I talked about characters last week, and wanted to continue with some thoughts. First of all, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! to my American friends. 
We have folks from all over the world who read the blog, and I don’t want to leave you out. So I hope you give thanks for all your many blessings too.
As for the characters… I have this terrible urge to go shopping on Black Friday. I don’t really want to buy anything, but I do want to watch the people. Sometimes the best way to give your characters quirks and ticks that bring them to life, is to do some hard core research.
That means people watching, and there’s no better place to do that than the mall or one of those superstores. Or even a truck stop.
I traveled last weekend to Oklahoma City to see my youngest son in his first opera. (The show was AMAZING.) On the way I stopped at a truck stop to use the facilities. As I was walking in a man and a woman were walking out. I assumed she was a waitress there since she had an apron on, and he cook since he wore one too along with a hairnet.
As they walked out I heard her say, “Well, I can’t do it Wednesday cuz I gotta go to court. If I don’t show up every Wednesday, I go to jail.” I’m not kidding. So of course my writer brain went crazy. The woman, had long black hair and a nice build. Her face was probably pretty once, but she had a hard life.
When I came back out they were on the side of the building smoking a cigarette and she looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.
All the way to OKC I wandered what she’d done that she had to go to court every Wednesday? Was it a DUI? Something to do with her kids? Was she in anger management? What had put those lines on her face? And made her voice so sad?
I’m going to be honest with you. My first instinct when I see people like that, is to ask what happened to them. It comes from being a journalist for more than 20 years and knowing that everyone has a story.
That’s the thing about characters in fiction. Even the smallest character has a story. We don’t necessarily need all that information in the actual book, but that back story is what makes the character what she or he is today. Everyone has a story.
So as you go out shopping today, look to your left and to your right. Take a moment to notice the people around you. They may be the stars of your next book. Or at the very least entertain you for a few minutes.
If you need a good laugh, you can check out my new favorite entertainment http://www.peopleofwalmart.com Talk about some characters.
Do you have any funny stories about people you’ve seen, or conversations you’ve overheard in public? Tell me, I’d love to hear them.
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The local Barnes & Noble has become the new pick-up place/meeting spot for blind dates. I love sitting in a cornern with mocha, listening to the conversations.
The weirdiest one was the two business owners on their first date. They were so busy trying to out-boast each other I doubt they made it to the second.
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Suzan, That’s hilarious. I love listening to those kind of conversations. Though, many times, I want to say, “You sound like a crazy person!”