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Here are a few quick exercises to get to know your point-of-view character.    

© by Alicia Rasley

Creating unique voices for each viewpoint character is essential in creating fiction readers want to read over and over. Unique voices stick with you and generate the best reviews.

Here are 9 exercises to help you discover your viewpoint character(s) voice.  Select the ones that appeal most.  Get into the mind of your character.  Free-write the answer to each question in first-person, as if YOU are the character.

First-person, remember.  That will help you get a sense of the character's voice.

EXERCISE #1: LEARNING STYLE

1. How do you learn best?  Observation?  Participation?  Trial and error? Rumination and cogitation?  Consulting experts?  Writing?

Example to get you started – historical character named Rebecca: “Oh, I think I learn best by observation.  I'm an artist-- well, I sketch a little, or a lot, I suppose-- and so I'm always looking at people and places and things and trying to capture them with my pencil.

I like to imagine what people are like from the way they move and the expressions on their faces.  I try not to make judgments until I've studied the people, however.  So I guess I'm an observer. I'm certainly not really a participant.  Of course, I have to participate in all sorts of activities, but given my druthers, I'd sit on the sidelines and watch first, until I felt more confident.

Oh, dear, I sound like such a tentative creature.  I guess I am that, after all-- except for the once, when I eloped with Tommy.  Now that time, I didn't stop to study and observe.  I threw myself right into that situation!  And I guess I've never regretted it, not even when he died and left me alone.

Maybe it's time again for me to stop studying and just jump in?8

8 Other Exercises for Powerful POV.