At some point every writer is told to ‘interview the characters’. This sage advice has been doled out at every stage of the writer’s process, from story development to promotional efforts for a published work. But what does it mean, and is it actually helpful?
Writers often live quite happily in alternate universes. We play in places that others may never see. We’re comfortable, even content, with our ‘imaginary friends’.
So interviewing a character isn’t such a farfetched concept. Writers will embrace the adventure and eagerly sit down, ready to play scribe for the heroes and heroines of our own design.
At the budding of a story, character interviews can be a wondrous time of discovery, whether or not the character is feeling chatty. In the midst of a saggy middle, a pertinent q and a session may just unlock the secret that instantly tones up the prose.
In writing a series, questioning a character can reveal new insights, giving the writer a chance to explore deeper motivations or reactions, bringing that character into better focus for the writer and the reader.
As a promotional tool, character interviews can give the reader a little ‘extra’ – a behind-the-scenes sort of bonus readers can enjoy when they find a character they connect with.
There are books on writing that cover character interviews and character development in great detail. Or you can wing it when your critique partner or writer’s group suggests it. You might even try modeling an interviewer with an approach you admire. (i.e. What would Cronkite ask your alpha heroine?)
However you go about it, character interviews can be helpful for any point in the writing process, especially when you go into it with a good attitude and a healthy dose of humor. Those imaginary friends usually have a great deal to say and most of it will surprise you.
Just remember, it’s not really talking to yourself when your characters answer with specific and strong opinions on everything from favorite color to least favorite vegetable. So ‘be not afraid’ and give yourself permission to enjoy the experience.
Live the adventure!
