building compelling characters: part one!

this month's paid newsletter is all about fleshing out your characters

A few weeks ago, I opened up to questions on Instagram and someone asked how I flesh out my characters. I loved that question so much I decided to answer it in long form! Enjoy!!!

This is December’s paid newsletter. All subscriptions this month will be donated World Central Kitchen. Thank you for subscribing <3

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You know that famous saying that goes like: I’d rather be someone’s shot of whiskey than everyone’s cup of tea?

Lots of assumptions in that one, like…

Not everyone likes tea. In fact, I know very few people who enjoy a cup of tea without the requisite three tablespoons of white sugar.

And people don’t necessarily enjoy a shot of whiskey? It’s sort of just a means to an end. If liquid dog doo-doo got people drunk as effectively as whiskey, I think many people would be taking shots of it, also. So, where does that land us?

I’d rather be someone’s shot of pure, unfiltered liquid dog shit than everyone’s cup of diet Dr. Pepsi.

Better?

Marginally. If anything, it's at least a little more culturally relevant.

How’s this for culturally relevant: I’d rather be someone Molly Rutter than everyone’s very demure, very mindful.

Let’s go back to the original for today’s newsletter.

If you’ve entered the public sphere with your art, you’ve probably had to cling to this phrase by the whitened, aching tips of your fingers. But, as you can see, the tighter and harder you hold on to a platitude the less it makes sense.

I don’t think what I’m doing is tea or whiskey. I think my art is doing a third thing.

Today we’re talking about fleshing out characters. Real, grounded characters who feel like people you know, you’ve met, you’ve loved.

This is your warning

You need to know this now—