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| Create a Memorable Character with THE DIAMOND FAN | |  by Cher Gorman
Okay, let’s be honest, there are many, many different ways to create characters. Some authors begin with a character’s name, others have a scene pop into their head from the ether or discover their characters in a dream, or they might build characters through a composite of people they know, or from a line of dialogue they heard in a movie or perhaps they eaves dropped on a conversation in the check out line at the grocery store. But despite how or where a writer finds their story people one thing is universal when writing commercial fiction, characters in a book must have goals, motivations and conflicts. A new innovative way of creating characters is called The Diamond Fan.
In October 2006 I have a collaborative non-fiction book called Ten Steps to Creating Memorable Characters being released in print by Watson-Guptill publishing. My writing partners, Lucynda Storey, Sue Viders and Becky Martinez and I pioneered some “new” words for the standard, GMC (Goal, Motivation and Conflict) that we know are essential in writing commercial fiction. Our “new” words are Crusade (Goal), Cause (Motivation) Complication (Conflict) Change (Growth)--our 4 C’s.
From the 4 C’s, Lucynda had the brilliant idea of making a fan called THE DIAMOND FAN. This fan is quite handy for writers because you can pop it into your purse or pocket. While you’re sitting in a doctor’s waiting room, sipping a latte at a coffee shop or occupying a seat on an airplane, you can use the fan to begin building characters for your next book or strengthen the characters in your current work in progress.
The following is listed on the front of the individual sections:
Title:
CRUSADE: What end result (goal) is the character trying to achieve?
1- Externally
2- Internally
CAUSE: Why (Motivation) does the character want this crusade so badly?
1- Externally
2- Internally
COMPLICATION: What obstacles or stumbling blocks (conflict) stand in the way of the character achieving his/her goal?
1- Externally
2- Internally
CHANGE: How has this character grown or changed (Growth) by the
end of the story?
1-Externally
2-Internally
The last card contains the name of our book, table of contents, our names, and
contact information.
The opposite side explains how the DIAMOND FAN works by using examples from two popular movies, Star Wars and Working Girl. For this article, I am going to use character examples from two of my books, WOLF ISLAND, a gothic/suspense and SEDUCTIVE REASONING, a contemporary romance. Devlin Morgan is the hero from Wolf Island. Kate Summers is the heroine from Seductive Reasoning.
Each of these characters journeys through the four diamond points or “4 C’s” and
as a result of their experiences they emerge a better person.
Let’s start with Devlin.
CRUSADE: What end result (goal) is my character trying to achieve?
Devlin’s external crusade is to catch the killer terrorizing Wolf Island.
Devlin’s internal crusade is to be better than his past.
CAUSE: Why (Motivation) does my character want this crusade (goal) so badly?
Devlin’s external cause is because ten years before a brutal/rape murder nearly destroyed the island’s tourist trade and he cares about the island and the villagers.
Devlin’s internal cause is that his mother rejected him at birth because his
conception occurred as the result of her rape before the previous rape/murder on the island.
COMPLICATION: What obstacles or stumbling blocks (conflict) get in the way of my character achieving his goal?
Devlin’s external complication or conflict is that the killer wants him dead.
Devlin’s internal complication or conflict is that he has a deeply rooted fear that
he has inherited his father’s violent triggers.
CHANGE: How has my character grown or changed by the end of the story?
Devlin’s external change or growth is that he faces his demons and defeats the
killer.
Devlin’s internal change or growth is that he realizes that his father’s actions, due
to mental illness have nothing to do with him and he frees his soul to love.
Now it’s Kate’s turn.
CRUSADE: What end result (goal) is my character trying to achieve?
Kate’s external crusade is to take her lingerie designs and the astrological signs
that go with them internationally and to meet the man of her dreams.
Kate’s internal crusade is to gain her family’s respect.
CAUSE: Why (motivation) does my character want this crusade or result so
badly?
Kate’s external cause is to be successful and find a man who loves and
understands her.
Kate’s internal cause is that her family believes her business is a frivolous
pursuit.
COMPLICATION: What obstacles or stumbling blocks (conflict) stand in the way of my character achieving her goal?
Kate’s external complication is Professor Seth Fallon. In order to make her
dream come true, she must put her lingerie to the ultimate test and seduce him.
Kate’s internal complication is that Kate’s free spirit and affinity for the stars
oppose her family’s logical, scientific thinking and they have ignored her for most of her
life.
CHANGE: How has my character grown or changed by the end of the story?
Kate’s external change is that she gives up her dream in order to allow Seth to
achieve his.
Kate’s internal change is that she learns that her unconventional views did not intimidate Seth and that he loves her anyway in spite of them. She sees that being a bit strait-laced and keeping both feet on the ground make reaching her dreams easier especially with Seth at her side.
In my opinion, the character fan provides a portable reminder of the basic character ingredients that make a story compelling. If you would like to receive your own fan, please send an e-mail with your mailing address to cher@chergorman.com.
| | Posted on Monday, July 17 @ 00:06:16 CDT by scarlet | | | | | | |
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