A litmus test for your characters…

[M.A.Thompson]

With talk on the boards lately about character development and such, I thought I would share a tool I have been using that helps me see how well I have depicted my characters. Possibly someone else here might benefit from it as well.

Before I submit a story, I have a trusted group of friends check it out to let me know what they think; perhaps some of you do also. But one question I always ask them is this:

If you were to make a movie out of my story, whom would you cast as the main characters?

The answers are always interesting and give me a unique insight on to how I am portraying my characters to my readers. I know how I see them in my mind but this simple question aids me in assessing how successful, or unsuccessful for that matter, I was in putting my vision on paper.

I would love to know if anyone else has any other tricks of the trade for testing out their works.

 

[Whispersecret]

But how can you be sure your take on the actors chosen is the same as your friends'?

 

[M.A.Thompson]

But how can you be sure your take on the actors chosen is the same as your friends'?

You can't be. It is just a tool, not a scientific equation for success.

If anything, it is fun to see whom people would choose.

 

[Guest]

Another interesting twist.......

On your question.............

"Who do we as writers see as the people who'd be staring in our stories?"

I think it might be fun to see Mel Gibson in a few of mine.....oh,
and yes, Cathryn Bell.

LOL........

I remain

 

[TheEarl]

I've always thought Robin Tunney would be quite good in some of my stories.

The Earl

 

[Guest]

Re: Another interesting twist.......

On your question.............
"Who do we as writers see as the people who'd be staring in our stories?"
I think it might be fun to see Mel Gibson in a few of mine.....oh,
and yes, Cathryn Bell.
LOL........

I remain

That's exactly what I do. It's a good tool, lt works for me.

All my female characters end up looking like Gina Gershon for some reason

Hmnahum...
Never thought of Cathryn Bell, have to write a naughty one with her in mind.

R/
jamison

 

[M.A.Thompson]

When writing, I tend to envision people I know in real life as models for my characters, taking bits and pieces from their appearances and personalities to fashion the occupants of the worlds I construct. Most often, these players are composites of many people, making them sort of literary Frankensteins.

But it would be fun as an author to cast your story once some big Hollywood guru realizes your talent and requests to turn your story to celluloid.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I reread my stories aloud to make sure that they sound ok.

As to who I would cast...hmmm...I'd have to think of that