Hobbies

Yesterday I finished the first run through of Next Time since I completed the first draft back in December. I think it went well and found no need of major revision. I have several tweaks and made a list to track them, but the first thing I’m going to do is the character sketches.

As noted previously, I didn’t even remember all the characters or names in the book. Reading through the manuscript gave me the chance to create a sketch document for every character. I was curious how many there were and just went and looked in the folder on my computer where I keep those docs, and found I came up with 22 characters for the book. Some make very short appearances, but easily half of those are major or important minor characters.

I asked myself a question late yesterday while I was thinking about these sketches: what’s my main character’s hobby?

I don’t know, and that’s what the sketches are for. I should know background for my characters, including what they like to do in their spare time. Does that information have to be in the book? Not necessarily, but it does give opportunity for extra scenes or even a snatch of a conversation, both of which can help round out a character.

Knowing a character’s hobbies is just one aspect I try to flesh out. In my character template I not only determine their physical characteristics, but also their education, jobs, likes/dislikes, motivations, and even what a “man on the street” sees when he notices them walking down a city sidewalk. Do they walk with purpose? Are they timid and meander? Does the look in their eyes grab you if you make eye contact? Stuff like that.

Just to be clear, though, I don’t think any of them will have writing as a hobby. They can get their own hobbies.