Developing character like an actor

I've been struggling to connect with the main character in my WIP--I can feel myself leaning on sterotypes and easy caricacture rather than developing her as an interesting and unique individual.

Since I love performance and once had ambitions of being the next Julie Andrews (brief, brief ambitions but nonetheless burning), I decided to try finding some videos about how actors develop characters. This helped. A lot. Somehow it's easier to take advice, sometimes, from artists who are NOT in your own field. It forces your brain to churn, to make connections, to make things relevant.

If you find this approach as useful as I do, you may also want to check out the book GETTING INTO CHARACTER, by Brandilyn Collins, which applies acting techniques to developing characters for novels. 

Below are three of the videos that helped me tonight, with a few of my notes about each.

First, actor Estelle Parsons talks about developing character. While I watched, I jotted down a few questions I want to answer about my MC:

• Why am I writing this character? What makes her intriguing enough to me to spend a year, or more, with her?
• Where can I find myself in this character?
• What true and dark parts of myself will I use to write this character?

Next, actor Charlotte D'Amboise talks about developing character through motion. 

After watching this, I want to try WALKING like my character. Sitting like her. Seeing what it feels like to feel like when she lays to sleep at night. How does she hold her body? 

And do I believe what I'm saying, as her voice? 

Finally, acting teacher Howard Fine talks about creating character. Here is some of what I took note of, from this one:

• Get past self-consciousness in portrayal by finding a strong objective
• Never judge your character. Nobody thinks they are a villain.
• Specfics make things resonate for an audience.

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.