Writing Snacks

Make characters pop with consistent props and descriptions that live in the character's point of view. Use details for more than just setting and plot. Unusual tidbits that you as the author notice give credibility to your writing as the inside scoop into your story's characters.

For example in Daniel Pennac's middle grade novel, Dog, "The sky was as clean as a well-licked stainless steel dish." The protagonist', named Dog, describes his owner's parents as Mrs. Squeak and Mr. Muscle. Mrs. Squeak tip-taps "out of the room on heels as high and pointy as her words. Would a dad named Mr. Muscle have an alto voice and a willing hand ready to stroke Dog's tired back? Not at all. Mr. Muscle's "voice rumbles out of his vast body...[His] words roll around the kitchen like rocks in an avalanche..." As for kindness, "Gets on my nerves, that mutt...", Mr. Muscle says. From Pennac's dialogue and description, we're put into Dog's point of view and have empathy for him.

In young adult novel, Defining Dulcie, Paul Acampora uses the protagonist's own words to paint a vivid description of her. When Dulcie notices three turkey vultures circling high overhead when she stops on the side of the road in Utah. Dulcie's flip response reveals the nature of her unique character. "I patted the Chevy's bumper. ‘Don't worry,' I said. ‘You're not edible.'" Then Dulcie excuses the crummy poem she's writing: "Not much rhyme, but I think I'm more of a free verse girl anyway." We know a lot about Dulcie by Acampora's inclusion of these details about the protagonist: she's optimistic, a free spirit, and nostalgic to the point of stopping by herself during her cross-country road trip to write a poem about being home.

With the need to make every word count in picture books, characterization can be even trickier. Paul Fleischman uses economy of words to show us Wesley's character in his picture book, Weslandia. Although a neighbor tells Wesley to pull up the weeds, Wesley replies, "Actually, that's my crop...In this type of garden there are no weeds." By Wesley's response, we know he marches to his own rendition of Dixie, thank you.

Judy Schachner produced original characterization of Skippyjon Jones without a lengthy description. The little kitten with over-sized ears whistles his own tune like Wesley. How do we know this? Through Mama Junebug Jones' reprimand of him: "No self-respecting cat ever slept with a flock of birds...Or ate worms, or flew, or did his laundry in Mrs. Doohiggy's birdbath." Mama Junebug Jones refers to Skippyjon as Mr. Kitten Britches, Mr. Fuzzy Pants, and Mr. Cocopugs. Even his mother knows he is more than just Skippyjon Jones.

Through opinions of other characters, mannerisms, clothes, gestures and dialogue, using just the right details can spring a character free from print and into your own family room.