Current Song Playing: All Our Lives by Andrew McMahon

All Characters Moonlight

Okay, so as writers we're told to give our characters backgrounds, even if those details don't make it into the book. So ask yourself, 'Before the start of this book begins, what is my character doing? What life is he/she living day-to-day?'

Take whatever story you are writing, and right a prequel. It doesn't have to be long, it can be a short essay on specific characters. I began to do this for my book idea (still working on it) and very quickly, my 2D characters became 3D. It was amazing, and it sparked inspiration. I saw the life of one of my characters before the book began, and it made me wonder how his/her life changed once the book started; how their day-to-day was abruptly dismantled, and what that meant for the character.


All Characters Moonlight. Before the protagonist comes into play, while the antagonist has been having his day, the supporting characters have been living their regular lives. The reader may never know that side of the coin, but you will and it can make your characters richer.

Also, something I have to remind myself: things won't be perfect every time. I may forget to add the cute, defining mole on the boy-next-door - you know the mole he inherited from his great-grandmother who never called him, never sent a birthday gift, and died before he cared enough to ask why? And when he's going through the old photographs at the funeral and he sees the mole on her face, if I've forgotten his mole at the gecko, he won't think deeply about it. He may just wonder why she didn't get it removed.

All Characters Moonlight. Every character in your book was doing something before the action started and what they were doing is important to know.

Keep asking your characters questions. When days come that writing seems very difficult, those are the best days to ask your characters questions. You will find out interesting insights about your main and supporting characters.


WRITER: "Are you a cat, or a dog person?"

CHARACTER: "Dog."

WRITER: "Why?"

CHARACTER: "Because I'm allergic to cats. If I'm within a hundred feet of one my nose clogs up and my eyes itch."

WRITER: "What happens if you touch one? Do you break out in hives?"

CHARACTER: "If I touch one, call an ambulance."

WRITER *eyes wide with surprise*: "Oh"

CHARACTER: "Yep."

WRITER *takes out a pen* "What else are you allergic to?"


Questions keep the convo going.


Happy Sunday,

Sydney