Jamie Provencher

If you’ve been following along, the last several days we’ve discussed both portable (journals) and semi non-portable writing instruments (word processors), a place to start from (idea), survival kids, and reward systems.  If you’ve just joined us, check back to the stickied blog for an outline (with links) to the 12 days of #Preptober.

Today, let’s discuss the main character (MC).  Keep in mind, this is not a series about writing an amazing novel.  We are in rough draft mode and not only that, but we are in crunch mode.  You have 30 days to write 50k which more or less is a good start as a rough draft.

Everyone struggles with different things.  We will discuss roadblocks in a later #Preptober post, but one of my major roadblocks is the MC.

You might be asking, wait, the MC?  Just make it up as you go along.

Dude, the last time I did that, I ended up naming a MC after myself (couldn’t think of a name off the top of my head) and now I would love to CHANGE the MC’s name but haven’t been able to find a name that fits because I wrote the ENTIRE book using my own name.

Besides your basic idea/plot, your other biggest pull in your story is going to be your MC.  It pulls your reader further into your book, but also, it pulls YOU further into your book.  Your MCs are what push you along.  You want to tell their story.

But, who are they?

Here are some basic things you may want to start thinking about now so you don’t spend precious Nano time on it later.

Main Character Building Sheet

• Name: I can literally procrastinate/delay writing for months on this one.  I already told you my above story about what happens when you pick on in haste lol.
• Age:
• Basic Description: Can’t tell you how much time I waste wondering the color of my MC’s hair.. and then having to reread sections because I forgot how I described it before
• Strengths: (Three strengths are always good.  If they are personality strengths, ever decision the character makes should be run against these to make sure they are staying true – and not just doing what the author needs them to do to move the story along)
• Weaknesses: (Don’t know any: just give them 3.  You’d be surprised out something so random can really shape your character)
• Desire: (What does she want/need?)

As you move through your story, sure this character sheet will evolve.  Maybe will even change depending on how much you MC derails your story (which will be A LOT).  But the goal is to go in with something (not everything) so that you don’t feel like giving up on Day 1.