You’ve heard the phrase, “flesh out your characters.” You want to take characters from a room full of stick people to dimensional people. When we do this, our readers begin to imagine their appearance, interests, how they sound and move across the room. When we give characters personality characteristics, if we get it right, our readers begin to talk about them as though they have life. That’s what we aim to do. Give our characters life.

Real-world people fall into categories of personality types, but none of us is a cookie-cutter of another person. Still, we say, “Yeah, I know the type.” And, you do.

We say, “That’s just not like me,” as though there is only one way we can be.

Think of your characters as a type. When they act out-of-character, it will add a surprise for your reader and keep them interested.

Here are 8 ways to give your characters personality:

1. Create characters with different personality types in your work. Think of a party where everyone who comes into the room has their own type and quirks, interests and skills. Some are mentally stable and some are not.
2. To write about an extraverted person, have the character always speak first or take charge of the conversation. Describe her “breezing in from the club and grabbing a bite before dressing up to go out on the town with friends.” In other words, you don’t say the character is extraverted and likes to be around people, you show the character’s actions. Readers will get the type.
3. To convey your character’s introversion type, describe internal dialog the character is thinking. They think before they act. This character would, “sigh a sense of relief to be home after the club meeting and look forward to spending an evening in pajamas reading a book, alone.” Again, we know the type.
4. There is the obsessive type. Remember the old TV show, “The Odd Couple”? One character was obsessively neat, the other not. Describe a character’s unease when he/she notices a picture off-kilter. Always straightening things is another characteristic readers will recognize. This character is good at spotting things out of place.
5. Have characters dialog use, “I think” to convey a person who uses logic and reasoning to make decisions.
6. Have characters use “I feel” to convey a person who incorporates gut feeling and emotions when making decisions.
7. Have your characters report a dream where they see themselves acting out of character.
8. Embellish the characters until they you have a sense of their own style. Think about what interests and hobbies they would have, how they would dress, and what types of people they would like to hang out with.

Once you write about each character, it will be easier for you to weave their personality characteristics into your story. You’ll spontaneously know who talks too much and who is the quieter person. Just like being at the party. We know the types.

Good writing!

Using the “F” word will spice up your writing and give your writing life a lift. Which word am I referring to? Fantasy. What were you thinking?

There are two ways to understand “fantasy” in a writer’s life. Many writers have a fantasy, or perhaps unrealistic expectation, would be a better way of describing their idea of how easily or quickly they will be on the best seller’s list, and of course, their novel will be made into a movie. The second way of looking at fantasy is what I want to bring to your attention in this article. Fantasy is necessary. Fantasy is available and free. Fantasy gives us magical episodes in our stories. Fantasy springs from the mind and comes to life in the mind’s eye.

Think of all the fantasy authors you really like. The usual number is between 5 and 10 (though there’s no accounting for ‘usual’, is there? ;). Now think of all the fantasy authors you’ve read and not liked, or felt neutral about. Big number, isn’t it? Okay – now think of all the authors on all the bookshelves of your local bookstore. No matter the genre, the author needed fantasy to imagine the story, the characters, the whole process of bringing the idea to a shelf in a store.

Something about what fantasy authors do makes us want to write. So, what is it? It is the ability to take every single idea within your imagination and put it down onto paper. In fantasy there are no required character traits, we don’t have to stick to an earth-like geology, we can create new species, people can perform magic, in fact, the rules of the universe don’t even exist. We can do away with gravity or the sun and we can travel as fast as we like, how we like. Basically, any idea inside your head is plausible in fantasy. That gives you a lot of scope.

Apart from the process of using fantasy to write, we have a genre named “Fantasy Literature,” as a distinct type of writing that emerged in Victorian times, with the works of writers such as William Morris and George MacDonald.

Have you noticed that fantasy stories and novels are among the most popular genres for both writers and readers? According to an April 2010 article in Publisher’s Weekly, companies specializing in fantasy and science fiction are opening their doors even in the midst of a general publishing industry slump. With the success of film adaptations of novels like “Lord of the Rings,” many aspiring authors are interested in writing fantasy stories. Fantasy writers take readers on a journey to colorful worlds filled with mythical creatures.

Still, fantasy writing is complex and challenging, but for a reader of fantasy they enjoy for what it is:  Good writing. If the writing is good they will enjoy it, and that is what links them to other readers everyone who reads wants a good book.

Some might say: willingness to bring out the feelings and words, living in our minds, exposing them, revealing ourselves to ourselves and others.

Some might say: a state of dissociated mind where reality is held at a distance and fantasy is invited to play; psychosis.

Some might say: psychological unease is necessary to express angst, sadness, darkness; the ability to wrestle with feelings and wring out of them the words that form bridges to other people who feel similarly.

Some might way: a flow state of mind where words and images mingle; where writing is free-flow, with no form intended.

Some might say: a sense of courage, fearlessness, and bravery to sit down and see what thoughts show up.

Some might say: a mystical state, induced by prayer, meditation, drugs, or psychosis.

But, I think you are enough. You don’t have to be psychotic, addicted, in a suicidal state of despair, or brave to be a creative writer. But, plenty of writers do struggle with intense emotions and succeed at finding the words that touch our pain, too. I guess it shows you don’t have to be happy to write.

Maybe writers we know and love have written great works in those states of mind, but so have writers written good works in a clear state of mind, with intention, integrity, and the discipline of sitting in the chair. I guess it shows you can be happy and write. Some days are clear and sunny; some are rainy and cloudy. We can write in any state, any weather, don’t you think?

Some people need a plan. A time. An intention. Some people need support and other people around. Some need solitude. Probably, a good plan would include all of these.

Start off with writing down what happened today and how you felt about it. If you’re developing characters in your story or novel, you can do this with your characters, too. What do you imagine they would tell you about their day? Write it down. Now you are writing dialog. See how easy that was?

“Tell me about your childhood…” 

First, while parents are held to play a major role in a child’s development, they often play an overlooked role in causing a child to develop a heightened susceptibility to fear. This article does NOT look at this in terms of moral condemnation, but more from a curious attitude. After all, we understand their experiences have been determined by the experience they themselves had as children.

Second, I should offer a disclaimer. By profession and education, I am a psychotherapist with a background in psychology. Thus, my deep interest in behavior, how it arises and how it can be changed, if desired.

Questions

1. What do fears of any kind have to do with childhood and family interactions?
2. Why do people have different intensity of fears?
3. What is the family story?
4. What does “reify” emotions mean?
5. What can I do?

Responses

1. As stated in the opening of this article, examining one’s childhood and family relationships is not a quest to bash the family. It is a possibility, that in becoming curious, you will recall events that were not pleasant. However, is would be remiss to leave out this important part of life if we want to examine any fears, and for our purposes, fears related to writing.

You’ve heard of words such as “bonding” and “attachment” used to understand child/caregiver relationships. The Attachment Theory studies what happens to children who develop an “insecure attachment” to a caregiver in the child’s formative years. One consequence is that the children will become anxious and sensitive to new situations. In normal situations, such as meeting an animal for the first time, they act as though it should be a scary event. In situations that would be described as a “fear-arousing situation,” the child is more likely to respond with intense fear than children who are confident and securely attached to their parents.

2. To add to the “puzzle,” we need to look at the context of the fear and how the fear may be compounded. For example, a person is afraid when alone and at nighttime, he hears noises in the house. There is more than one component to his fear. But, which one will she focus on? Which one will warrant therapy? Is it being alone? In the house? Nighttime? Hearing noises in the house? Or the person’s perspective?

Let’s look at the complexity of fear of writing or writer’s block. A person sits down with the intention of writing but doesn’t write. If this continues, coined expressions, “writer’s block,” may the self-explanation. Many people would say that they have developed a phobia about writing. In other words, they would explain the blank screen or blank page as the object that elicits such fear they can only sit, but not write. Again, which will the writer focus on? The blank page or screen? The chair, the time of day, the writing topic? The pen?

Rarely, does the writer think of examining childhood.

3. How many times have I heard, “I had a wonderful childhood!” as a defensive answer to questions about childhood? So, I ask them to draw stick figures (you can do this, too), labeling who is who and then answering the questions: what did the grown-ups argue about? Nag each other about? Complain about you? What did you think they thought about you?

Common themes usually emerge: money, chores, fights about…and sometimes the family story reveals breakups, leavings, death, feeling or knowing you were unwanted.

The parents tell convincing stories about how they are all good and the child is troubled. The child is faced with the dilemma of believing him/her self or going along with the parent’s story. Believe me, this one can cause internal conflict.

If the family story is negative about a person, this can generalize to lack of confidence in saying what is on their mind, even a story of poem. After all, repression is not selective.

4. There is a tendency to reify emotions, especially uncomfortable ones. For example, instead of describing the situation in which a person experiences fear, the person is said to “have” a fear. Do you hear the difference? Instead of a person describing a situation in which he/she felt anxious about writing, he/she is said to have a phobia about writing or writer’s block.

5. Write about what you can’t write about. Adopt a curious attitude and explore the questions I’ve raised. You don’t have to change anything, but you may find your attitude about what is true for you will become precious.

I have been working from home for about 15 years now, and there are many benefits, but there are also many unseen problems. Today I am going to shed some light on a few of them I’ve learned the hard way.

Always Being at Work

The main problem with working from home is that you are technically always at your work site. You sit down to eat lunch, the phone rings, you’re expected to “be at work” and answer the phone. Then your mind begins a battle, “everyone deserves a lunch break” versus “what are you thinking, answer the phone, this is what clients do – they call you for an appointment.” It becomes very hard for your mind to separate work time and leisure time. Throw in writing time and it can result in more mind conversations that keep you busy but not a lot gets accomplished. “I’ll write during commercials” was one myth I told myself.

Another problem with working from home is that stuff needs doing at home. It makes me wonder how I ever got it all done before I began working from home. Anyway, if you’re considering working from home or you already are, you know how the many tasks pulling at us can make us scatterbrained. There’s always something to catch our attention.

Ready, Set, Where Did I Put….?

If you do work and write from home, aim to take breaks between writing times.  Take a catnap. It sounds counterintuitive but it works. Rest, physical exercise, a little house cleaning, can make you feel better and help your mind calm down.

Okay, you’re ready to get started and write a novel in one night. What did you name your document? Where are your notes? Even the most organized among us looses things. When you are on your own, working from home, it can be easy to slip into putting things off when you can’t find what you’re looking for. However, here’s a tip for that situation. Always have more than one project going on. Can’t remember the name of one document? Begin another one or pick up where you left off on the story you were writing yesterday. Chances are, while you are writing something else, the name of your saved document will come to you.

Not Real Work

Despite the popularity of working from home, especially for writers, a lot of people still don’t recognize writing as “real work.” They don’t think twice about dropping by or, more likely, sending 50 texts about nothing so you won’t “get bored working by yourself.” Yikes! Don’t expect them to understand that distractions are like a two-year-old pulling at your ankles to a scatterbrained writer. Those same people don’t understand why there are houses called “writer’s cabins” and “writer’s retreats” for people to get away. “Can’t you just sit and write at home?” they will ask.

As you know, writing is real work. It extracts every emotion you have. The act of writing will work your facial muscles as though they are in Olympic training as you frown, freeze, squint and smile in front of a blank piece of paper or computer screen.

Are You A Morning or Night Writer?

You already know the answer to this question. I would love to be a morning writer. When I was a doctoral student, I tried very hard to be an early morning writer/reader, but I would find myself staring off into space not remembering a thing I had read. My body rhythm is basically set to the 3-11 shift. Sometimes I have to write against my “grain” but given a choice, I’ll save writing until night. How about you? If you naturally wake up early with a lot of energy, feeling alert and fresh, chances are you could write best in the morning hours. You’re one of those people I yearned to be because I thought it would be easier to get up an hour earlier and get a lot of work done. It wasn’t for me but it might be your golden hours.

Whatever your natural body energy rhythms, if you set those hours as your writing time, and guard against distractions, you will write more in the creative zone than the scatterbrained zone.  

The Value of Being a Scatterbrained Writer

In closing, I began this article with the dangers of being a scatterbrained writer. However, I know there is value in being a scatterbrained writer, too.  I’ll include myself in this group. We notice a lot of things, don’t we? Overheard conversations, a look we see one person give another, birds outside the window, a whiff of smells in a restaurant…they all get put into our writer’s compost pile to be used later. Writing dialogue, describing scenes and characters are often nourished by these snippets of saved experiences.

Patricia Brawley is a licensed therapist, consultant, and writer’s coach. After 20+ years of practicing meditation, she embraces the scatterbrained nature of mind.

Hey, I know you!

I don’t have to own a crystal ball to know what writers (that’s you and me) want. We want “someone” to send us large checks, praise our writing, send us large checks, connect us with publishers who will send us large checks, and provide us a fantasy editor to make our writing better to earn even more large checks.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we want a quick response every time we send our work, too. No matter if it is snail mail, we check the mail the next day. If it is email, we check our email messages, incessantly. We hate waiting and we can get moody, bossy, paranoid, spend hours daydreaming about catastrophes (the mail plane crashed, the editor’s office caught fire, computer crashed…), develop tics and twitches, and nightmares added in for good measure.

The poor people “on the other side!” They have to serve as professional editors, mini-publishers, spend their already stretched time and console each person attached to a manuscript. No wonder it’s difficult to get them to see us as we really are, the most talented writer they’ve read! And not as, “Oh, no, another one. What was I thinking?”

How trusting are we? Depends, doesn’t it? We’ve sent our work out to be read and judged, compared to everyone in the world, and we sit waiting, trying not to lunge for the phone to “check on things.”

And then. We hear back. Whew! or What?!

After the shock settles in that our manuscript was not perfect and we can read the comments and suggestions for corrections without emoting over every mark, there is The Choice. Do you have the confidence that you can revise your text or the energy to do so?

Short of hiring a cheering squad to parade through your office, cheering,”You can do it! Y.O.U.” Gather up your feelings, see the therapist, and then get to work – again. But, isn’t that what it’s all about? The publishers are not our projections of saviors, father or mother figures, authority figures. They are real people with real jobs that serve the writers and the public. They long for us to succeed.  Their projections go the other way – we’re “their” writer. Perhaps they see us as the bad boy or the woman-who-reminds-me-of-my-mother. It takes time to find our roles, our footing.

Let’s try to not become infantilized or act out our teenage ways of controlling people.

I say, stick with your Muse. Perhaps your Muse comes in the form of an editor, a publisher, a friend, a coach. Most of all, your Muse is an inner guide, the voice that shows you the way, and then vanishes so you can shine.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

One of the challenges of writing is aligning your aspirations with your circumstances. It requires identifying what you want to achieve and then learning to get what you want.

Some people write like maniacs and then collapse; others put it off altogether and feel like failures. If only…becomes a mantra. If only I had more time…if only I didn’t feel pain when I sit too long…

Everyone has special circumstances. What are yours? Maybe it’s time to take a closer look at what you really want now, at this stage of your life. Perhaps writing the bestselling novel is not so interesting to you anymore. What’s more interesting to you now? Poetry? Exploring your inner world by journaling?

Aspirations change. Don’t hang on to them just because you always have.  What’s important is that you write what’s in your heart, that you listen to your Muse, and set up a lifestyle that will bring your aspirations into the world. We need them.

Step 1: Look at your patterns of writing (or not writing). Notice your thoughts or complaints if you overdo or not do any writing. If you feel stuck, examine what you are afraid of. What are you avoiding?

Step 2: Learn and apply pacing. Pacing has rhythm. It’s not jitterbug all day long and it’s not all slow dancing, either. It’s a little bit of both. I suggest you keep a diary of your day, analyze your energy, moods, and practices/behaviors. Why? Because we’re going to do things backwards by resting before writing.

Step 3: Set your intentions to write for xxx minutes a day. I suggest 20 minutes at a time. Rest 15 minutes before writing. Then write for 20 minutes. At the end of 20 minutes, you may want to rest again or do something else (for 10 minutes). You may find keeping a book or magazine where you rest will give you something to look forward to during your breaks. Rinse, repeat.

Step 4: A frequent changes of activity gives the body and mind a break and helps you get a lot done, especially writing. Learn what activities come easy to you, such as taking a walk. Learn which ones sap your strength, such as riding in a car for 3 hours.

Step 5: Bonus. To keep the mind relaxed and ready to receive your Muse’s inspirations, take frequent deep breathing breaks. Mindfully, notice how your feel and what thoughts are floating through your mind. This breathing break will provide you renewed energy for your next activity. Make a reminder for yourself to do this during your day.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

I love Richard Outram’s book of poetry about an elephant named Mogul who met a terrible fate and died. Actually, he had already met a terrible fate before his death. Mogul was part of a circus, mistreated and betrayed. In 1836, the circus animals and handlers were on a ferry boat off the coast of New Brunswick when a fire broke out. I can only imagine the terror that shone in the eyes of man and beast, alike. Many animals were too dangerous to unleash, like the large cats. The roar of fire and screams must have mixed in with the smoke that left a trail of sadness, leaving an imprint that we look at delicately because to get close is to risk feeling overwhelmed with sadness.

It was written that Mogul broke his tether, and already blind in one eye, made his way to the rail of the listing ship where some people had lowered themselves into lifeboats. What a frightening sight it must have been to look up and see Mogul trumpeting and pushing against the railing. In a wink, he fell through the railing straight into their boats, drowning them.

One of Outram’s poems is titled, “Mogul’s Orrery.” An orrery is a model representing the solar system. You may have seen them in planetariums. How does Outram use the concept here?  He writes,

“Mogul has an orrery, not, granted, of clockwork.
Deep-sunk in his skull, forever implanted there.”

We all have an orrery or something our lives revolve around. Is it work? Drugs and alcohol? Family? What is the center of your orrery/life? What place does writing have in your world? Is it the center of your world, or is it out in the universe waiting to be discovered? Your answer to this question can affect the whole model, just as one orbit can affect the whole solar system.

Mogul’s tethered world was defined by others; his death, recorded by one newspaper journalist.

Whether it’s ten minutes a day or hours on end, you have the freedom to find your own world through writing. Through your writing, you can set in motion your orrery that will leak into the universe of language that lasts for eternity.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

Can you believe it’s almost Spring? Winter never really came to Southern Mississippi this year. I hope this doesn’t mean another scorching summer because my muse wants to hide from the sun and stay out of the heat! Do you have a favorite writing season? I’d love to hear about your preferences, or if weather has any effect on your writing?

A lot of you know I went to Big Sur, California earlier this month. It’s been my favorite place for a long time. I always feel inspired by the beauty of the landscape and coastline, but most of all, the Pacific Ocean. There’s something here that means “freedom” to me. Most of all, I feel relaxed. Even if I bring work with me, I get it done without the sighs I hear myself making when I’m feeling stressed.

Maybe like you, when I relax, I let myself remember my desires and goals in life. I feel aligned. You may wonder what alignment has to do with anything besides getting tires balanced.

For me, alignment has other names. Perhaps you will resonate with one of these simple phrases: feeling good, in the zone, all is right with the world, positive things flow into our writing and our lives, including money.

When we are out of alignment, we feel it. Nothing seems to go right, we feel frustrated, stressed, stuck and our creativity well has dried up. Our Muse has gone into hiding. Judgment is impaired. When we have the least energy, we push ourselves to do more. But, you know what happens. More of the same.

Like tires, we need balancing to get into alignment. Everyone has an idea of what they need to do. Really. Some things, like my trip to Big Sur, cost time and money, but I relax and feel free from stress. I feel at home without all the chores of home, if that makes any sense.

But, other things, just as relaxing, do not cost money. Getting out of the house to take a drive or take a walk to clear your mind are mostly free. Some people get back on track by taking a meditation break, perhaps with incense to clear the senses. Hum a song, eat and enjoy something you love. You get the idea. I crave the sight of water. I don’t want to get in the water. Just the sight or sound of water tips me more toward alignment.

How about you? Why not make a list of things to do that entice you to feel happy? Once you are in alignment, you are ready to remember how to write what your Muse told you. You didn’t forget how to tap into the Muse. You were sidetracked. As you learn how to relax, you’ll remember more and more.

So, take time daily to align your energy with your Muse.

Want to know more about getting aligned with your Muse? I’ll be letting you know about a complimentary teleclass called, “Attracting Your Muse: How to tap into creative energy and write from your heart.”

When you get my email with this information, please feel free to invite your friends. It’s free!

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

Who is Janus? Our first month, January, is named from this ancient god of beginnings. His two faces, one facing forward and one backward, remind us to not only look ahead this year, but also remember whence we came. We are always coming from somewhere and changing.

What are your plans for the year? I like the idea of always having a fresh start, a blank slate, starting over. In sports psychology, the words “start over” give the player a sense of relief and renewed focus, forgetting past mistakes. Can you use that phrase with your plans for the year? If you’ve been putting your plans to write on hold, perhaps this will be the year you start over.

Janus is also called the god of doorways. Standing in a doorway, metaphorically, gives you a vantage point to see where you’ve been and look ahead to where you want to go. Writing out your plans for the year starts your move toward your goals.

Writing is full of transitions, from paragraphs to pages. But, the transitions in your life/mind/soul as a result of writing cannot be counted in word count and page numbers.

If you’d like to become part of this deeper conversation about writing, I’d be honored to hear from you.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.