How do you define and show your character? We have included 3 must-have scenes that reveal character in this post.
Welcome to week 35 of Anthony’s series that aims to help you write a novel in a year. Read last week’s post here.
[The 52 posts in the series are also available in a downloadable, advert-free workbook. Buy it here: Write Your Novel In A Year Workbook]
Goal setting
- Write the three key character scenes for your novel.
Breaking it down
Use The Monogram Scene, The Momentum Scene, and The Glimpse Scene to make your characters real.
[Use our Character Creation Kit to create great characters for your stories.]
3 Must-Have Scenes That Reveal Character
1. The Monogram Scene
In elegant days gone by, characters would emerge from the bathroom or boudoir wearing a monogrammed robe – it was usually white or a rich velvet affair.
In much the same way, you have to give your main characters a scene or two that ‘mark’ them as individuals – interesting characters we may want to follow in the story as readers. These scenes must show who that character is at their very essence.
It helps if you can find a brief description or key words that ‘nail’ that character. For example, my antagonist, Monty could be described as rich, entitled, and narcissistic. OK, great – how do you show that in a scene?
For this scene, I have Monty flash his credit card to pay for drinks at a downtown club, only to have it declined, which sends him into an abusive rage with the waiter. He points out that the shoes he’s got on cost more than the waiter’s monthly salary. Hopefully, it shows him for what he is – a rich kid who likes to get his own way.
2. The Momentum Scene
Have you ever agreed to go on a blind date? There’s usually a build-up of anticipation, the date itself – it’s usually awkward and anticlimactic – and then the aftermath of the date.
Once your character has made a decision, whether a big decision or a small decision, they need to act on it – with careful deliberation or rash impulsiveness. The first could be the decision to go to gym to lose weight, the second is to eat half a chocolate cake at two in the morning.
It could be a moral decision or a life-and-death decision. It doesn’t matter. Here’s your chance to show your character – with all their strengths, flaws, anger or sense of humour – doing something.
Whatever your character decides, the natural flow of story dictates that they have to act on that decision. They need to be motivated. This gives you a chance to show your character signing up for gym, struggling to programme the treadmill, feeling foolish in their new gym gear, etc.
The point is you can’t have a character decide something and then they accomplish it in a few paragraphs. What a let-down for the reader – and no fun for you as a writer!
You have to build up to that decision, tease it out in a scene, and show what comes after. It’s about moving things forward – building momentum. It’s the basic principle of scene structure: build tension and then release it.
3. The Glimpse Scene
The one thing that can destroy a story is if we don’t believe the characters are real – if they seem too slick, too perfect, or too invincible, we don’t have anything for the reader to relate to. We always need a glimpse into their humanity. Just a glimpse. That’s all.
As a writer, ask: How will the readers find themselves in this character? How will they connect with this character and start to believe this character is real? It doesn’t matter if your character is a superhero or a soccer mom – we need that connection.
A glimpse could be the ruthless tycoon who weeps when he learns his favourite Alsatian attack dog has been poisoned. It could be the doting mother who, over one too many wine spritzers, wistfully confesses to her neighbour that she dreams of running away. Show fears, phobias, secrets, flaws, all those things that make us human.
[Use our Character Creation Kit to create great characters for your stories.]
Timelock — Three To Six hours
- Spend an hour or two on each of these key scenes.
5 Quick Hacks
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List your own bad habits – from smoking to procrastination. Is there a way to give one of these to your character?
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Write about what your character does when no one is looking – imagine you’re a fly on the wall.
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Write a monogram scene for a character from a favourite TV series.
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List as many key words that describe your character as possible. Then cross out all the uninteresting ones until you have only three or four.
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Write about the one decision your character always regrets making. Why do they regret it?
Pin it, quote it, believe it:
‘You invent and control characters. You decide whether they live or die.’ — Sidney Sheldon
Look out for next week’s instalment of Write Your Novel In A Year: Week 36: 3 Must-Have Scenes That Reveal Plot
Top Tip: The 52 posts are also available in a downloadable, advert-free workbook. Buy it here: Write Your Novel In A Year Workbook
If you enjoyed this post, read:
- Write Your Novel In A Year – Week 34: Spring Cleaning
- Write Your Novel In A Year – Week 33: Beginnings, Backstory, And Other Bugbears
- Write Your Novel In A Year – Week 32: Your 6 Indispensable Plot Pivots
[Use our Character Creation Kit to create great characters for your stories.]
5 thoughts on “Write Your Novel In A Year – Week 35: 3 Must-Have Scenes That Reveal Character”
Anthony, I love your articles and pass them along to groups. Writer’s Write is my “go to” suggestion to new writers. I like you in particular because of the way you get down to the nitty-gritty without a lot of fluff, and the examples you offer which help visual learners.
Having been a parent educator I am sure the upcoming generation appreciate you immensely.
Thank you, Delores. You’re very kind. I always find learning is best if it’s practical, fun, and visual.
Thank you, Delores. We appreciate the feedback and Anthony is fabulous.
Thank you for sharing such insightful information.
I love this. Your posts are so helpful for me. Please keep them coming
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