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Sherlock Holmes. Huckleberry Finn. Captain Ahab. Anna (with an “e”). These characters shaped our childhood, our education and to some extent our lives.
Character Chart
Book characters are like immortal friends, right? I have to admit, I’m always sad when the book ends and the time spent with those friends is over. (Okay, maybe not so much with Captain Ahab…but with Anna!)
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Yes, the characters that connect us to the book. If you want your child to love reading, teach him to behave in a way that is worthy of love. And if he doesn’t find someone he likes, keep trying!
I remember when I taught fourth grade, one of my students was a particularly reluctant reader. Then, one day, he took the book to BREAK. Reading. I almost passed out. What caused this sudden change? He was introduced to…wait for it…the Captain’s underwear. Hey, whatever he does.
So, the next time you sit down to read a book with your kids or start a novel with the class, take the time to talk about the characters. Here are two ideas to help you do this:
We hope these ideas get your kids reading their books for fun in no time…even if you just watch George and Harold show off their headmaster outfits.
Share Your Character (mcd’s) Alignment Charts
Look for the next article in this character series: Bringing characters to life with the Wax Museum. Last week, I shared ten questions to ask your characters to make sure your supporting cast is as well-rounded as your main character. But this is only one stage of development of novel actors. Now that we know who each character is, what they want, and what their role is in the story, it’s time to figure out how they relate to each other. How to Create a Character Interaction Diagram To begin, list the names of all the characters in the left column and top row, starting with the main character. Read on to find out how this character interacts with other characters; Read below to see how others perceive the character. The above example is very simple so I can show you how to read the diagram. Now to detail what happens in each box… 1) Communication. Specify the main nature of the relationship between the parties. Just don’t use words like “brother” or “neighbor” or “wife”. Although descriptive, this definition says nothing about the characters’ personal relationships. Instead, define the relationship with the following words: partner, enemy, friend, lover, rival, etc. Most importantly, brothers can be both allies and enemies. Also, note that relationships change over time; Two brothers can start out as enemies and become allies, or two colleagues can start out as friends and become lovers. Another thing to consider is that characters can see their relationship differently. One may think they are dating, while the other thinks they are just friends with benefits. So the chart has two corresponding cells for each relationship – one for each character’s POV.
2) Behavior. How do the characters behave around each other? Some examples are friendly, hostile, loving, dismissive, caring, suspicious, etc. As with relationship status, this behavior can change over the course of the event. Also note if there is a difference in behavior when two characters are alone in a group. 3) Comments. What do the characters think of each other? This, of course, can significantly change their behavior. As we all know, people often hide their feelings for someone (i.e. hate that person and plan their death when they are friends), but of course you, the writer, need to know the truth. How to Use a Character Interaction Chart A story is a series of conflicts between characters. Charting your character interactions is an easy way to see if you have enough conflict. When I first created this diagram, I realized that there was a conflict between the main character and the antagonist, but there was little conflict between my main character and the other characters. Not surprisingly, my first experiences have changed a bit. And this diagram allows us to see that conflicts need not be openly hostile; it may be a hidden difference of opinion or unusual behavior. And last but not least, make sure that all of this conflict affects the main character’s journey.
Finally, use this character interaction chart to make sure there is enough conflict between the characters to move the story forward. And what about you, writers? Do you use diagrams to plan character interactions? Or do you have a different system? Let me know in the comments!
Heather is a freelance screenwriter, playwright and author based in Toronto. For more information, visit her website at heatherjacksonwrites.com or follow her on Twitter @HeatherJacksonW View all writing by Heather Jackson
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