I’m trying to create a detailed character profile for someone in a future book at the moment and it’s something that I’ve done with everyone in my books. Making sure that I know who they are means that I can develop a consistency when I’m in the trenches of writing.
One of the things that I kept picking out that was always appearing in my planning was the idea beyond what the characters looked like and more around what they liked or disliked, what they believed in. It was never about finding the most minute detail to include, like their favourite fictional detective or if they thought the ball had REALLY crossed the line during the 1966 World Cup, it was there to help me have an idea of who they were at the very core of themselves.
In my page of information from The Circle of Fire where I made notes about one of the more central characters, I included details about their family, what was it that drove them to act the way they did? If they agree with one idea, does that follow that they must agree with the next five of that kind? It just gave me a fuller and more rounded picture of who I was writing.
Now the thing that came along with each character, nestled beside all of the above, was the line that they wouldn’t cross or the belief they had that was unshakable, and it’s that idea that made me stop and think.
Do we all have that same nugget of who we are that will just never move and we’d never entertain anything which could threaten it?
Politics is an interesting place to begin considering such an idea so let’s dive in.
Are you a red voter or blue?
Brexit or Remain?
Personally, this is an area where I’d consider myself as being the ‘floater’. I’ve voted across different parties, candidates and propositions over the years and I’ve tried to at least give everyone a chance to make their point. I’ve certainly never just remained loyal to one regardless, yet there are so many people in the world who just ignore any facts that might get in the way of what they might ‘feel’.
How do you feel about vaccines? Big Pharma?
What about QAnon?
Do you trust the BBC?
Is the Earth flat?
Now I accept that these are at the more extreme end of the continuum but we’ve all met someone who had an unshakeable belief in, if not something from above then something else, a topic which they just know about.
Ask anyone about any particular global event, wars and the like, and you’ll likely hear some very weird thoughts. The issue comes, as it would from the above collection of ideas, when that person does everything in their power to spread their viewpoint far and wide.
Previously, the world wasn’t anywhere near as connected as we are today but now, someone shouting their particular thought can pick up adherents at a remarkable rate to spread like wild fire. In no time at all, we can have that idea oozing around the planet regardless of the truth.
We all have opinions on everything and we all share and discuss stuff with others but we’re all vulnerable to the effects of something which sounds all too plausible but which is actually garbage. Every one of us has it us to be an ideologue about any given topic so it really falls to each and every one of us to be sure we’re saying the right things but at the barest, we should be asking ‘Are you sure?’
Stay safe all.
Also, the Moon isn’t real, and anyone who tells you different is clearly trying to hide something!
Owen Elgie 