Behind the Tweet: Buying Jewelry for Characters

This week's "Behind The Tweet" is about a tweet I posted last night.

Just bought a necklace for the main character in my work in progress. Iron chains on silver. Think Ruby will let me wear it?

I was shopping with girlfriends at Shecky's, a traveling shopping event for women. The moment I saw this necklace, I knew it was meant for Ruby (the main character in the book I am working on right now). She would desire the bright, modern silver--but the dark chains are her reality.

Yes, I bought something for someone who only exists in my imagination! It sounds a little strange, but I'm in good company. About six years ago, I was lucky enough to hear Paula Danziger speak at a Florida SCBWI conference. She talked about going to inexpensive accessory stores and buying baubles for her characters. She'd wear them as she wrote, or keep them near (or above) her writing area for inspiration. Paula said it helped her to connect to the characters, to make them three dimensional. As anyone who's read her books knows, she was expert at making unique and vibrant characters. So I don't mind trying one of her tricks!

I'll wear this necklace the next time I write, and when I'm not wearing it I think I'll hang it on the bulletin board above my desk--maybe next to the little chain of paper Tibetan prayer flags that I strung up there a few weeks ago. I know that's what Ruby would want me to do!

PS - If this necklace speaks to you, too, you can buy it from the designer (KT Collection) online.