Getting Into Character: Fiction Writing Exercises
Writers are not actors, but sometimes we need to get into character.
To truly understand the nature of a character, a writer must step into that character’s shoes. All the character sketches and descriptions that you develop will be two dimensional until you can get into your character’s head and understand what makes him tick.
This is not an easy thing to do. Your first impulse might be to act like a puppet master, pulling your character’s strings and controlling his actions. But what you really need to do is scoot over and get in the passenger’s seat. Let your character do the driving and ride along as an observer. And that’s exactly what fiction writing exercises can help you do.
Tips for Getting Into Character
Many artists and creative people talk about entering “the zone.” This is a state of mind in which you’re running on automatic pilot. Your right (creative) brain is fully engaged and your left (logical) brain is snoozing with one eye open. It is in this state that people often get lost in an activity, lose track of time, and produce some of their best creative work.
When you’re getting into character, it’s best to be in the zone. Approach these fiction writing exercises when you’re calm and relaxed, and willing to let your imagination override your logical thinking.
How do you do this? Before sitting down to tackle these exercises, try exercising. Take a walk, do some yoga, or go for a swim. You can also meditate, or simply take a few minutes to lie down and relax and clear your mind of all the clutter. Listening to classical music or jazz is another effective way for getting into the zone. Once your mind is calmed, you’ll be ready to get into character and try the fiction writing exercises below.
Fiction Writing Exercises for Getting Into Character
Exercise #1: Chat
Launch your word processing software and start up a conversation with your character. Most of us have engaged in online chat or instant messaging. This is the same idea. If chat is not a comfortable medium for you, then try composing emails back and forth between you and your character.
Before you start, you might want to come up with a list of questions to ask your character. Also, this is a great exercise to use when you get stuck in a story that doesn’t want to move forward. Simply chat with your character to try and find out what’s holding him back from taking the next step.
Your chat might look something like this:
ME: So, you’re hearing voices in your head and you’re not sure whether you’ve gone crazy or are telepathic.
CHARACTER: Obviously, I’m telepathic. Don’t tell me you don’t believe in telepathy. I know you do.
ME: How could you possibly know something like that?
CHARACTER: Because I am reading your mind right now.
Exercise #2: Stand-in Situation
Put your character in a situation and see how he handles it. If you’re already working on a story, then try removing your character from it and placing him a completely different setting. Think of riveting scenes from books you’ve read or movies that you’ve seen, or use scenes from your own life.
A few quick ideas for scenes that will reveal how your character handles a situation:
- Your character is standing on the corner trying to hail a taxi when there’s a sudden distraction. This could be an accident in the street, a beautiful woman walking by, or an emergency phone call from a desperate friend or family member. Does your character hop in the cab and go about his day?
- Your character’s arch-enemy is is grave peril and the only person around who can save him is your character. Does he let his enemy die or save his life?
- Your character has been grossly betrayed by a close friend or family member. Is your character able to forgive? Does he seek revenge? Will he go on with his life, simply removing the betrayer from it?
Notice that all these scenarios test the character’s integrity. This is a great way to get a handle on what kinds of choices your character makes. Keep in mind as you work through this exercise that people are not perfect and characters needn’t be either. The most interesting characters are easy to relate to, and that means they are flawed in some way.
Exercise #3: Monologue
Monologues are a great way to get inside your character’s head, especially if the story you’re writing will be in third person. This is your chance to let your character’s voice be heard.
Write a piece in first person, from your character’s perspective. Choose a general theme for the monologue and start writing in the character’s voice. Some ideas for themes:
- Character is relating a significant event from his past – loss of a loved one, major life transition, or one of those everyday moments that change everything or stay with you forever.
- Character is faced with a serious challenge or decision and is discussing his options and what the effects of either choice might be.
- Character is in the middle of an emotional crisis and is overcome by grief, rage, envy, or some other intense feelings.
In a monologue, you can include action cues, but try to write them into the dialog. For instance, if the characters starts crying, make that evident in the writing. If you’re feeling really brave (or if you’re an actor at heart), try recording yourself reading and playing out the monologue. That will add another dimension and allow your character’s speech, intonation, and inflection to come through.
How to Use These Exercises
Once you’ve completed the exercise, you can revisit the material you’ve written to gain a better understanding of your character.
Try to pinpoint any areas where you’ve stepped in and taken over. Maybe your character said something that you normally or frequently say. Or perhaps he did something that is just – well – out of character. You can edit and revise until you feel that your piece has truly captured your character’s behavior and essence.
Later, when you’re working on your story, you can pull out these exercises to see if there are any clues about your character that you want to expose. You may also use these exercises as you’re writing a story to help you get a better grasp on your character or learn his secrets.
As always, the most important thing when working through creative writing exercises is to have fun.
And keep on writing.
If you have any fiction writing exercises to share, feel free to post them in the comments or send them in as a guest post.
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[...] Getting into character: Fiction writing exercises | Writing Forward Three great exercises for getting to know and work with your characters. I particularly like the idea of having a chat with a character in email or instant messaging form. Potentially terrifying. [...]
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[...] One of my favorite fiction writing exercises asks writers to get into their characters by chatting with them, putting them in situations outside of the story, and writing a monologue from the characters’ perspective. It’s called “Getting Into Character.” [...]
Very resourceful stuff: 1,2,3 – easy to remember and practice too.
Best non-fiction books i have read were written using this style. To mention a few – “Raving Fans…” about customer service and “The Dream Manager” about managing people. Your prescriptive guidelines are helpful to me.
#1 – Chat
#2 – Stand in situation
#3 – Monologue
Good stuff, stumbled.
Alik Levin | PracticeThis.coms last blog post..Check Point For Aspiring Blogger
Thanks Alik! I’ll have to make a note of those titles. “The Dream Manager” sounds especially interesting.
I like your idea of doing a chat with your character. Instant messaging is so common these days and it sounds like a great way to get in touch with your characters.
All of these tips are great as once you are in your character’s mindset, most of the writing comes out naturally as you just do what the character would do.
Martin – Writing Promptss last blog post..Controlling the Pace – Mixing Scenes with Summary
I love the chat technique. It’s one that I’ve used a couple of times and it definitely provides insight. Thanks Martin!
These are good tips. I’ve used #2 and #3 before, but never used the chat idea. Might be worth a try.
Gabriel Gadflys last blog post..Kisses For Nemo
The chat is definitely worth a try. It’s actually my favorite of the three. It’s also pretty quick and easy.
Great prescriptive guidance.
I really like the fact you provided specific techniques (chat, stand-in, and monologue) to turn insight into action.
I think using proven techniques really improves effectiveness. In this case, I think the key to the techniques is they help you get into the right mindset. Mindset and state make all the difference in creative works.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Effectiveness Over Universal Expert
Also, each writer has to find which techniques work best for him or her. Some people might not click with the chat but the monologue exercise will prove to be quite effective. There’s a great benefit in simply being willing to try new and different things.
I like the idea of sending emails back and forth to each other (me and my character who is dangling awaiting dialogue or activity). I tried the character’s diary/journal idea. It worked for a while but it dried up rather quickly. I like the email idea because you can walk away from it and come back to is fresh like you (or they) just received that email.
Evelyns last blog post..Run! It’s time!
The journal or diary technique is another good one, but I view that as a long-term exercise – a good thing to use if you’re writing a novel. Then, you can journal from your character’s perspective regularly and over a longer period of time. Yes, wouldn’t it be fun to receive emails from your characters?
These are great tips Melissa! I haven’t tried them before but looks like it’ll be fun. Acting out the monologue yourself sounds like something out of a drama class. Perhaps trying to the character yourself might seem like treading into dangerous territory but always a unique worthwhile experience to try.
Kates last blog post..Sex with Six
Funny you mention drama class because that’s exactly what I was envisioning when I wrote the monologue exercise. It could be fun or intimidating, perhaps dangerous (don’t try this at home folks!).
These are all great ideas and are particularly useful, I reckon, when you’re just starting out on a story/script and still have a lot of gaps to fill. Lovely stuff.
Iain Broomes last blog post..Writing goals 2: Short-term targets, long-term goals
Thanks Iain. I have a lot of fun with writing exercises
I’m definitely taking note with the chat option not only to get into character, but it will definitely help when I’m writing dialogue. I hear or say so much good stuff, I’m never able to write or record it all… but with this exercise I might create better material than what I forgot to write down.
t.sterlings last blog post..fripodding and watching: the watchmen experience-reviews and stuff
I like the chat option too and you’re right – it’s great for dialogue. It will show you how your character speaks. You can do recordings as well as write out the chats.