Last month I mentioned that I go a bit insane with spreadsheets.  Truth be told, my close friends probably think I should be locked away and not allowed to touch another spreadsheet program in my life.  So yes, I’ll admit it, I have a problem.

My name is Kim, and I’m a spreadsheet addict.

But I can’t help it!  Because of the way my brain works, I need this structure to help me organize not only my characters, my scenes, and my turning points, but…well, basically everything.  So, in an attempt to share the scary madness that goes on inside my brain, I’ll be spending the next few of my posts trying to explain how I map out my characters and plot—and I do this all before I ever type a single word into a document.

Please note, if the mere thought of spreadsheets and structure strike fear in your heart and compel you to run screaming from your computer, I do apologize.  I’m not trying to change you, and I do understand that not all people are like this.  Honestly, I wish I was less like this.  But please don’t leave!  At least scan through the post and leave me a comment telling me how insane I am.   Hopefully, though, you’ll pick up a nugget or two of information you can use at some point in your own process.

And if structure makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, and a smile lights up your face simply from the word ‘spreadsheet’, you ARE in the right place!  I can’t guarantee my process will be exactly right for you, but again, hopefully I’ll share enough that you’ll find something that works for you, and you’ll finish this article even more warm and fuzzy than when you started.

OK, let’s get going.

To begin with…Characters.

Although what often kicks off a story in my head is a plot idea or location, I always start by mapping out my characters first.  They drive everything for me.  And even though I’ve tried to do it differently several times, if I don’t know my characters well enough—their loves and desires, motivations, and messed up and twisted backgrounds—I just can not get very far in figuring out anything else.  So out I pull the first of my character spreadsheets.

Spreadsheet #1 – Character Requirements

NOTE: A couple years ago, I had the pleasure of sitting through a two-hour workshop given by Michael Hauge at RWA’s National Conference.  This workshop solidified several things in my mind with both creating memorable characters and intertwining the character arcs, the relationship arc, and the plot all together.  I took the majority of what I learned that day and fit it into the worksheets I already used.  My Character Requirementsworksheet comes entirely from his “Journey of Transformation,” though it isn’t nearly as thorough and complete as his definition.  If you ever get the chance to see/hear Michael Hauge in person, I HIGHLY recommend it!

This worksheet consists of seven things you need to figure out about both the hero and heroine before moving on to spreadsheet #2.

1) Longing

The longing is the deeply held desire the hero(ine) is paying lip service to, but not pursuing because it is too frightening.

2) Wound

The wound is an unhealed source or continuing pain the hero(ine) believes is behind her, but is actually only suppressed because it is not healed.  It can be a single event, usually occurring in adolescence, or an ongoing situation.

3) Belief

The belief is what caused the wound, how the world works, etc…

4) Fear

Because of the wound, a belief is taken on, and that causes fear of it (the wound) happening again.

5) Identity

The identity is the hero(ine)’s persona or false front presented to the outside world.  It is the mask they wear that protects them from the fear happening.  Answering the following question will find the character’s identity:  I’ll do whatever is takes to [achieve my goal], just don’t ask me to __________, because that’s just not me.

6) Need

The longing is expressed, but not pursued.  The need is not expressed.  It is generally a need for connection.  (You do not have to have both a longing and a need for your characters, but you must have at least one.)

7) Essence

Who do they have the potential to become?  Remove all the protective stuff, and the essence is what is left.

*****

That’s it for the Character Requirements spreadsheet. Fairly simple, huh?  But keep in mind, this is the basis for everything that drives your characters, so understanding these seven pieces of information is one of the most critical components in creating well-rounded, credibly motivated characters.

I tend to come back and tweak this first phase several times throughout both the up-front analysis and the actual writing of the book.  Things always change no matter how well I think I’ve got them figured out.  But there’s no reason you can’t go back and change it if you get into your story and your character seems to have slightly different issues than you’d previously imagined.  Trust me, they’ll let you know if your initial outline of them was right or not.

I won’t go into my other character spreadsheet, Character GMC Chart, today.  It’s the meatiest one and I fear that if I tack it onto this post, it’ll not only make the pantsers eyes glaze over (any of you still with me?), but the plotters as well.   So, I’ll save that for a post all on its own.  As a preview, though, the Character GMC Chart covers: character arc, archetype, personality type, GMC (internal and external as well as story and big goals), defining traits, character flaws, error in thinking, lesson to be learned, background and just general characteristics.  Whew!  See why I’m saving that one for its own day?

But I will give you a few more pieces of genius from Michael Hauge before I stop.  These apply specifically to the seven items I just covered, and carry forward to the next step where I define goals.

►   Character Arc is the transformation from living fully in one’s identity to living fully in one’s essence.

►   The internal conflict is the hero’s tug-of-war between their essence and their identity.

►   The only way to get your longing (or need) is to give up your identity and live in your essence.

►   Identities have one function—to keep us safe (emotionally, etc.), and your characters must believe their identities are who they really are.

►   Giving up identity is scarier than death.

►   You can live in identity and be safe but unfulfilled, or you can go after your essence and be scared to death.

That’s it for today!  I hope this wasn’t too long, and that a few of you got something from it.  If it only made your head hurt and your eyes cross, please forget you ever read this!

What you do to figure out your characters?  Do you have your own worksheets you start with?  Or maybe you have character worksheets you fill out after your first draft, after you’ve gotten to know your characters a little better?  I love learning what others do so that I can improve my own process, so please share!