Writing Research: Good Characters

For me, the best part of writing is getting into other character's heads and working out what makes them tick. It can be really cathartic to go through someone else's experiences and how they deal (or don't deal) with the problems they encounter. But for some people, creating characters can be a really big hurdle, and there are a few different ways to deal with this.

One that works for many people is planning out their characters backgrounds, details, likes and dislikes, etc. on a character planning sheet. This can be basic details or really in depth. You can use a pre-existing template (easily found with a quick search) or make your own. This can work very well when you have a lot of characters to keep a track of.

I find this doesn't work too well for me, and can often serve as a distraction to actually writing. Now, I tend to do this only for secondary characters, who don't necessarily need a detailed back-story or motivations, but just need to be kept consistent.

My preferred method for developing characters is through writing itself. Some of the early pieces might never make it into the finished piece, but for me, it's the most useful way of getting inside the heads of my characters and working out what makes them tick. Generally I'll be thinking about a character's childhood, or the moment that pushes them to begin their story, or an isolated incident that makes them reflect on or change who they are.

The most frustrating character I have ever had to write was Talli, the protagonist in a project I started for ScriptFrenzy way back in 2011. No matter what I tried, she seemed so boring and lacklustre compared to literally everyone else (including minor characters). While I finished the plot, she still seemed undeveloped and unmotivated, even as she was in the heart of it.

So, what did I do? Essentially, I took a break from her. I developed more of the backstory and followed around the antagonists and worked out what made them and this world tick. I wrote about how and why the events of the story took place, from other people's viewpoints. I worked out some of the more complex entanglements of the plot - information that Talli wasn't privy to. It took me four years to eventually getting back into her head and rewriting the events that she was part of.

But when I finally got there, something clicked for me. Instead of Talli being a character that this 'had to happen to', she became more of a driving force in her own story. Instead of passively reacting to events, she started actively trying to effect and change what was happening to her. By knowing more about why things were happening, and what motivations everyone else had, I had more freedom for her to push against these forces.

Another factor, for me, is that Talli was a character who was meant to be, for lack of a better word, average. The idea meant that she needed to be surrounded by forces that were more powerful than her, and trapped in a seemingly helpless situation that she could eventually triumph over. I strongly believe that back when I started the project, I simply didn't have enough experience to write that in a compelling way, but over time, having experienced similar things and honing my craft, I have learnt how to approach the humanity in 'normal' characters.

So, for writers in similar situations, I would advise trying to come at the world from a different angle. Work out what compels you about this idea, and what different perspectives you can find on it. But don't worry if things don't magically fall into place. Some stories simply don't want to be written now, or not by the person you currently are. Give it time, work on something new, and it will be waiting when you are ready for it.

A Guide to Going to University in London

As my fiancée is currently looking at coming over to London to study as an overseas student, I wanted to write a little something about what to expect from London as a student, and things new students can do to maximise their time here.

Bear in mind that rent will be high. While you might be staying in halls for the first year of your course, it's unlikely that you will have that for the entire course, and renting in the area can often be a similar or lower price than university run halls. The ideal situation is to find a few friends to rent with and split a larger house/apartment between you, saving money over a one bedroom flat and giving you some support and friendship at home.

Travel is also expensive. For most people, public transport will be the best way to get around, and a prepaid Oyster card will be the cheapest way of using the city's buses, trains and underground network. Depending on how far away from campus you are, consider investing in a pass for your Oyster card - not only will you know you can travel to class every day without wondering if it is topped up or not, but if you want to explore the city or pick up a job, it's a good option to save some money.

Check out all the free things! By which, I mean that there is a vibrant museum culture in the city, and all the larger museums (and some of the smaller ones) are free to enter. If you are studying the arts or history, they're invaluable sources of research, too. They can be lovely places to enjoy the culture, out of the loud and crowded streets. Midweek is a great time to go to avoid lots of tourists (unless you're unlucky enough to encounter a school trip.

Do socialise and check out the nightlife! This one might need no prompting for a lot of people, but you should definitely seek to find friends within your course and the wider university. Not only will it make university more fun and a good support network to have when things get hectic, but this might be the last time in your life that you have to socialise outside of a 'professional' setting. It's so much harder to meet new people after university, so take the opportunity. Don't feel pressured to drink, either - any pub or club will be happy to serve you a soft drink or juice instead of alcohol. There are many valid reasons for not drinking - religion, mental and physical health, not wanting to get drunk outside of a safe area or simply not liking the way alcohol makes you feel. Do what you want to do, and if anyone gives you a hard time over it, they probably aren't the friends you wanted to make.

Consider picking up a part time job. This depends on whether you can handle the workload of your course and still spare the time to work, but if you can, it's a good extra stream of income, gives you experience working and you have a set of colleagues outside of university to socialise with. If you aren't particularly hurting for money, I would suggest finding an internship or work placement scheme in your field of study - in most fields, just being a graduate is not enough to get you a job right away, but experience and knowing people in the industry will help you a lot to get a foot in the door.

Explore London. There is so much to the city beyond the famous sights and tourism-fuelled areas. Try looking up Time Out's suggestions on things to do and places to go. Try tiny little cafés for a drink sometime. Visit the markets. Wander around in one of the many parks.  Remember that the only one accountable for your time is you. You can definitely go out to the 24-hour supermarket for icecream at 3am. Or watch the sunrise from Tower Bridge. Feed the ducks in Regent's Park. You could even catch a train out to the countryside or the sea for a change of pace.

Try taking your essays and studying outside. Chances are, you have a pretty nice setup at your place - Internet on tap, films and games and books galore...pretty much any distraction you want, you can have. Which is why you might want to consider writing essays and studying for exams outside of your place. If it's nice weather, try a park. If not, a cafe or library. The change of pace and the limited access to distractions can be a massive help for actually getting work done. If nothing else, using the promise of a good drink or a treat to motivate you might help!

If you have any advice, comments or questions about going to university (within London or within the UK in general), please leave them below!