Last week I met up with friend and fellow writer Melissa Morgan
in the beautiful village of Betws y Coed in Snowdonia.
Meeting up with Melissa is always a treat and, as ever, was
never long enough. We covered some wide ranging topics but inevitably came back
to writing so I was in good hands when I raised a dilemma I have with a
character in my current work in progress.
Getting to know characters is a gradual process for both
reader and writer. Like new acquaintances, it takes a certain amount of time
and trust before secrets and private thoughts are revealed but it is essential
that those inner feelings are revealed or how else can we understand and empathise
with the characters and their situations?
The trouble begins when a character is keeping secrets and
the only solution is to ‘dig deep’ into a character’s past and current
predicament. Simply discussing it with a trusted and respected friend who doesn’t
blink twice when I say that my current hero (does sound a bit flighty?!) is
keeping secrets is a treat. Throw in lunch, some beautiful scenery and it made a perfect recipe for wonderful afternoon. Thanks, Melissa!
