the craft. journal entries for your characters.
To know me is to know that I’ve been slightly obsessed with the show Swagger lately. It had been on my list of things to watch after hearing such rave reviews about it and unfortunately learning recently that it will not be renewed for a third season. Once I finish a show I like, I’m down a rabbit hole of who the actors are and creators. I’m often looking for additional content. In that, I stumbled upon a recording of an X (formerly Twitter) Spaces where Reggie Bythewood, the show’s creator, talked about how he’d written journal entries at the start of creating the characters of Jace and Crystal.
I love learning about other peoples’ processes because I guess it gives me some validation on my own. Most of us aren’t handed a manual on how we get to the finished product of a novel. Sure, we learn about structure, plot, character arcs and development, but I always talk about the work outside of the page that happens. And this idea around journal entries for characters is within that wheelhouse.
In one of my works in progress, it was important to me to get into the psyche of the character and as I was developing him, I too, felt the need to write journal entries of his. Specifically, as a character suffering from some mental illness that included depression, I wanted to be able to tap into that mindstate in a more intimate way. How could I make that lift off the page and feel three dimensional in the story?
This idea of getting to know your characters through journal entries can be so powerful. Think about it, your journal is probably where you’re most free. It can reveal your deepest fears, your biggest struggles, how you view the world, and process it. So in addition to our character profiles, which are also a great form of character exploration, it’s nice to dive into the character’s mindset in this way.
None of what you write there has to make it into your story. But think about it. How much more would you know about a person if you were able to sift through their journal? Not that you ever should, by the way. But it would likely be a quick way to understand exactly how they think.
Recently, in our NaNoWriMo group in November, one of our participants mentioned taking her characters to therapy which I loved. In many ways, that’s how these journal entries can feel. What is happening currently for your character? What are they trying to process? How are the events of your novel affecting them?
For instance, my character sees his son for the first time in about 3-4 years. I want to know how that impacts him. What his first thought was when he saw his son sitting behind a piano just like he had all those years ago with his mother and her maternal figure? That is a perfect place to sit down and write out exactly what that journal entry would look like for him that day.
Personally, I keep notebooks for each work in progress that I have. In it, I’m writing character profiles, keeping track of character names, writing down notes and observations, and sometimes writing full journal entries for my characters.
Whatever your own process, whether it’s records you keep on your computer or handwritten notes, maybe writing journal entries is something you can add to your arsenal.
More and more, I fall in love with the process of writing that doesn’t always involve furthering my work count. And getting to know my characters more intimately is such an important part of this work. Unfortunately, it can take more time than I would like. But that’s just it, you can’t and shouldn’t rush your writing. I’m reminding myself of that for this half-finished NaNo project. LOL. But I’m certainly hoping to get back on the horse with some time off at the end of the year.
Writing/Job Opportunities
Narratively is accepting pitches for “Life in the age of extremes.” A unique collaboration with the Narrative Storytelling Initiative at Arizona State University, this special series will fund big, ambitious reporting projects that shine a light on where the human race is heading now, and that help us peer into the future. $2k for accepted stories. (Dec. 29)
HarperOne is currently seeking a Senior Editor to join their dynamic, collaborative team. HarperOne is committed to publishing the most important books across its core categories of religion, spirituality, science and technology, health and healing, personal growth, the environment, and social change. ($75-90k)
Texas Monthly is hiring an Editorial Coordinator. (Apply by Jan. 8)
2024 National Hearst Journalism Fellowship program is accepting submissions. The Fellowship is a two-year program focusing on journalism in a changing digital world. (Jan. 9)
To Be Read
The Book World Still Isn’t Diverse. Dhonielle Clayton is Trying to Change That