Table of Contents
Acknowledgements|vi
Introduction 1
Preface: The boys watch the girls while the girls watch the boys … 2
Chapter 1 Why are characters so important? 6
Chapter 2 The character questionnaire 12
Chapter 3 Walk-on parts and minor players 22
Chapter 4 Character actors and major stars 30
Chapter 5 What can we steal? Using real people 40
Chapter 6 What can we steal? Types, archetypes and stereotypes 49
Chapter 7 What can we steal? Birth signs and bumps 59
Chapter 8 What can we steal? Learning from psychologists and psychopaths 65
Chapter 9 Introducing a character 74
Chapter 10 Character in action - why showing is better than telling 85
Chapter 11 What makes him tick? Character motivation 92
Chapter 12 Making your characters talk 99
Chapter 13 What does your character think (and how does she think it?) 117
Chapter 14 Who's telling the story? Point-of-view and voice 125
Chapter 15 Your character and their world 147
Chapter 16 A rose by any other name 159
Chapter 17 The villain of the piece 168
Postscript 177
Bibliography 179
