A description of characters� surroundings need not be limited to her present life. Describe the house she grew up in or some other childhood environment. A character�s possessions reveal much about the character. What is in her closet? What would she pack for a trip? Write a will for your character. What would she write on her grocery list? What would she part with at a yard sale? What kind of pet, if any, does your character own? Is her furniture old and mismatched or coordinated and barely used?
How our characters move within their surroundings show the reader how they move morally and psychologically. We must carefully choose the actions that accurately represent her outer and inner life. Be specific. For instance, I could write: �Sophie was reading.� It doesn�t say much about her character or state of mind. If I write: �Sophie flipped through the current issue of Vogue, tearing out pictures of the dresses she wanted.� Now what does this sentence tell us? Is Sophie flipping through the latest issue of Vogue at home or at the newsstand? This detail makes a difference and tells us about her character. Practice describing your character in different settings. For instance, if you were to describe from a child�s point of view how her grandmother�s home looks to her, the descriptions would likely vary before and after her grandmother�s death. The lobby of the Four Seasons would appear differently through the points of view of a multibillionaire who lives in one of the suites and a homeless man trying to use one of the rest rooms. Pay attention to how the settings affect attitude, actions, and appearance.
The Exercise:
Write a scene where your character is doing something ordinary. For instance, reading, cleaning, walking. Write from the point of view of your character. You may use either first or third person. Use action and external environment to describe your character�s frame of mind. For instance, write about a woman walking through her neighborhood who has just fallen in love. Then try writing this scene after she has experienced a horrible break-up. There are a couple of rules. Do not name the emotion anywhere in the scene. For instance, don�t write, �Sandy was depressed (or happy or angry or perplexed).� Do not use constructions like �She felt�� Use your character�s actions and how she moves (or he. This can be written from a male POV as well.) through her world. Use the description and actions to reveal her emotions.
As always, have fun with it!
