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Lyn Fairchild Hawks

YA Author, Teacher & College Essay Consultant

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You Gotta Get Behind Your Character

Lyn Hawks · September 10, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Minerda-sample
Illustration by Robin Follet. Minerda.

There are a lot of reasons to write a book, but for me, it’s because I’ve fallen in love with a particular person. (Not actual, though my characters talk to me constantly like they’re very, very real. And love interests, exes, et cetera have fueled some pretty interesting writing in the past.)

I’ve got to know a character inside and out, give them BFF-on-steroids status, and live with them, a good while. I’ve got to know what happened to her before the story and outside the lines (cue an Outtakes file where never-seen-before/ever scenes go to die).

I need to know random stuff like why Minerva loves Wonder Woman and where Minerva sees herself in six years (Columbia, Northwestern, some kick-ass journalism school for sure). Why she named her asshole cat after a 1970s Volkswagen commercial and papers the walls of her bedroom with ancient issues of The New York Times and The Washington Post.

I need to shadow a character, stalk a character, ask incredibly personal questions of the character, before updating my Facebook status to say I’m in this relationship.

Like real love, it takes time, commitment, work. Humility, too. Because walking behind someone will teach you to be silent, listen in, and be ready to have her back when both the lovers and haters come calling.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: characterization, characters, Minerda, Minerva, Minerva Mae Christopoulos, nerds

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About me

“author

(Photo by My Friend Teresa Studios)

Could I live without words, writing, story? Probably not. I love telling stories. I love teaching stories. I love helping other people find theirs. That’s my story. [READ MORE...]

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From Instagram

Wendy is coming up on her 10 year anniversary! I c Wendy is coming up on her 10 year anniversary! I can’t believe it… And I can’t believe how talented this whole cast and crew was that made this book come to life. Love this clip. @therealslimcaity you captured Wendy, heart and soul. 💜📚💜

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#bookanniversary #yalit #yabooks #GenX #GenZ #howwendysurvived #booknerd #bookish #wewillsurvive
Keep reading, even if the cat won’t have it😻📚😻

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#amreading #orangetabby #booknerd
It’s 2013 and Minerva Mae is ready to deliver so It’s 2013 and Minerva Mae is ready to deliver some journo justice. Is it better to go NYT or TMZ when you live in a town that trashes its girls? 
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#yalit #coverreveal #yabooks #historicalfiction #journalism #authorsofinstagram #authors #author #writinglife #GenZ #GenX

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