Building A 3-D Character Through Research
Sally Carpenter is a native Hoosier now living in Southern California. She has a master’s degree in theater from Indiana State University. While in school two of her plays were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act Playwrighting Competition and one play also earned a college creative writing award. The plays received staged readings and productions in New York City.
Carpenter also has a master’s degree in theology and a black belt in tae kwon do. She’s worked as an actress, freelance writer, college writing instructor, theater critic, jail chaplain, and tour guide/page for a major movie studio. Now she’s employed at a community newspaper.
She’s a member of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles Chapter. Contact her at scwriter@earthlink.net.
First-time author Sally Carpenter introduces her novel, The Baffled Beatlemanic Caper, the inaugural book in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol mystery series published by Dark Oak Mysteries/Oak Tree Press.
What’s it like to stand on a stage and whip 10,000 screaming fans into a frenzy? To have your face recognized worldwide, yet count on one hand the number of close friends? To live a life of glamour and riches for two to four years and suddenly, in your early 20s, your career’s finished and nobody wants you?
What’s an aging teen idol to do? Become an amateur sleuth in a new mystery series.
Most authors create detectives based on their personal experience working in law enforcement or a particular career. I never was and never will be a passable musician, let along an idol! So I did the next best thing—research.
Writers think of using research only for historical accuracy in period pieces or describing a physical location, but a thorough investigation of the character is just as important. Nothing ruins a book for me faster than feeling “that’s not what a person in that occupation or lifestyle would do or say!”
What is life like for teen idols? When they go home at night, do they kick off their shoes, pop open a cold beer and watch TV like regular folk? How does their fame affect their family? How do they handle money, fans and critics?
In creating my protagonist, I went straight to the source for firsthand information. I read the autobiographies of Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, David Cassidy, Bobby Sherman and Donny Osmond (and his sister Marie, too). I also perused several biographies of The Beatles and The Monkees.
Plenty of reading, but immensely enjoyable and the effort gave me more information than I could use. Among the idols I found similarities regarding career paths, reactions to fame and even common personality traits and hobbies. My fictional teen idol is a mash-up of everyone I studied.
During the late 1990s—long before I started writing my book—I had the foresight to videotape TV specials such as “Bubblegum Babylon”—a look inside the teen idol industry—and “Whatever Happened to Your Favorite Teen Idol?” that provided good background information.
I also drew from my personal experience as a fan. In the 1990s and early 2000s when I went to concerts and stood in autograph lines, I noted how the performer behaved. When Bobby Sherman is performing and he sees a fan point a camera at him, he “poses” until the shot’s taken. Former teen idols will hug and kiss their fans when giving autographs. (Once after a concert in a coffeehouse, I got an unsolicited hug from Peter Tork. That’s why fans love their idols).
Before I started writing the book I created a time line of my fictional idol—what he did every year from high school to age 38 when the book is set. I named each record he made and created family members. I pictured how his house looks (he has a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and home recording studio). I even wrote lyrics to some of his hit songs.
I looked at history too. What was going on in the 1970s when my idol was popular (yes, he recorded a disco album). Who were the other idols of that era and how did he relate to them? The book is set in 1993. What is the music industry like now and how does he fit in?
For the final touch I used imagination. My background is theater and I used the actor’s “what if?” to bring the character to life. “What if I was a teen idol? How would I feel on a concert stage? As a celebrity, what would I say to an obnoxious fan? How would I react in this situation?”
This technique was useful in writing a scene where the idol’s most ardent fan makes a comment and I, as the writer, laughed out loud. That’s the reaction the idol would have and that’s what I wrote. (Note to writers: characters don’t always need to respond with words. Sometimes the best reply is a laugh, a tear, a gesture or silence).
This sounds like a great deal of preparatory work just for one character, but the more realistic, believable and fleshed out a writer can make the protagonist, the better. I know I’ve succeeded in creating a teen idol if a reader says to me, “I remember hearing his songs on the radio!”
September 4, 2011
Posted in: Guest Blogs
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17 Responses
The title of your novel instantly caught my eye because, although I don’t know what it’s like to “stand on stage and whip 10,000 fans into a frenzy,” I do know what it feels like to be one of those fans, standing on her seat and screaming at the top of her lungs. I was a young teenager when the Beatles came to perform at Cincinnati Gardens. What an experience!
I wish you good luck with your first novel!
The title is catchy, the cover is colorful and the storyline is enticing. Good luck with your novel!
This sounds like a winner, Sally. I’ve known a few “formerly famous” people, and they have a difficult time of it. What a fine idea for a novel and series. Good luck with it!
Beatlemaniac here. George Harrison was my Beatle. Yes, I thought I would grow up and he would marry me. Instead, I married a man who loved the Beatles as much as I do!
How could I possibly pass up a novel with such a great title and fun premise? However, this is my first glimpse of the cover and I think it rocks!
I too am a sucker for the title I can’t choose between John and Paul they both wrote words which are in my head everyday.
I hope it sells a million like their albums.
By the way, Sally, my favorite Beatle was Paul. I was totally, madly in love with him. I had posters of him plastered all over my walls when I was thirteen.
I was already an ‘old’ married man when the Beatles hit these shores. Besides, Dylan and Baez were more my cuppa. That said, I see an excellent lesson for all in the thoroughness of your research and preparation for the book. Best wishes for many sales and good reviews.
Wow, the Beatles. Very influential on my young life. I guess my favorite would have to be Paul by a narrow margin. To me, they were more powerful together than individually.
Intriguing book premise, and best of luck for your success.
Definitely Paul. But in grade school all the girls liked Paul best, so I lied and said my fave was Ringo.
Great blog! Knowing how much research went into your book makes me want to read it even more. And if you made yourself laugh, then I know it will make readers laugh. Good job!
Sally, i loved this blog…oh the memories augie
What fun! While I loved those Beatles, especially George, it was Davey Jones, Bobby Sherman and those others who stole my breath away! Great for memories and a read.
Sally – good idea about the time line. I could have used that in my last effort – would have saved me time as I tried to remember who did what at what time – if you get my drift. I think I’ll use that next time out.
Thanks!
I love the Beatles, but I was a Monkees fan all the way. I even met Davy, Micky and Peter when they did the 1st reunion. I nearly died when Davy Jones kissed my cheek. Looking forward to reading your book.
Sally, the way you researched your story and your approach to character development shows you are a dedicated writer. Good luck with your writing. By the way, John was my favorite Beatle – he had the edge.
Research remains the key whether we write historically or not. Some mighty big mistakes are made with characters, you’re right about that. Like your premise and this should be a big seller for you. So many around who remember those good old days when songs had lyrics. Great post.
Thanks, everyone, for your comments and hope you enjoy the book. My fave Beatle is George. When he passed away I went to the Beatles star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to pay my respects. The star was totally covered with momentos and flowers left by fans. The Capital Records Building was drapped with black bunting and flew the flag at half mast. A fitting tribute to a great musician!
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