In writing any novel, you have to learn and understand your characters. That is a journey full of bumps and rough patches. The road is often long and arduous, so how do you get to know your characters? Do write until you figure them out? Do you listen to what they have to say or try to force them to fit into a certain criteria? Do you engage in exercises that build them into actual people?

Good to know you, started by Joyce, has been a great way for me get to know some of the neuroses and nuisances of my characters. So, Joyce, I want to thank you for the games you’ve inspired to get us to learn more about our characters, things that shape them, even if it never makes it into the story.

And with that, I would like to know what kind of music you characters listen to. Do they sing along or simple sit back and enjoy? Are they shower singers?

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Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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If your characters could do anything they wanted for one day, what would it be? (Keep it PG, people!)

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Do your characters believe in ghost? How would they react if they saw one, or thought they did?

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Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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My daughter had her doctor appointment today. The doctor poked and prodded and then poked some more. She did really well with not crying as he listened to what looked like every organ in her body. She had that look of “I’m too scared to cry” and I’m sure the fake cheerfulness on my face scared her every bit as much as the stethoscope in the doctor’s hand. But it was the feeling of the teeth that finally put her over the edge into all-out wailing. She cried more from that than from the shots – of course, who doesn’t cry when there are needles around….err, yeah, me neither.

What puts your characters “over the edge” of anger, fear, or tears?

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So, it’s Joyce’s day off. So I wanted to play good to know you too.

So in a battle, how would your characters do? Would they run and hide, or kick some butt?

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Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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I just completed the semi-annual clean-out of the fridge (can you tell it’s on of my least favorite things to do?). I discovered some Tupperware that I’d forgotten I owned jammed at the back of the fridge behind the parmesan cheese and bacon bits. I also swiped off the caramel from the bottom shelf that by some scientific marvel was solid and gooey at the same time.

I could not quite force myself to rummage through the piles of condiments that have multiply faster than an alien force taking over the world. So we still have teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, sweet and sour sauce, A-1, Worcestershire, Dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard, yellow French’s mustard, ketchup, mayo, and green hot sauce jumbled together.

What’s in your character’s refrigerator?

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