too much. I had to take a step back and say, “What is the goal of this guy?” “What makes him tick?” His relationship with Tina had been taken for granted on his part. So, how does an author make someone like that have a more redeeming quality? The natural answer would be, have a time-out and reassess lives. Does Mark really want to stay with Tina in the long run? Can he put up with her if they were to get married. I got that far and saw the outcome. Forced dialog and situations which were uncomfortable ensued. Tina became too strong-willed and Mark let her do whatever she wanted because he knew that’s how she was. This became a problem for me. There was one thing missing from this relationship. Conflict. Every great story needs conflict. It’s what helps propel a story from flipping pages to savoring them. The can’t-put-down type. So intriguing, one has to read further and see what happens. Instances where one minute everything is hunky dory and the next there’s a fight , a personality clash. When writing about the mechanics of ‘80s music industry, Mark sort of got lost in the story. He was seen less and willing to bow down to pressures the record label had given his wife. Not good storytelling. Mark Sutter had become too much of a yes-yes man. He had no vision of his own, only that of what was right for his wife. Therefore Mark was weak and rendered helpless. Mark had to go. Attractive and knowledgeable as he might be, he wasn’t going to cut it with the rough patches of conflict.
I found myself cringing at parts of the story and hating what I had written.
That slowly led to me discovering British culture and some fine talent from it. There’s one thing British actors rely heavily on is conveying emotions. I came upon a gentleman who would make his way into my story and fit in perfectly, eventually becoming Charleston Edward Danvers. He is the man who would eventually capture the heart of one Tina Merrick while her band The Unconventional were touring Europe. Instead of being simply a roadie, Charleston would have a higher position in the stage engineering of a live show. He has a certain look that’s rather regal. Tall, shaggy haired, and astute. His words and pronunciation is that of being posh but never snobbish. He doesn’t take himself seriously. Many English men share this trait. Charleston has a very dry sense of humor but shows a myriad of emotions. He’s one of the most satisfying characters I have ever put pen to paper. Like the story itself, he’s not what people would expect him to be. He’s not yes-yes like Mark had become. Charleston is very much his own man. He has a background that would shock people sprinkled throughout. As the story unfolds and those times of conflict happen, you see how he reacts to situations. Some of which he handles differently as he is an outsider and not knowledgeable about how MTH Records is run or the philosophies it taught its artists. He is a rabid Queen fan and tries to assimilate his tastes on his wife, but he’s flexible The fun is when the reader learns things, Charleston learns more about his wife, what makes her tick, and what the freedom to rock really is about and why it’s so important.
One of the largest problems for an author who is struggling with character is that they don’t have the slightest clue of how to create them. For me there is a very specific way and that is to analyze somebody. Whether it’s someone from the entertainment field or a family member. You study their quirks. How they talk. How they move. Do they speak with grand gestures of their hands? Is there that certain look they give which inspires you or makes you say, “That’s them for sure.” Do they get excited by something? Has their been a particular outfit you thought they looked great in that characterized them? Or if it’s somebody like an actor and they play a part which fits your own character to a T. The most important question is, can you see them as a character you can feel for? For myself, I need strong details that set them apart. Although I wrote three men that would serve the same purpose in the story. They are not the same. They can’t fill in each others spot.
So, not every man is created the same.
Nor are they created equal.
Just as individual.
