Everyone knows what a 'cheat sheet' is: a handy summary that makes it easier to finish a task. The hardy contestants who turn up each November to write 50,000 words in 30 days know that life is easier if they are well prepared. But why settle for a 'cheat sheet' when a whole Character First Aid Pack will do the job better?
Imagine this: ten days into NaNoWriMo, one of the characters starts acting up.
- The heroine has about as much charisma as a tree stump.
- The hero needs a more adventurous background.
- The main character's sister just doesn't 'fit' as a prim brunette... but what else could she be?
- The sidekick needs to have more of a past.. talk about a cardboard character...
None of this is a worry if the WriMo has a handy "Character First Aid Pack" ready to use. Get this ready ahead of time, and dip into it whenever there's an emergency.
Character First Aid Pack Section 1: Photos of People
Before November 1, spend an afternoon browsing through catalogues, photo albums and magazines for photos of likely characters. (As November progresses, writers are likely to find that they may need to quickly bring another character on the scene if the writing starts to slow down, or the plot needs work. Be ready!) Look for:
- different haircuts
- different faces
- different nationalities
- ugly people
- beautiful people
- children and babies
- workers in all industries and careers
- models
- suburban mums
- adventurers
Character First Aid Pack Section 2: Accessories and Toys
Characters will come from all walks of life. That means they will need different 'toys' and different accessories. Catalogues and sales brochures are invaluable here; as are ads from newspapers and specialist magazines (for examples, 4WD magazines or boating magazines).
The writer who has details at hand can pause, dip into the character pack, and resume writing with scarcely a break in productivity. Look for:
- cars, boats, motorhomes (even planes for well-heeled characters)
- houses, apartments, cottages (check real estate magazines)
- furniture
- hi-tech toys and gadgets
- gardening aids
- handbags, luggage, shoes
- jewellery
- gym/exercise equipment/sporting goods
Character First Aid Pack Section 3: Professions, Work, Career
The most convenient aid here is a general 'careers advice' book; this will have details about what all kinds of people do. (The whole point of a NaNoWriMo "Character First Aid Pack" is that the writer won't have to take time out to go and look something up – it's all right there at hand.)
If a careers guide is not available, spend time before November starts in downloading information about a range of careers and jobs at all socio-economic levels. Print out a selection and add it to the Character Pack.
Character First Aid Pack Section 4: Scandals and Reader Stories
Magazines are a WriMo's best friend. Go through a stack of popular magazines before the month starts, and tear out interesting stories. Stories about people overcoming adversity; being victims of con-men; recovering from trauma; shocking the world with major scandals; ripping off investors. Any story, in fact, that could form the basis of a character's backstory or motivation for certain actions.
WriMos are an inventive lot: no doubt they could think of many more interesting sections that could be added to a Character First Aid Pack for National Novel Writing Month.
Anything that will help speed the process without taking time away from that precious 1,667 words a day has got to be a good thing!
Marg McAlister - Marg McAlister has tried on a good many writer's hats in her career, and has enjoyed wearing most of them. Her writing achievements ...
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