When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people, not characters. A character is a caricature.

- Ernest Hemingway

I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose.

–Stephen King

The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail.  The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell, together, as quickly as possible. 

- Mark Twain

Remember: plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.

- Ray Bradbury

Interviewing Your Characters by V.S. Nelson

Creative storyteller V.S. Nelson shares with The Write Way Café  how interviewing her characters fuels her stories.

Seriously, there are times I wish the voices in my head (or muses) would shut up, especially when they all decide to talk at once or clamor for top position of my hectic time-line. Sometimes it’s like having a house full of children, ages 2-6, tugging on my skirt tail. There never seems to be enough time or words to satisfy everyone. This one wants that, the other wants this… and such is the life of a very active author.

Like most writers, I love the muses who infiltrate my mind with a story I can’t refuse to write, but then there are times when it gets to be a bit overwhelming. Today is one of those days; Michael wants me to work on his story as does Poseidon as does Susan… while all I want to do is go back to bed. So this is their punishment, I’m not writing a thing for them until I get this article out of my head.

I may complain and beg for a little peace of mind but I often wonder where I would be if they all packed their bags and disappeared. I’m pretty sure I would go through a major empty nest syndrome like any mother whose children have all left home. As much as I complain, I’m also very happy to have them around. They do keep me on my toes and life as I once knew it, is never a dull moment.

I recently had an author friend complain to me her muse was unusually quiet. Was she developing writer’s block, she asked?  I don’t believe in writer’s block, but I do understand when a Muse chooses to remain quiet. It usually means they have something going on within them. Just like us, they can have quiet moments when they are trying to figure out a problem. In reality, they are like us; afraid to open up and share what is really on their mind until they know exactly how the situation will play out. What do I do in situations like this? I interview them.

Interviewing them will help you understand what they are going through and who knows, you just might end up with an entirely new book. It worked for me and it should work for you.

When Gabriel, the leader of Sekhmet’s Guardians (and my first muse) planned out the series, I was under the impression each book would evolve around each one of the heroes. I never expected to write a book entirely based on one of the villains. Last year, I found myself hammering out a story about Bagsu, the leader of the Set’s Legions, my Guardian’s immortal enemy… and it all started with an interview I did with him towards the end of book three, Eternal Blades. I was curious as to why he, a blood sucking villain, would turn loose of a beautiful woman before draining her dry, and then of all things, return her to his immortal enemy… even if that immortal enemy was his identical twin brother.

It took a little while to get him started, but after the second interview, he took me back in time, back to a time when he and Gabriel were youngsters. He showed me their triumphs and their downfall. How could I not write everything down and share what he so freely shared with me? And so, my little interview turned into an entire 300 plus page book. I pushed Eternal Life back to position number five in the series and inserted Eternal Tuat in its place.

What follows is the first interview I did with Bagsu, Set’s Prime.

V: What is it you really have planned for the Earth’s population?

Total domination, that’s all. Humans are by far, weak, lesser beings than Tuaties and should be treated as such. Of course many of my brethren believe you are nothing more than a food source for our unquenchable thirst.

(I swallow hard and readjust my position when Bagsu smiles, baring a razor sharp fang at me which glistens in the sunlight. Is he toying with me?)

V: Is this some kind of joke? You can’t be a vampire… its daylight.

Honey, don’t believe what you read in fairy tales. I’m as real as can be and I do require human blood to sustain life here on Earth. It is one of those little things that binds us to your world... Without it we would cease to exist.

V: Okay if you’re a vampire will you answer another question for me?

Sure, hit me with your best shot.

V: Are you repulsed by garlic and crosses? Can a stake through the heart kill you?

No, no and no. There is only one way to kill this Tuatie and that is by taking my head and I do not foresee you having the skill to do such a thing.

V: Never entered my mind… Would you like some coffee? Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot Vamps don’t eat and drink.

So little do you know about us... We can eat, drink and do everything else you humans do, including mate and have offspring, although the Legion has strict rules about such things.

V: What about the Guardians; are they like you? Aren’t you related to one?

Yes, the Guardians are from Tuat and they are like us in many ways, although those damn do-gooders think and act like humans. They would just as soon remain on Earth protecting your kind. Gabriel, their leader is my twin. Lance the youngest of the bunch is supposed to be my younger brother, although I must say he looks nothing like me or Gabe. I’ve always questioned his legitimacy, so who truly knows.

What follows now is the interview I did with him which triggered the Eternal Tuat, Bagsu’s story.

V:  Ok Bagsu, I have a question for you. Why on Earth would you let Jennifer go. You had her right where you wanted her, on your couch, naked, for heaven’s sake.

My dear V, I may be a son-of-a-bitch, but I am not that cold. There was a time when Gabe helped me when no one else could. I will not take from him that which someone took from me. Just can’t do it is all. Now let it be, will ya?

I wasn’t sure what he meant by take from him that which someone took from me… Did he once have a lover, a wife? I knew I had to know more, and so I pushed.

I pushed and asked more questions until Eternal Tuat was born.


SNIPPET from Eternal Tuat:

     “When I am gone, when my soul leaves this body, I want you to take what remains of me to our cave. Place my body in Khnemitti’s sarcophagus and ask him if he would say the proper prayers for me.”
     “Nefer, please, let us not speak of such things. You are going to be fine… You and our child are going to be fine.”
     “Bagsu, you are my love, my beloved husband, please, you must promise me.”
     I fight back the tears which are streaming down my face and nod.
“When that time comes, I will do as thee request.”
     She smiles, reaches to touch my cheek and I see the light in her eyes one final time.
     “I will always love thee, my husband.” Her hand drops, her eyes close and I know she is gone. My sweet, sweet, Nefer, along with my reason for living, is gone.

Buy Eternal Tuat 


About author V.S. Nelson
     With a love for history, Native American author V.S. Nelson, instructed history in elementary and high schools and colleges in the U.S. and abroad before launching her second writing career.
     V has been a story-teller all her life, always creating stories about people discovering the courage to make a difference. This drove her into writing her paranormal series centering on strong relationships and led her to coin the term: Ancient Legends, New Worlds.
     A member of three RWA chapters she sits on several committees and judges writing contests across the states.
     She invites you to join her in cyberspace on her Website, Blog, Amazon author page, Facebook, and Twitter.

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V will gladly send a copy of Eternal Tuat to one lucky commentator. Please be sure to leave your email address so she may contact you for shipping arrangements. Thank you.

Five W's and One H To The Rescue

“I keep six honest serving-men, 
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When, 
And How and Where and Who” 
       - Rudyard Kipling

It’s disconcerting to discover you don’t know your characters as well as you thought you did.

My pantser approach is partly to blame. My characters take on a life of their own as I write. I tend to let them find their way through my first draft, learning who they are, and gently guiding them in the direction I want my story to go. Sometimes they go peacefully, but other times I have to drag them, kicking and screaming, to where they need to be.

It’s a learning journey for all of us.

If my characters are kicking and screaming, it usually means I’m not writing them true to their character. It means I need to revisit some basic writing tools to figure out where I’m going wrong. After all, I don’t like being forced to be someone I’m not – why should they?

Every journalism student learns the importance of the Five W’s and one H: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Many journalists firmly believe your story is not complete until you answer all six questions. They have a valid point; not answering any one of these questions can leave a gaping hole in your story. And the best part, from a writer-standpoint? None of the questions can be answered with a simple yes or no, which means you learn more about your characters by delving into their answers.

I like the way the Socrative Garden lays it out in this table:


As I tried to get to know my hero better, I did more than just ask him these questions. I asked other characters the same questions. Understanding how they perceived him, and therefore reacted to and with him throughout the story, was very helpful in revising his character.

Sometimes, my characters are kicking and screaming because they don’t want to admit something to themselves. I can’t blame them. None of us are perfect, but that doesn’t mean we like hearing that we have faults. Our psyches are easily bruised. But growing and changing is an important part of character arcs, so my character will need to toughen up. He needs to trust that I have his best interests at heart.

How do you react when you discover you don’t know enough about your characters? How do you flesh them out? Please share.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.

– Wayne Dyer

People fascinate me. Some people irritate me at the same time.

I’m a people watcher. Everywhere I go, I’m on the lookout for something that strikes me, something I can use in my writing. I have mini-notepads filled with descriptions of people, settings, and situations. Colorful people, people who fade into the background – doesn’t matter which. What struck me about them? What life circumstances might make them who they are? How are they dressed? Do they walk with a swagger, or do they shuffle? How do they treat the people they come into contact with?

I’m also a people person. I can talk to just about anybody, and often do, much to the dismay of my children. I genuinely like most people I meet. But recently I’ve had the. . . experience, let’s say, of meeting people circumstances dictated I immediately dislike.

One older gentleman was tall, distinguished-looking, and well dressed. He seemed very personable, speaking to a number of people who approached him. Another man, near the same age, was dressed well but more casually than the first. He held a young boy in his arms, obviously a doting grandfather. Across the room sat a woman whose face reflected years of a hard life. I couldn’t help but wonder how three siblings could seem so very different.

If I had met these people under other circumstances, I would have thought good things about the men and worried about the woman, wishing I could somehow make her life easier. But looks can be deceiving. Their actions prior to our meeting have colored my perceptions of them. There are two more where they come from; two who made less of an impression on me. I don’t know anything about their formative years, so I can only speculate what drives them. They appear to be selfish and motivated by greed, only looking out for numero uno.

How do I know this? Actions speak louder than words. While their father was on his deathbed, they expended energies on belittling his wife (not their mother), vowing to remove her from “their” property, and threatening to take items that don’t belong to them. When her father’s wife referred to all of us as “you people”, the hard-looking daughter demanded an apology. It was simply a figure of speech, nothing more. We witnessed that same daughter’s son stealing from his dying grandfather’s garage – while she watched and did nothing to stop him. The tall, distinguished-looking gentleman called the county housing authority trying to prove his father’s house was not up to code – hoping to get the wife evicted. The doting grandfather said, “Right now, I’m worried about my dad. But there will come a day when I’m worried about me.”

Their family is obviously very different from my own. I started thinking of them as villains. My mind races with questions. What motivates these people? When will they come to their senses – will they come to their senses? Where did they get such bizarre ideas? Why are they behaving this way?

Can I use these experiences in a good way? Yes, I can. Instead of letting them get to me, I can write them in to a book; I can give my characters the passions I feel for people, for situations. Or I can explore characters with opposite beliefs. What might I learn by doing that?

The writer in me is always on the lookout for story ideas. Characters, settings, situations – the world is full of inspiration if only we are open to it. Even if inspiration is sometimes closer to us than we might like.

Are you able to use such experiences in a positive way? How?

I Brought You Into This World...

Characters are a lot like teenagers.

They both keep me up late at night.  With one teenager in her first year of junior college, the other in his first year of high school, I stay up later than I’d like more nights than I care to admit.  I do not sleep until they are home.  At least some of those nights, my characters keep me occupied.  The down side is by the time the kids get home, my characters are just getting started on their adventures and I don’t want to go to bed!

They both require a referee at times.  Every parent (and author) should have his/her stripes!  And a whistle.  My teenagers get along well, for the most part.  But my son sometimes exhibits signs of raging hormones, and then the fights increase.  Of course, neither of my teenagers is EVER wrong (they get that from their father).  I can only take so much before I blow my top (er, whistle).  My refereeing experience comes in handy with my characters, too.  The things my characters argue about aren’t necessarily as stupid as what my teenagers argue about, but their arguments are more intense.  Sometimes they definitely need to be separated!

They both talk back.  My husband and I are strong believers in keeping the lines of communication open – especially between ourselves and with our children.  My teenagers know they can talk to us about anything, although they may not like our reactions.  They employ the Divide and Conquer strategy – cornering whichever one of us they think will say yes to whatever it is they want.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.  When their strategy fails, they tend to lose control and start talking back, raising their voices and saying things they shouldn’t.  My characters usually skip right to the losing control, talking back part.  And that’s because of the next point.

They both tend to have minds of their own.  I’ve taught my kids from an early age to be independent, to think for themselves and not follow the crowd just because everybody else is doing it.  And yes, it’s coming back to haunt me.  They have yet to figure out there is a fine line between being independent and being disrespectful when speaking their minds.  My characters tend to follow the same pattern, which leads to talking back.

They both make me cry.  Luckily, my kids don’t make me cry very often, but when they do, it’s usually a gullywasher.  I’ve been known to go for a walk and not come back for long enough the youngest gets worried and wants to come looking for me.  That just makes me want to cry more.  My characters, on the other hand, probably don’t make me cry enough, but I’m working on that.  I want them to touch readers’ hearts like they have touched mine.

I wouldn’t trade my teenagers – or my characters – for anything.  They may drive me crazy, but I’m proud of each one of them.  I’m proud of the people they have become, proud of all that they’ve learned from me, but most of all, I’m proud of the life lessons they’ve taught me.

I hope they never forget that I brought them into this world...

I can also take them out.

Note: Originally printed in the April 2011 issue of Romancing the Prairie, newsletter for Prairie Hearts RWA #43.

Do your characters act like teenagers? What characteristics do they exhibit?

Learning is a Treasure

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere."
- Chinese Proverb

The back-to-school hype energizes me. There are new clothing styles, new backpack styles, and new color schemes and items for students to decorate their abodes. Companies come out with all sorts of new gadgets and gizmos for students. Office supply stores offer great deals on things writers love: pens, paper, filing supplies, colored index cards, and post-it notes, to name a few.

There’s more to the back-to-school hype than just material things. For me, the hype conjures up renewed excitement for learning. When I was younger, I wanted to be a professional student. Good grades came easy to me and I didn’t have to study hard. Alright, I lied - math and chemistry kicked my butt. Story problems? I could cheerfully strangle whoever came up with that idea! But overall, I loved school. I loved learning.

As a writer, I’m privileged to continue my education every day: reading, writing, editing, and rewriting. Practice makes perfect, or so they say. I’m not sure a writer ever stops learning.

Every writer is different, but basics like characterization, setting, plot, conflict, and point of view don’t change. They are all intrinsic to fiction.

Optional Learning Methods

Learning by doing goes along with being a pantser. I have more writing reference books than I’ll ever read cover to cover, but I often refer to them when I’m struggling with any one area of writing. The benefit to checking more than one reference is the gist of each explanation may be the same, but each book offers a different angle from which to approach the problem. Since not every writer is the same, one explanation may make more sense than another.

Writing exercises allow us to step away from what we are writing, to free our minds and let our creativity flow. Many reference books suggest writing exercises pertinent to the subject discussed.

Workshops and classes are great resources for writers. Various organizations offer courses on just about any subject you want to know more about.

Read voraciously. Take notes when you read. What did the author do that you liked? What did the author do that you disliked?  Study how the author engaged you in the story.

Try rewriting a scene from an alternative point of view. Which character has the most to gain or lose?  Sometimes writing from an alternate point of view reveals something about our character we didn’t know.

Setting can be a character in itself. Don’t be afraid to use local color to populate your setting.  What crops or animals are common to your setting? What festivals or celebrations are held? How can you incorporate these things into your manuscript to make it more realistic?

Be a sponge and soak up as much as you can. Learn from each experience you have. You never know what you might discover!

The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder. 
- Ralph W. Sockman

As I continue my education this fall, my writing curriculum includes reading for craft, rewriting to improve characterization and setting, and to increase conflict. Overall, I plan to tighten my prose.

How will you continue your writing education?

Words: A Powerful Tool

“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”
- Rudyard Kipling

One of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal is his or her ability to wield words.

At an early age, words become important to us. We learn our language with a spin of slang from the region in which we are raised. We learn which words get us what we want, and which ones don’t. Many of us also learn a second language, broadening our capacity for communication.

Words enable us to communicate.

We exchange niceties with acquaintances; we share news and offer words of support and encouragement to others during difficult times. We teach with words and actions. We use words as passwords, code words, and keywords. We write lyrics and put them to music. Words give voice to our opinions, to our thoughts and our dreams.

Words – so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

Because of our differences, words sometimes become weapons. Remember that old childhood adage? Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. For most of us, it’s not really true. Words have the power to bruise our hearts. A range of emotions can cause us to lash out, releasing a stream of hurtful words - words we can’t take back. Often, we wish we could. They hang in the air, coloring our perceptions of others, as well as ourselves.

I was recently on the receiving end of some very hurtful words. I doubt I will ever forget the tone of voice, or the way those words made me feel. But what hurt the most was recognizing the truth behind the words.

Remember, your words have an impact on those around you, but your choice of words could  determine what kind of impact.

I love writing.  I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.
- James Michener

Are your written words organized for maximum effect?

Readers crave well-written books: believable characters, realistic motivations, and strong conflicts. But it’s more than that. Readers want to escape. Readers want to relate to the characters in the books they read. If they can’t relate in some way, they lose interest.

Descriptive words can immerse the reader in the story. I love feeling as if I’m right there with the characters, experiencing their emotional highs and lows, and not simply being told about them. Use your senses to entice readers. Your heroine can’t wait to leave this town. Why? Describe the dilapidated, run down buildings of downtown, the smell of factory smoke, the noise of trains carrying finished products out of town. Your reader will understand why she wants to leave and root for her to succeed. Such details can be unique to your setting; they add flavor and authenticity to your story. Local flowers and crops, animals and weather can all add color as well.

Words can be used to enhance differences in characters. For some people, the smell of home cooking conjures up memories of holidays, warmth, and being surrounded by family. But not everyone had the same upbringing. Maybe your hero grew up in a foster home where the mother only cooked big meals when things were bad, otherwise leaving the kids to fend for themselves. Your hero would associate home cooking with bad things - beatings or possibly another child coming or going from the home. Remember that his upbringing would color his thoughts, actions, and words if you write him into a home-cooking scene. But these feelings could be in direct contrast to his future goals.

Dialogue can be used to reveal character differences. Someone from Boston is going to speak very differently than someone from Montana. Slang terms can be an important characterization technique in writing. A character who curses frequently most likely has a rougher background than a character who doesn’t, but not necessarily. Maybe the character chooses to curse frequently because he is pretending to be someone other than himself.

Words do two major things: They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness.
- Jim Rohn

I am addicted to words. I want my words to create opportunities, to offer hope and encouragement, to provide an escape to someone who needs it. I want to give back to others the pleasure I have found in reading.

What do you want your words to accomplish?

Unique Perspectives

Outwit. Outlast. Outplay. 

Survivor casting calls are coming to my town. My husband, knowing I love the show, suggested I apply. I knew he was only joking, but his suggestion earned him a dirty look anyway. I'd never make it on Survivor. The first time I saw a snake or spider and screamed bloody murder, they'd vote me out. They wouldn't wait for tribal council. And if they did let me hang around, the bugs would probably get me. If not the bugs, then the water. I can't swim underwater without holding my nose. What good would I be in a challenge?

Maybe I could just tag along as part of the camera crew and observe, under the guise of research.

Imagine being forced to live in a remote location with a group of strangers, and no amenities. Knowing it's temporary would not necessarily be helpful. Some people can deal with anything for a short amount of time. Others are not that adaptable. How many contestants remain true to themselves, playing the game the same way they live their lives? How many contestants do whatever it takes, justifying their actions because they are, after all, playing the game? And how many contestants have regrets about how they played the game once it's over?

The writer in me is fascinated by people. Our life experiences shape our thoughts and behaviors, molding us into individuals. Our differences, and our likenesses, generate conflict within our lives.

I learned that firsthand. A few years ago, my siblings and I were alerted that my biological father had pancreatic cancer. We quickly made arrangements to travel to visit him in the hospital. None of us had seen him in years. Two short weeks later, he passed away, and we attended the funeral. Over those two weeks, we spent long hours talking about our biological father - how we felt about him, our questions - with and without answers, our hopes and our regrets. That time was a real eye-opener for me.  I was shocked that my siblings had totally different memories of times we had all spent together than I had. They had different thoughts, different questions, and different feelings about him than I did. How, I wondered, could three people who experienced the same events have such different opinions of them?

We all have a unique perspective. Many things contribute to making us who we are: our age, the way we grew up, the traditions passed down through generations (or not) of our families, and our own personal successes and failures, to name a few. When I create characters, I try to keep all these things in mind.

Survivor sparks my imagination. Watching the cast as they try to manipulate their tribe mates, wondering what they will come up with next, and wondering what event will turn the momentum in another direction keeps me interested.

I am a different kind of survivor. I am a writer. My challenge?

Outwrite. Outline. Outplot.