Getting to know the players

Over the past week or so I've been working on the character profiles for my work in progress, and it's been one of the most worthwhile uses of my writing time since I finished that first draft oh so many months ago. I'd already had a good idea of most of my protagonist's back story, but it's been great to finally put a face to the name. However, the main benefit is I feel like I've finally gotten to meet the other characters for the first time. By casting actors to each part, giving them psychological Myers Briggs profiles and giving them a back story and motivations, I've come to know them on a whole new level. Additionally, it's helped me see certain things that need to change; actions that were out of character that have to go, and scenes that add character depth that need to be added. In fact many of the key moments will have to change. But I know that the characters and as a result the story itself will be better for it.

On that subject, allow me to introduce one of the main characters. Billy 'Stutterer' Ford (played by Coby Bell, who you may know better as 'Jesse' from Burn Notice) comes onto the scene early on in the book, and is the closest thing that John, the protagonist has to a friend. As I wrote the draft Stutterer stood out to me as the person I would most want to spend time hanging out with. In a world turned upside down, he's one of the precious few that didn't have an agenda. However, it was only after the dust had settled and I explored his back story that I learned why. I won't bore you with the full biography, but suffice to say he had a rough upbringing, bouncing around the foster care system. It was tough, but he was one of the lucky ones. He had a mentor, a role model. Someone who showed him that there was more to life than the fighting and chaos that surrounded him, that it was possible to rise above it. He'd already had enough scars to ensure that a 'normal' life was never an option, but he learned that in his own little way, he could help. He didn't have to be a selfish jerk to survive. And as a result, he could have something that was more valuable. Self-respect. When he meets John, he recognises someone who's more messed up than he is and, just as that mentor did for him, he becomes the friend that John desperately needs. 

And that's where the story kicks off, so you'll have to read the book to find out the rest. I currently have three final profiles to finish off, a structural edit, and then I believe I'll be ready to have the story professionally edited, before November and the joyful chaos of NanoWrimo comes round again.