From observation to character

I could be wrong, but I think it's my day to blog. In case I'm wrong, please forgive and the rightful blogger can have my day.

My yard is full of birds. Every tree branch, and especially the deep recesses of the big pine trees, is adorned with puff balls of feathers. They flutter and squabble over the bird feeders, peck frantically at the snow under the feeders, and line the fence tops. They flit in waves from one side of the yard to the other. We have large windows that look out over our back yard and there’s a tall Blue Spruce just outside my office window providing me with a great view. I like watching the birds and noticing the way some stick together in cliquish groups, others are loners, some are excitable, and others never appear flustered. I like the little sentinel that perches atop the highest tip of a tree and offers a frantic signal if a hawk ventures near. I laugh at the greedy little gobblers who don’t want to share. I’ve observed the way even the smallest birds puff out their feathers and become fat balls when the day is cold. Some birds are easily identifiable as doves, sparrows, etc, but some appear to be strange mixtures like red-breasted chickadees, black-topped finches---and there’s that predatory hawk. I know he has to eat too, but I can’t help feeling sad each time he makes lunch out of one of the smaller birds.

Another writer and I observed during a recent book signing at a busy book store that watching people is a lot like watching birds and it’s an essential part of being a writer. To write about people a writer must first observe them. Some are puffed up with importance, some are timid and shy, some are rushed and rude, and some curious, funny, or friendly. They have interesting mannerisms, distinctive speech patterns and vocabularies, and an endless variety of physical characteristics.

Character development in writing involves more than displaying the thought processes or physical characteristics of a character. Though these are important, for a character to feel real to readers he/she must first become real to the writer. More than whether or not a character has brown eyes or blue, red or blonde hair, a cute cleft in his chin, dimples, or fat or skinny lips we need to know his/her mannerisms, personality, strengths, weaknesses, trust worthiness, ethics, and a sense of where this person fits in his/her world. People watching is a good place to start getting to know how people walk, dress, talk, gesture and do so many of the actions that signal a person’s character, mood, and feelings. This is often referred to as body language. Body language usually tells us more than a person’s words about a person and these little give-away signals need to be stored away in a writer’s mind, then brought forth in our characters to give them life.

Staring isn’t nice, but being observant is just fine. Just as watching the antics of our backyard birds has brought me some pleasant moments, a few surprises, and much enjoyment, watching people has gifted me with some tender moments, some sadness, a few chuckles, and a greater awareness of the people who make up this vast world and the pages of the many books that have brought me great pleasure. I believe watching both birds and people has enhanced my ability to create believable people. Even the hawk has his place.