When you put people in your story, there is a balance: don't put too many lunatics in your story that the reader can't tell which character they should trust. Conversely, don't make all of your characters too normal, or people will get too bored. Characterization is a delicate dance of balance and contrast.
So, how do we do that? How do we make characters interesting without making them unrealistic? Simple...
We interview them!
As much as it sounds like schizophrenia, interviewing your characters will give you a feel for what they are like as people. This not only keeps you from creating characters that sound like yourself, but it will also allow you to discover what that character is like. Only when we find out what a person is like can we see what they most like will do in the future.
So, without further ado, I would like to meet
Bud Floyd Patches
(Due to vagrant nature, picture not available)
Name: Bud Floyd Patches
Real Name: Andrew Floyd Smith
Age: 27
Occupation: free loving nomad/writer
Appearance: Short hair, average height, stocky, blue eyes, skin gets darker as the longer he chase’s summer.
Author’s note: At this point author will cease to describe Bud, and Bud will be answering the following questions.
What is your favorite sound? A bunch of people singing out of tune around a fire.
What was your childhood like? We were upper middle class. My dad was gone for half the year. My parents were opposites. So when my dad came home, they’d always argue about how to raise us right. Lots of yelling, no resolution, many broken dishes. In the end, mom would win, and dad would say “happy wife, happy life”. We were never hungry, never had to work for much. However, the house was weird… like there was always some sort of tension ready to snap if Mom wasn’t happy… My sister, a fervent AAer, recently said our house was “Alcoholic by nature”… meaning we never knew what to expect. I’m only beginning to understand what that means.
What would you do if you had $100 in your pocket? Buy a train ticket to somewhere and see who I would meet and how far I could get before I needed to turn back.
Your favorite curse word? Shit
What is your favorite physical trait about yourself? Right now, my beard. I’m going to see how long it will get before it reaches “creepy stalker” status.
What is your favorite non-physical trait about yourself? Conversation. Nuns, hippies, atheists… I can talk with anyone. Someone once asked me if I met a stranger in my life. I think I responded with: “Yes… but then he told me to get in the van…’ J
Do you believe in God? Yes… my faith is extremely personal, but if you want to hear about it, I be happy to conversate over a beer or smoking hookah.
What’s your dream? I’m livin’ it bro… travel the world, no cares, no nothin’…
What’s your favorite joke? “What do you call a fish with no eyes? ‘FSH!’”
What’s your favorite book? Other than the bible, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
What do you think is the biggest problem with people today? Dude… they don’t dance as much as they should. Have you ever been angry and dancing at the same time? I think not…
Role model? Jack Kerouac… or Amelia Earhart... that chick who left in a plane and never came back.
Do you do drugs? Why would I do drugs? I’m like this SOBER!
Are you a morning person? Yes… that’s when I’m the freshest… and when all the good restaurants throw out the crap from the night before. Dumpster diving, here I come!
What do you hate the most? Those who are not genuine… like politicians or models.
Ever plan to get married? Someday… if I ever find a girl who likes to be a nomad, has all her teeth, and doesn’t mind that I occasionally smell funky.
What do you think happens after you die? A big adventure mixed with hallucinations and talking to my dead friends, man....
Maybe something like this...
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