How to use an obessessive immersive approach to to creating characters

If you've ever watched a Daniel Day-Lewis film, you've witnessed the power of method acting. It's all about living and breathing your role, thinking the character's thoughts, feeling their feelings. For writers, adopting a similar approach can result in characters that truly come to life on the page. This approach – we'll call it the obsessive immersive – requires a deep dive into your character's psyche, understanding their hopes, dreams, fears, quirks, and more. Think of it as method acting for fiction writers. Let's explore the steps to truly 'become' your character.

Going full Sherlock – sleuthing your characters' lives

Diving deep into your character's life means becoming a detective. You're not just understanding what they're like now – you're discovering what made them this way. Look at their childhood, their relationships, their triumphs, and their failures. Trace their journey through life. Understand the experiences that have moulded them.

Setting foot in their shoes

Walk a mile in your character's shoes. Not literally, of course – although, if you fancy a bit of role-play, who are we to stop you? What we mean is: understand your characters' daily routines, habits, and lifestyles. What's their daily grind like? What do they do in their free time? How do they interact with others? Understand the mundane to write the extraordinary.

Embracing their quirks – and their darkness

Nobody's perfect, and neither should your characters be. Embrace their quirks and idiosyncrasies, their vices and weaknesses. Do they have a strange tic? An irrational fear? A secret they'd never dare share? And don't shy away from their darker sides. It's the shadows that often make a character genuinely fascinating.

The emotional landscape

Now we're getting to the real meat of the matter – emotions. A character's emotional response to events reveals much about who they are. How do they react under stress? What makes them happy, sad, angry, or afraid? Understanding the emotional landscape of your character can help you craft authentic reactions and deepen reader engagement.

Trial by fire – testing your characters

Once you feel like you 'know' your character, it's time to test them. Place them in different scenarios and think about how they would react. These don't all need to be used in your story; they're more of a tool to help you understand your character's behaviour in different situations.

Advantages and drawbacks of the obsessive immersive approach

Like any approach, the obsessive immersive has its pros and cons. It allows you to create vibrant, nuanced characters. But it can also be time-consuming, and there's a risk of overdoing it. After all, not every detail needs to be included in the final story. Remember, sometimes less is more.

And the BAFTA goes to...

In the end, using the obsessive immersive approach to creating characters can lead to a cast as well-rounded and compelling as any Oscar-winning performance. It requires dedication and deep thought, but the results can elevate your storytelling. So channel your inner method actor and get ready for your characters to spring to life!

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