Sunday, June 24, 2012

Boxers or Briefs?

Got your attention, didn’t I?
I was thinking ahead to my next book, but then I’m always doing that. I usually know what the female character is going to be like; I find them much easier. This next book is no exception.
   But I don’t feel that I ‘know’ the male romantic interest. He’s eluding me. I know his age, and where he works, but I’m having a difficult time cozying up to him.
  Some authors create detailed descriptions of their characters. They know family history, where they went to school, what type of food they like, favourite sports team ... literally everything. Some authors interview their characters; some even know what’s in their wallet.
   I admire that type of preparation, and I’ve tried parts of it a couple of times. But somewhere in the process I recalled that I literally fell in love with someone the first time I saw him. The first time our eyes met. Corny huh? But true...so true. I knew nothing about him at that point, other than the fact that he had the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. I think it would be safe to say that the air sizzled between us when we met. Other things sizzled too, but that was much later.
   Question to self: Is it absolutely necessary to know everything about the ‘hero’ before I start on my next project? Maybe I’ll cut myself some slack on this one and get to know him the way I did with Jack...one delightful discovery at a time.
   I’m looking forward to it.

Mona Ingram



2 comments:

  1. I rarely have a full handle on either of my characters before I start writing. They reveal their quirks as I continue to toss them into situations. For the record, though, I like a boxer-brief man. :-)

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  2. I usually think I know a character before I start writing, but the actual writing almost always takes the character to a new place - one that I hadn't anticipated. I'm one of those writers who has to have an idea of destination before I can start, but I rarely end up where I thought I would. That's what makes writing so much fun.

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