Playwriting - Part 5I - Creating Characters by Treating Them As Imaginary Friends

This entry somewhat goes with the last entry, Playwriting - Part 5H - Creating Characters by Letting them Speak to You. Since your characters will become real and start talking to you, treat them like they are real people. It is always okay to have imaginary friends. It is just that when you are an adult, you have to be able to admit they are imaginary. As long as you can do that, there's nothing wrong. There's especially nothing wrong when these friends are your characters.

Talk to your characters. Where would they want to go out to lunch? Why there? Is there something special about that spot? Is it just because that is a favorite food?

What do your characters want to do with you for fun? Do they all want to be together with you in one large group? Do they all want separate times with you? Do some of them want to be in a group with you while others want to spend one on one time with you?

Sit down and talk to your characters. What do they tell you? Do they talk about trivial things like the weather and current events? Do they talk about deeper things like their dreams and aspirations for their lives? Do they let you in to their lives by letting you know their troubles and their joys? Do they hide their lives from you?

Write down the things you feel you need to remember. Perhaps the things you need to remember are everything. Maybe they are only a few things like favorite colors and relationships. Write down whatever you need to develop your characters.

It is extremely likely your characters will come talk to you when you don't expect it. This may be while you are driving or at night when you are relaxing. You may want to keep a notebook and some type of audio recording device nearby. That way you can turn to one and take notes in some way.

If somebody catches you "staring" off into the distance, don't be ashamed to tell that that you were thinking. When they ask what you were thinking about, if you feel they won't understand you talking to your characters in your head, just tell them that you were thinking about the current play you are writing.