As some of you are aware I am currently working on test runs (backstories in particular and finding individual's voices) on my characters before starting to write my actual book series. The duration of the test runs has been in no way, shape or form anything of what I've expected.

When I wrote my first one, it was about the character Krystal. Her test run was three pages long. I wrote it in June of last year (2013) and I wrote it within a day (excusing continuing edits I added later on). Melissa's test run began in about August. I had just started the second page of hers when I realized I would have to expand on my explanation of the place I was describing. 

Krystal's test run was not an issue at the time because I wanted the backstory to focus on the point of where each girl (or later character or villain) would have a moment that really changed their life. Krystal's test run was simply a scene in which she had to make a very ultimate decision. When Melissa's began, I had all ready started to write it in a form of a tale in which multiple explanations to past things needed to be explained before moving on to more current pieces in the character's life. 

The document of Melissa's test run remained frozen as it was till about the end of October beginning of November. In which time, I had gotten married and also moved to a different state. I had added more and more new material to my notebook. And as I was getting some more readers involved with my writing, I started again to write her piece since I had all ready decided certain points and what their backgrounds were. 

As a writer, you have a lot of different options to go. Your focus could be narrow or broad. I was focusing on a past book series that when I first read it I was like many girls and I loved the heartthrob male character. Yet, years later after seeing the movies and rereading the series. I realized that there wasn't much backbone to the characters. You see, there was nothing holding the characters up besides what I believe is the first layer (the mask) what you initially see. 

Some characters in the book series did have a little bit more of a layer including the male heartthrob I talked about but there still wasn't enough. There was one particular character who had an entire chapter devoted to his backstory in one book but he was the only one and he wasn't really needed at all till the third book. Afterwards, he merely falls back into the background as he did in the other books. Even after reading his backstory, when you think of the series he's still not a big character. 

I want my characters to have depth and I want even smaller characters to have memorable moments. The character's backstory I just mentioned. All of the focus went to his backstory, yet when the character is seen in the present he's just there and has some lines to be said. He lost his focus and edge once the backstory is gone (and of course after the scene for which the backstory was made for). With my characters, if they get a backstory they will continue to grow and not just for one particular scene.

And not only with thought. So many stories, including the book series mentioned, focuses purely with character's thoughts. The character thoughts guide the reader but thoughts in general can paint very big pictures. The way the world is worded by the character gives depth and meaning or at least should. It's crucial because the reader needs to relate to this. 

Just because a reader can relate to thoughts about how a character is feeling isn't enough. There needs to be more expansion and more challenging elements both for the character, for story progression and for the reader. Which I know, can be troubling for some readers. 

Some readers, do not want to expand or think on a deeper level because when constantly done it can be exhausting. Therefore, there needs to be an equal amount between thought provoking moments and more easy to follow scenes and dialogue. It doesn't have to be only between a war battle of two groups and characters enjoying themselves and resting before the battle. Gradually things will be more complicated and gradually they will become more simple. 

The aim for equilibrium is the fact that my story (the overall book series is referred to as "the story") has quite a few elements of fantasy, yet there is a lot of truth and reality woven in simultaneously. So though it's a fictional story, it's very much lifelike. And in life we are faced with both the complicated and simple. And detailing is all about that.

Which is why all of this is so crucial to my writing. In order to further with the test runs, certain ideas and character backgrounds of other characters need to be established and agreed on. As a writer of course, elements and thoughts can change throughout the process. But my overall goal is to have the ground foundation laid out before the series writing begins. The foundation pieces I'm looking at includes: 

1. Scenery -all of the lands being affected, what special places and items are there and what are the looks of the different lands 

2. Backstory -of every immediate character needed for each particular book which in this case relates to the girls of the team, the main leader, leaders, all of the villains and perhaps some mini backstories of particular characters that play other roles. 

3. Pace -this is huge which I had just started to calculate last night. For example, the girls meet each other at different ages and different times. Age is a huge factor for both the girls and the villains. Age helps me figure out different parts about the characters and what they acted like at the time and how they talked. This also helps me add in pieces between the books of what the character is now doing and how they have changed. Pace also helps me figure out what happens in each book leading up to the finale. 

4. Easter eggs -this term I learned from a dear friend. What it means is that there are certain key pieces that will be touched on in the books and later revealed. When it's decided, what parts will be revealed later, it's much easier to know where to place them in writing. 

5. Minor characters or those that don't hold a role as much as the main but are still very important- I'm sure as I write the series some new characters may be added and some taken away. But there are some characters that need to be figured out before the series starts because they place a huge value on plot. 

These elements will help flesh out my foundation and it's no easy task. I have four different main areas (main lands) each with three lands in them as well as two more private worlds to be touched on later. I have six people in the team and four villains as well as four leaders. And be assured, not everyone will be included all at once nor in the same book.  

Pacing also has a lot of work to be done, as well as the easter eggs, which leans a lot into characters and scenery. There are a few characters created all ready that are minor compared to the main but there is still much to be worked on. 

So yes, that's the plan so far and the progress. Writing can be exhausting and tiring but if in the end I have a story that is worth telling....well the wait and work is worth it. Till next time, always stay strong. 

Note: The pictures shown are collages I've made to have a more hands on look at character look and personality choices about the character. Since I mentioned the two test runs (Melissa's being the one in current process) I thought I would share them. Personality is represented in a lot of ways including clothing choice. Krystal is more reserved, serious, and precise so she has more of a classy look while Melissa is positive, full of life, and gentle so she has more of a bright look.