How does one tell a tale? Do we just do it, without thinking? Yeah, I guess so. But when I'm writing a story I tend to melodramatize (if this word exists) and obsess about the way things are told. And I know, I shouldn't do that. Every writer advices writer-wannabes to not stop writing to review stuff before the story's actually ended. And I agree. But truth be told, I'm a perfection-maniac when it comes to writing... Well... *Sigh* Sorry, but it's true.

So now, instead of limiting myself to story creation, I decided to make up characters details before the actual beggining of the story. It's not working.

But I must say, I've found a creative way to get to know my characters. My first tecnique (a very old one) was to make an information sheet about them, with information such as birthday, favourite colour (yeah, like in those quizilla quizzes), favourite musics, books, appearance, favourite quote, whatever. Then, I found a new tecnique which consisted on writing a text of introduction made by the characters themselves. But hey, didn't work. Too bloody boring. It was almost a book all by itself.

And today I found a new way to do it, which is not genius, but at least gives me chance to have a good laugh. It's in the form of an interview made to some random guy/girl. I'll write an example below.

(imagine the interviewer is a guy and the interviewee is a girl)

Name: Madison Harrison
Date of Birthday: 12/6/1991

What's your opinion on mustard beef?
Well, I've never tried them, but you know, it must be good. As long as it is not too spicy. Why? Are you taking me to have dinner with you? *blinks her left eye, playfully* You know, I don't really like hot food, but I could use a hot man...

Thanks. I think. And no, I'm not taking you to dinner. It's just an interview. My job. So... What do you think about chemical products which damage the ozone layer?
Oh, down with them! Down with anything which harms the environment... *whispering* And that can cause any weird red stains in my perfect skin.

*humming* 'You can't keep me waiting forever, baby... Who's in perfect skin'...
Excuse me?

Uh, nothing. Just remembering that song... Perfect Skin, by The 69 Eyes. Don't you know it?
Sorry, I must have missed it in the radio. Was it on MTV?

I'm not sure, I don't watch MTV.
*eyes out of the orbits. Almost* What?! Are you a psycho???!

No, I most definitly am not a... psycho. Anyway, proceeding. Just pick one of the following ones. Coke or Pepsi?
Coke. I was told it has less carbs.

Nora Roberts or Virginia Woolf?
Nora, sure. Who's that Woolf lady anyway?

Scrabble or Uno?
Uno. Scrabble requires too much thinking.

Eminem or Britney Spears?
Whatever. They're both nuts. Why should you have them compared anyway?

It was just the first thing that popped into mind. Sorry. I'm having some trouble thinking things up.
Maybe that's because you still wanna take me out for mustard beef. Ok, I'll go with you. Just remember, you're the one paying.

But I didn't...
Yeah, I got it. I'll pay mine, then.

***
So this is an example of the kind of thing I decided to do now. I could go on forever, but for now, I'm much more accustomed to my character, Madison Harrison (poor girl, she has a name that rhymes) and feel like I really know her. Maybe this will help me (or whoever visits this blog and isn't nice enough to leave a comment... I know you're out there!). It's an idea. And it raises humour level.

Yeah, I content myself with the smallest things. On the other hand, I also get depressed for the smallest things. Like getting obsessed with a guy I know from nowhere, while being sure he doesn't even remember I exist, let alone my name. Yeah, I'm that kinda psycho. Madison would surely tell me 'Ya gotta be kidding. Like, you really do have a crush on a guy you've seen only twice and that doesn't know you're alive? God, find yourself a hobby. Maybe haiku or origami or some other japanese crap. Or, heish, I don't know. Maybe let him know you exist!?'.

Yeah, Madison's totally right. I'm a loser. And not even a great deal of fun.

Labels: characters, crush, fun, loser, Madison Harrison, stories, The 69 Eyes