Fetch me pretty boys

[pbray]

Copyedits were expressed to NYC today. I would have sent them out yesterday, but the Northeaster kept me homebound.

First on the agenda was a trip to Kinkos to photocopy the copyedits*, prior to their mailing. I was surrounded by frantic taxpayers photocopying their returns while I serenely hogged a machine and proceeded to photocopy my novel, much to their dismay.

Back to the pretty boys--this weekend as I was at the writer's retreat, a few of my fellow writers were startled to find that I had taken a break from writing to surf the internet, looking for pretty boys. I explained that part of my writing process is to find an actor who resembles my character and then print off their picture as a reference. This helps keep physical descriptions consistent, so characters don't change hair or eye-color midway through the novel. I already have the major characters for the first two books, but needed to add to their number.

Here's Lieutenant Burrell, a supporting character in THE SEA CHANGE, who will be elevated in importance in the final book, and thus warrants his own photos. Mmm, isn't he pretty?

*Yes, I'm obsessive compulsive and photocopy everything just in case a meteor strikes the DHL delivery truck, why do you ask?

Comments

[pbray.livejournal.com]

You're smarter than you knew!

This was a tip I learned years and years ago from a romance author, and I've found it invaluable.

As I recall, the author recommended clipping intriguing photos from TV Guide and saving them in a file so you could flip through them as needed. In the days of the internet you can get so much more online--not only a specific physical type, but also their appearance in a relevant costume.

I keep the photos of my main characters so that they are always visible when I'm at the computer, and it's been enormously helpful. I'm not visually oriented, so having the pictures means I don't have to remember how I described them before, since the character is right there in front of me.

Though perhaps its best that I not mention the Regency Paper Dolls....

[mmarques.livejournal.com]

I have a character sheet for each person, and every time I mention a physical detail, I add it to the page. I also add special memories, and other bits about the person's past that come up.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a neat way to keep track of things.

I *try* to be organized at the start of each book, but by the end I'm devolved into chaos.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

Wait, they have Regency paper dolls?!? Where do I sign up?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Dover Publications. They're like crack for historical writers. Fashions of the Regency Paperdolls by Tom Tierney (http://www.amazon.com/Fashions-Regency-Period-Paper-Dolls/dp/0486293351/).

Dover also makes Pride & Prejudice paper dolls, and other sets from the Georgian/Regency era.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

Oh my. How many kinds of awesome is that??

(And so cheap, too. I love that about Dover.)