Developing Characters in Memoir
In memoir characters are real people. The author is both the writer and the main character. In this way characterization and character development cannot be made up to suit the story. So how do you develop characters who are real people?
- Imagine the people in your memoir as fictional characters in a book that is already written. How would you describe them? It is also helpful to view them through a fixed lens. It can be overwhelming to write about people we know because as human beings we are fluid and changing all the time. It’s okay to show that change in your characters over time, in fact, it is desirable, but it helps to train your eye on who the person was during the period you are writing about.
- Make a list of each person who has a major role in your memoir and next to each person write the main character traits you want to portray. Make sure you have an equal number of good traits and bad traits. (If possible.) You want to show how each person has the potential for good and bad and no one is all one or the other. We are complex and nuanced beings that don’t fit neatly into categories.
- Use gestures that you noticed about the person to help show their unique character. Even for yourself. We pay little attention to the small ways people show us who they are with their movements and gestures. For example if your character has a habit of shoving his hands deep in his pockets, or taps his fingers on hard surfaces, or she fiddles with her wedding ring, or she covers her mouth when she laughs, these are great ways to show characterization without interpreting it too much.
- Archetypes are a great way to delve more deeply into real human beings in your memoir. What are some of the archetypes your characters possess? The Judge? The Rescuer? The Companion, the Rebel, or the Magician? You can try and discover what archetypes your characters have and then convey both the light and shadow of their traits. This is a good exercise in disconnecting from your characters on a personal level to observe them from a more universal level.
- Don’t forget that you are a character in your story too. Don’t be too eager to hide your weaknesses and highlight your strengths. Show your fullest self, let the reader into the dark corners of your mind and heart and let them witness the changes as they occur. Let the reader transform with you and your journey. Use these same tools for yourself. It can help to get someone who knows you well to offer insight. Looking at photographs of yourself during the time the memoir covers, can help you write a more complex version of yourself too, reminding you of the person you were as well as the person you are.
- How do each of your supporting characters deepen the readers understanding of you? They should be independent enough to stand on their own but also reveal parts of you that cannot be shown any other way. How do your supporting characters interact and relate with the main events in the memoir? Is it different from how you interacted? This contrast can be an effective tool for highlighting certain events.
Character development can be really exciting when working with memoir. It requires some creative thinking, but it can also change the way you the author views the past and the people in it. That is the power of memoir after all.
