How do I get into my main characters head?

Question

He's a sarcastic, blond haired brown eyed jerk, everyone loves him for being funny. He's serious most times, very messy, strong willed, a fighter for sure, and extremely cynical. He's a good liar.

I find it so difficult, because when I think of something to say ("he said, she replied") it doesn't come out as I imagined him saying it. He sounds generic!!!

Any advice??

PS- His name is Alec, and it's an urban fantasy novel :D Thank you!!!

Answer 1

this is your imaginary character right? so you probably know everything about alec's past. try to pretend it all happened to you, and try to feel like he does, like, maybe he is cynical, because he was dissillusioned as a kid when his dog died or something..... yeah, so if you are usually very different from your characte, it can be hard, but you can always base him on your friends:

to be a writer you have to watch people ALL the time.- and not just watch them but you have to try to feel and think how that person feels and thinks, as well as how the people interacting with that person must feel, and why. try doing this as often as possible, in school, on the bus, in a bar or club, playground, nursing home, whatever- the more variety the better. also look at yourself, and why you act the way you do. the more you understand human nature, the better.

if that doesn't help, try watching Gossip Girl, the guys on that show tend to be like how u described alec, lol

good luck ^_^

Answer 2

If you're writing in third person or from the perspective of another character, put it away for a little while. Sometimes you just have to get out of the way you're writing and start writing, even if it's only to understand him but not to use the piece, from that characters perspective.

Answer 3

Try finding movies to watch before you write with similar character types. Not so much the description, but the personality. Some good characters to watch can be found on shows like WEST WING, GILMORE GIRLS, STUDIO 60, these writers on these have done an excellent job with the dialogue and that might help you. FIREFLY is another one. THE OC, the Ryan character would be the closest I would choose to fit your profile.

I do this alot and it has helped on many occasions. They may not be shows you like or would watch, but if you get them on DVD from your library and watch through them, you will see what I mean.

All in the name of research.

Karen Syed

http://www.karensyed.blogspot.com

Answer 4

Do you know of anyone who is similar to Alec? You could model Alec after him/her....

If you want more suggestions you could check out this free writing site that I'm on http://chapteread.com They have cool features. worth checking out!! and good luck.

Answer 5

I found advice I learned in Frey's book, "How to write a d**n good mystery" helpful.

Write a biography of your character.  Include his life story, where he was raised, his parents and siblings, his friends, his family, his school, what events in his life lead to his being the way he is.  

Then write a first-person account from this character's viewpoint.  The character cannot keep any secrets, and must reveal what he knows and thinks and feels.  The character must let it all hang out, including how he feels about other characters and the events in the story.  

Your character might even address YOU, the author, and disagree with you on issues surrounding the book or on things you said in your biography!  ("Now, Nephilim Girl, I know you created me, and you think I'm cynical, but I don't see myself that way, and frankly, I'm pretty mad you say that about me. I'm not cynical, I'm a realist.  And I'm not a fighter, either, like you said I am in your biography, though I know you think I am, I just have to defend myself and I'm not going to take guff from nobody, and I have to deal with rough people daily here...")  

None of this is for direct use in your story, although you may keep it and refer to it if you wish (and expand and modify it if necessary.)  This is to allow you to think with the mind of your character, so that you know the person, so that the person is real to you.

If your character isn't real to you, he won't be real to your readers either.

Answer 6

You don't imagine what it would be like if it happened to you. You and Alec will most likely think and feel things differently.

Your description of him you've written up there- re-write it from his point of view. How might he describe himself? This will help you to get inside his head.