Watch It

In this post I’m going to cover the places I usually find the most interesting “characters” so that maybe you can find some character ideas for your stories. I’m warning you now though, this post is going to be a bit of a creeper and some of you might find me a bit odd by its end, but I’m sure many of you have seen the hashtag #Taylurking and so I’ll just point to that and let you feel how you will.

Hey! Maybe we could make our own hashtag and spread this post and this series all over the interwebs! Have ideas? Comment them below!

 

Now let’s get started,

Top Five Places to People Watch

        1. The mall

I know, how cliché! Everyone knows that the mall is a great place to just sit and watch all kinds of different people, but this point also includes other places with a large number of people that pass through. Places like a college campus, the train station, a popular bowling alley or restaurant are all great places to catch interesting people and bits of conversations and who knows who you might meet if you are so inclined!

        2. Parties

This one might seem to fall under the first place I mentioned, but parties are a thing all their own as they are based a lot more of watching interactions between people than the people themselves. Looking for conversations that can spark inspiration for a bit of dialogue? Looking for what type of people tend to group up or find common ground? Parties are a great place to go beyond the characteristics of the individual and look at group dynamics.

        3. Your Friends and Family

If you are looking to find details beyond the surface, especially when it comes to personalities, preferences, and quirks for character ideas, then I can’t think of a better place to look than those closest to you! You know your best friend always sleeps with her hand under her pillow and her phone right by her. You know your mom loves orange sorbet. You know just what sets your brother off. Why not use these sorts of things to shape ideas for the way your character could be?

        4. Creative works!

Anything from movies, to books, to art could inspire a character for your upcoming novel! This might be a little bit out there, but the point is to get out and experience life, people and places so that your own creative works can be rich and full of life and culture.

        5. The Bus

Okay, I warned you, I’m a creeper! The bus is by far my favorite place to people watch. The people you see on the bus are unlike any other and it is a group of quite diverse people. Looking for a full pallet, which may just include people you may not actually want to talk to, the bus is the place to go.

In the end the point of this post is to show you that for a good story all you have to do is experience life as a whole. Meet people, visit new places, try new things. The wider your experience the more possibilities you have for your characters and stories!

Love,

Deanna.

ps. Don’t forget to check out typewritersjourney.wordpress.com for a post by Rani Divine. If you want to see the only point that me and Rani disagree on then that post is the way to go! ;-)