Do you find yourself imagining characters even as you read about them in books? Do they leap out at you, vivid and full of life and color? Sometimes, it’s almost as those the black words on the white/cream page come out to form a skeleton and then my imagination forms the flesh that finally comes out as a character.

As a writer, especially one who is somewhat anal about detail and description, I find myself investing deeply into characters, whether in film or in books. I imagine their thoughts, nuances, facial expressions, back stories and sometimes even seemingly insignificant details such as what they had for breakfast.

I tend to attach appearances and personas to my characters so that I can picture them as I write. (more…)