As writers, we hear a lot about editing and revising. There are books and workshops about it. We have pithy sayings like, “The secret of writing is re-writing.” Make no mistake about it, I’m a big fan of revising; I certainly wouldn’t want anyone reading my early drafts.

What we don’t talk about as much, though, is an earlier phase of the writing process. Pre-writing. Almost every workshop I’ve ever attended focuses on the writing phase (plot points, conflict, dialogue) or techniques for the re-writing phase. In fact, pre-writing sometimes gets a bad rap, as it often gets equated to outlining or planning out every plot point for a story. But there are other forms of pre-writing that even the staunchest “pantser” should be able to get behind.

Before I get into the specifics, let me explain the goal of the following exercises. When you write a novel, you are typically writing about a slice of the characters’ lives, a particular set of circumstances that brought them together with a goal, obstacles and conflict, and resolution. But unless you’re writing a sweeping saga, there’s a lot that has happened to your characters and in your world before the story begins. And those events shape who your characters are, what options are available to them, and what choices they make.

In other words, what you share with the readers of your book is likely only a portion of what you need to know about your character. It can be fun to get to know the characters as you move them through the plot in your book; however, there’s also some value in meeting them before dropping them into your story. The goal of these exercises is to help you better understand your characters and the world they inhabit before you start putting words on the page.

And, yes, I’m well aware that the idea of pre-writing makes some writers cringe; they would just as soon spend an afternoon inching along in the traffic and pollution of I-25 than invest any time in writing anything but their manuscript. Totally okay. I approach some projects that way. Other times, though, I find myself getting stuck as I get into a story, unsure of who my characters are and what they would do next. These exercises help me get unstuck.

Exercise 1, Character Sketches:

Write broad-stroked sketches of your main characters. Include their physical descriptions, what makes them unique, and their fears and desires. You can refer to these sketches as you’re drafting, and they’ll help you understand how your characters might react in certain situations.

Exercise 2, Backstory:

Go deeper on your main character and write his or her backstory. Start at some point before the action of your story and explore the events that have shaped your character’s thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. Are they bringing emotional baggage into your book? Unpack it here; it can help you with foreshadowing and adding texture to your character’s actions.

Exercise 3, Setting:

Describe your setting. Is it based in the real world or is it imagined? Write about its weather and population. Understand its cultural practices, spiritual beliefs, and political systems. What makes your setting unique? Discover why it is the perfect location to set your story, out of all the other worlds you could have chosen.

Exercise 4, Character Perspectives:

Write about an event from today’s news in the voice of your main character. Really think about how that character would interpret the event, what language and expressions they would use to describe it, and if they would judge it to be positive, negative, or neutral. Now, write about the same event in a different character’s voice. How do the two characters experience the same event in different ways? What causes the differences? Is that a source of conflict that might surface in your writing down the road? This is one of my favorite exercises because it forces me to get to know my characters on a more-than-superficial level.

Exercise 5, Best and Worst Days:

Write about your main character’s best and worst days. What was it that made these days good and bad? How do these days figure into your character’s overall goals and worldview? Who else was involved in these days? Like the previous exercise, this one helps you take a deeper look at your character’s makeup and understand how they will behave in future circumstances.

Photo by Pexels at Pixabay.com

Travis Tougaw grew up in a military family. As a perpetual "new kid," he quickly learned the value of sharing stories to connect with others. Having settled down after his own stint in the Air Force, Travis stopped relocating, but he's never stopped telling stories. He's always on the lookout for characters and storylines that will grab readers' attention and keep them turning pages. Travis lives in Colorado with his wife and children. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, outdoor activities, playing musical instruments, and trivia competitions. All four books in his Marcotte/Collins investigative thriller series (Foxholes, Captives, Last Call, and Death Grip) are now available. Learn more about Travis and his books at https://travistougaw.com.