This is Day 7 of 10 Days of Character Building
This character building idea turns the concept of the interview around. Instead of interviewing a character about themselves, you interview the other characters in your story about one particular character. This gives you a profile of the character as seen by other people. It can also help you set up potential conflicts and plot points by revealing hidden bonds and tensions between characters.
A character might consider herself to be insightful, brave and authoritative, while that character’s sister might view her as bossy, opinionated and unreliable. A husband may think his wife is supportive and loyal, while the other man she is secretly seeing believes she wants her husband dead. A man’s boss may think of him as the hard-working backbone of the company while that man’s children may think of him as the jerk who was never there when they needed him.
The most basic method of using other characters to create a profile is to have each give a general description from their perspective. A character might, for example, be profiled by her husband, sister, son, boss, co-worker, best friend, former friend, old boyfriend and neighbor. Each would discuss their opinion of her and experiences with her. Don’t feel as if all the characters who give there opinion have to be major characters or fully developed themselves. By using one character to profile another, you will find out more about both characters.
If you want to be more creative, look for ways to make the interview process fit the nature of the story. For example, you can create the profile as if it were a class discussion, news article, police interview or a reality show. You can also set up general questions for every character to answer or tailor questions to fit each character’s position and perspective.
The morning air was cool. A mist rose lightly from the plaza’s dewy grass lending a softening haze to the hospital’s facade. A cool breeze blew through the plaza next to the parking deck, pushing a few papers under the bridge that connected the hospital to the parking deck. A small red Miata with two travelers, weary from driving through the early morning hours, drove around the plaza and pulled into the deck.
“Take the ticket” the woman said.
“I got it.” replied the driver. “Do you want it?”
“No” The woman fidgeted with the bag on her lap. “But don’t you loose it.”
The man nodded, he set the ticket on the console between the seats as he pulled into the nearly empty deck. Driving slowly, they passed the handicap spots followed by those marked for doctors. Halfway to the far end, the handful of parked cars marked the beginning of the unmarked spots. He drove past the cars and a few empty spots.
“You passed some, why didn’t you park?”
“I wanted to be a little closer.”
She stopped herself. They had had that argument before.
After a minute of driving, they pulled into a spot. The man shut off the car. He removed the faceplate from the radio and leaned over his wife to secure it in the glove-box. He sat up and looked at her and smiled. She grimaced back.
With a heave, the man said. “I’m tired.”
She nodded. “me, too.”
They both got out of the car.
“Do you think he’s here yet?” he said.
“Yeah.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“What?!”
“He was in an ambulance, c’mon.”
“No, the Bishop.”
“Don’t know.”
“Just wonderin’” The man opened the trunk and glanced over the hastily packed bags. “Reckon we’ll need these?”
“don’t know” she was fidgeting with her hands. There was an anxious air about her, a worry on her face.
“Do you have the insurance cards?”
“In the purse.” She grabbed the purse hanging at her side.
“We’ll be alright.” The man closed the trunk and dropped his keys in his front pocket. “Let’s go.”
They started to walk around the car.
“Do you have the ticket?” the woman asked.
“Oh, yeah.” The man leaned over the side of the car and grabbed the green slip of paper. He stood up and looked at it a bit. Children’s Hospital Parking: Sat.5:37 a.m. He placed it in his shirt pocket. Walked over to his wife, and taking her hand said, “The bridge is this way.” They walked together into the hospital.
Hi James, I think the scene holds together pretty well, but I think we can learn more about the characters. nice start.
Multiple perspectives on Chelsea August
Chelsea is a great kid. She’s was never in any real trouble growing and she always kept her room clean. She’s pretty smart too. She got a combined 1540 on her SATs. She could have gone to Stanford or even Harvard, but she didn’t think she was ready to leave home. The UA offered her a full scholarship and she took it. Saved me a fortune. We used a big chunk of her college fund to buy her a car. She wanted a Prius. She’s got good taste. Lately she’s gotten into photography. I bought her a Nikon D200 for Christmas. She practically fainted.
– Roland August
I’m so excited about the way the world is opening up for Chelsea. She’s always been a very serious girl, but lately she’s been brighter. I had hoped she’s make more friends in high school, she’s so pretty. But she was always studious and a homebody. She spent a lot of time alone. We got her a therapist, and that seemed to help her open up more. She’s embraced college and has some good friends now.
– Anne August
The patient, Chelsea August, began treatment four years ago for mild to moderate chronic depression with signs of obsessive compulsive disorder. Patient was prescribed Sertraline. Side effects were minimal, patient reported some initial insomnia that passed within the first three months. Patient continues to report low libido. In her most recent visit the patient expressed concern about this continuing issue. She reported having attempted self-medication with MMDA (Ecstasy) but felt no tangible result. I explained to the patient that her medication would interfere with the effects of MMDA and discouraged her from further use. To address the patient’s concerns I have prescribed mirtazapine. Will see patient again in six weeks to determine the effectiveness of the new medication.
– Dr. Sharon Thewes
In the back of her closet, Chelsea keeps a scrapbook of naked pictures — of herself. I don’t like knowing they’re there. It kind of creeps me out. I didn’t tell anybody though. She’s a decent sister. She gives me rides in her car and she usually doesn’t bitch about it. She’d never rat me out so I won’t either.
– Jake August
Whenever I look at Chelsea, I remember a photograph of my mother, standing next to her first car, a 1967 Ford Mustang. She’s got a hand on the hood and she’s smiling but her eyes are very serious. My mother had flat ironed blond hair though, and Chelsea’s is dark and curly, like Anne’s. The eyes are exactly the same though, green and fierce. She looks people in the eye when they talk to her. So many people can’t handle that. She smiles a lot, and she’s friendly, but if you pay attention, you can see that she frowns for just a moment after she says anything about herself.
– Henry Jarvis
Kali
The High Priestess was sad only a part of the night
The one she had mentored for a season
Was no where in sight
Whatever the matter that stole her attention
The Priestess acknowledged it without dissension
Acknowledged her stage, the Mother, engaged
In finding a path for her children to follow
By hook or by crook her litany they would swallow
Her dishwater hair and her shifting gray eyes
Told the Priestess her will was not strong or wise
Fear ruled her heart, she was dowdy and plain
As if deliberately homely would save her from pain
Even the Shamon was struck by her argument
How strife, and disagreement seemed to lead her to strife
There was nothing discussed upon which she agreed
Hokey Pokey, she declared, leave me to my kitchen ware
I only garden and do what I want when I care, he remembered
Her refusal to don ceremonial dress, she seemed distracted
Removed and depressed.
The Hermit was Kali’s ally. They had things in common that
took them aside. He admired how she kept low key,
disagreeing in silence till all would agree. He like her
Refused to confront, just stepped aside until their way was won
Oh, he could see how she smiled and denied
That she was disgruntled, then they both went inside
The Sorceress knew Kali would not be her friend. Unlike
The Priestess whose heart was her friend, this Kali was aloof
She would not even pretend. No investment from the Sorceress for one who
Was bored stiff and thin, whose goal was not the secret of Abramalin.
[...] 10 Days of Character Building: Building a Character Using Multiple Perspectives [...]
Oh dear, Chelsea’s a bit of a worry, isn’t she?
Hmmm, and so is Kali.