| As writers, we tend to be a visual lot. But how | | | | method for choosing her character's looks that, I |
| far does that visualization go toward seeing your | | | | felt, would have made it difficult for me. You see, |
| characters? | | | | when my friend writes her characters, she |
| Can you completely see every character in your | | | | chooses film and television stars that she feels |
| mind's eye? Do you need hits? Do they look like | | | | would best play the role should Hollywood pick up |
| or resemble a real person? | | | | the book for a film. Every last character is chosen |
| My method varies between them all although, to | | | | this way. I found it difficult to write without |
| a lesser degree, the third. Once I have a name, I | | | | describing the real person exactly and thusly felt |
| can pretty well see the person behind it. I will | | | | that I wasn't being true to the work. Having said |
| automatically know what color hair and eyes and | | | | this, I have two characters in an as yet unrealized |
| what body type they will have. I will know their | | | | novel that are based on actors. One is a female |
| likes and dislikes. | | | | that a particular actress, in laid back photos, has |
| Sometimes I might need a little push. In this case | | | | the perfect look for. Will I describe her exactly? |
| I go to my trusty box of pictures I've cut out of | | | | Probably not. She merely has the right look. A |
| magazines, newspapers and such. In this case, it's | | | | male character is written with a particular actor's |
| usually a certain feature I can't quite grasp. I have | | | | style in mind, not necessarily his look. There is |
| scraps with only eyes, mouth or a forearm on | | | | just something about him that would work for |
| them for reference. | | | | this character. In not choosing to write the |
| At one time, I was to write a novel with a friend. | | | | descriptions exactly as the person appears, I |
| She had already laid out the plot, characters and | | | | have given myself some leeway. |
| setting. The idea was that she felt I was better | | | | There are many ways we can go about finding |
| at description and she insisted on writing all the | | | | the right description for our characters. What are |
| dialog. Not a bad idea in theory. But she had a | | | | yours? |