Does Anybody Else Do This, Or Am I Embarrassed All By Myself?

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When making a few short films last year, I found it helped to have actors in mind when writing the scripts. Now that I'm working on my first YA novel, I've discovered the same technique is helpful.

Over the last few months I've brainstormed my characters and put together a story photo board. I finished it last week and I'm very happy with it. I have all of my character's photos plus things that mean something to them or to the story. Here's a picture of what I created:
It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to start on my next story to do it again:)

Comments

Shannon O'Donnell said…
I've never done this, but I've read A LOT of posts by other authors who do! :-)
April 15, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Voidwalker said…
I'm not one to put together a printed out board, but after I have a general idea of what my characters look like, I go on the internet and search for people who fit the bill and I save the pictures in a picture file, so I can pull it up from time to time if I need a refresher on how to describe them.
April 15, 2010 at 1:59 PM
Anonymous said…
I've never done this. You are so dedicated it's scary!! But still very cool. I do what voidwalker does. But very cool board I wish I had time for things like that.
April 15, 2010 at 2:03 PM
Unknown said…
I envision my MC's personal style to be very like Jennifer Aniston in Along Came Polly. She's has that urban bohemian vibe going on. To help me visualize my MC, I printed pics of Aniston from that movie and have them tacked to my idea wall, in front of my desk.

It definitely works for me! Good luck with your visuals :))
April 15, 2010 at 3:12 PM
Kelly H-Y said…
Wow ... I'm so impressed!
April 15, 2010 at 3:19 PM
Jon Paul said…
Yeah, I do this exact thing, although at the moment I don't have a physical space to work in so the pics, etc., are on my computer.

I find it really helps with character interactions, more than developing the characters themselves.
April 15, 2010 at 5:08 PM
Bossy Betty said…
What a great idea! I love it!
April 15, 2010 at 6:42 PM
Mary Aalgaard said…
That looks really great. It must be so helpful. I'm writing a drama, and I know a few women who will play roles, and I have some others in mind, so yes, that does make it easier to write. I can hear them saying these lines.
April 15, 2010 at 6:57 PM
Lillian Robinson said…
Awesome idea! I have pictures in my mind of my characters, but having an actual photo in my notes would be great. Pics of places would also be helpful. Thanks for the tip.
April 15, 2010 at 7:44 PM
BK Mattingly said…
I don't always use actors, but I've done stuff similar to this to fight off a writer's block situation :) P.S. I like how cute yours is!
April 15, 2010 at 8:41 PM
Melanie Hooyenga said…
I love this idea!

I haven't done that for my characters, but I did have a picture that encompassed the general setting for my first novel as my desktop picture.
April 15, 2010 at 8:51 PM
Katie said…
How great! I've never done this, but it looks like fun! :)
April 15, 2010 at 11:03 PM
Anonymous said…
Wow! That's one organized character chart!
April 16, 2010 at 12:57 AM
Sherrie Petersen said…
Love your board! I have one character in a story that I've been trying to do that for but I haven't found the right look yet.
April 16, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Shelley Sly said…
Dude, that is awesome! I haven't made a board of pictures like that, but I've picked out a few photos on the internet of people that look like my characters. Yours looks great!
April 16, 2010 at 10:45 AM
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