When it comes to character description, doesn't it seem like a lot of times the character gets described physically ("he was a tall, dark haired man with blue eyes and a sharp ties" or "she was a shapely blonde with blue eyes and pouty red lips") but the rest of the props -- the things you and I and everybody else have decorating the play stage of our lives -- are either ignored or seemingly chosen at random?

For example, here's John. John is a suave, sexy, dark haired man with a sexy accent. He's a global traveler. He knows how to speak to a woman to seduce. He knows how to dress in a sexy, modern, attractive manner. When he walks into a room, he owns it and he knows it. Every women in it lusts after him. Every man in it secretly thinks, "Crap! How the @#$% does he do that?!"

When John exits that party -- a hot young thing on his arm looking for a night she'll never forget -- he walks her outside where they wait at the curb for the valet to bring the car around and up comes a blue mini van with sandwich wrappers and empty Burger King cups on the dash, an old pizza box on the passenger seat, a backseat filled with dirty laundry he's got to take to the coin operated laundry mat, and a bumper sticker on the back fender that says Team Stelena.

Hm. What's that hot young chick thinking now as that disaster on wheels pulls up?

Now pop that mini van out for the newest, sexiest black Mercedes or BMW or Audi or whatever sportscar you find purr worthy. I mean, there's a real James Bond drove an Aston Martin, right? Suddenly John's back on track.

John manages to take the sexy young thing back to his place. What does he pull up to? A penthouse in a the newest, coolest upscale high rise? A beautiful beach home in a secluded private community? Or does he pull up to a ranch home in everywhere suburbia, introduce her to his mom on his way to his "kindgom" in his mom and dad's basement? Ouch.

And if he does lead her into that sexy skyrise penthouse with a 2 million dollar view of the city, does he open the door and flip on the lights to reveal modern manly leather & steal industrial style furniture? Or do the lights come up to showcase a futon, some bean bag chairs, and a coffee table made out of an old milk crate?

Details matter. They not only set the scene and mood, they reveal something about your character. In fact, they often reveal things about them they (the character) might not even realize. For example, if the hero walks into the heroine's childhood home and finds a wall full of trophies, medals, and pictures of her winning a bunch of sports... what does that tell him about her? About her parents? Does it tell him the heroine is an overachiever with mad skills in {insert your activity here}? Does it explain to him why the heroine and her parents don't have a great relationship? {they pushed too hard and she walked away from the sport} Does it help him understand that she's been a go-getter, winner, and real competitor since she was a kid and that's why she's so driven today?

So here's a fun exercise. Meet Bob. Meet Mary.

Bob is: Friendly, loyal, and creative

Mary is: Smart, nurturing, and funny

now

2. What do they each do for a living?

3. Where do they live (what kind of home as well as location if you'd like)?

4. What kind of car do they drive? Color?

5. What's their #1 favorite food?

6. Do they have pets? If so, what kind? Extra points: Give that pet a name

7. If you had them empty their pockets (or purse, briefcase, etc), what 3 things would they have on them at all time besides a cellphone and keys?

8. If they each walked into the other's home, what would they notice in the living room?

9. If Bob and/or Mary went to an art gallery, what would they buy to put in their home?

10. Bob runs into Mary on the street and offers to buy her a snack from a vendor cart. There are a billion of them on the sidewalk that day. He walks up to one and what does he buy her?[/b]

***If you want to give the Whys or thought processes behind some of your answers, feel free.

The goal with all of these questions is to think about what characteristics your emphasizing with your character(s) and how to present that image to the reader without coming right out and "telling them" everything. It's about not presenting - as I did with poor John earlier -- conflicting information that makes the character seem off or a detail make the reader pause and think, "Wait, what?!"

Questions and choices and decisions like those prompted by the questions above can be used to build and confirm a character's image. It can be used to contradict it and make the other character reassess what they *think* they know about the other person. It has lots of great uses. But this exercise is aiming to make us aware of all the elements we can be using to subtly create a vibe and feel and message about who our characters are by the choices they make about their environment every single day.

Think about your most personal and private spaces in your home. What there reflects you? We don't just make choices randomly. Heck, when we shop for tissue, do you grab any random box off the shelf and toss it in the cart or do you look at the box colors and patterns and pick one over the other? I know I do and I know that selection tells people something about me and my personality.