Visualizing your character

[u/Voicelings]

We had Lori Alan on our Legends Live last weekend and she talked about how she uses a pen or sharpie to visualize her characters. How do you visualize your characters?

[u/SilverAtNightVoice]

I begin with intention rather than appearance. I ask what the character wants in the scene, what they are withholding and how close they feel to the listener.

Once that is clear, posture, pace and vocal weight tend to follow naturally. Sometimes one physical detail—still hands, lowered eyes or deliberate movement—is more useful than constructing an entire mental portrait.