ON DRESSING THE PART
Developing a Contemporary Character
Who Never Actually Existed......
......and How To Make Her Real
Let's create a plausible persona, one who never actually existed.
Again, as in the format for an actual person, it is important to decide on specifics of identity for our fictional character.
Name, age, status (marital and community), character traits, abilities, etc. These may then be enlarged upon by careful research. When you are doing your research, please be consistent. Diary sources, letters, newspapers, should all deal with one specific location. It would be most unconvincing to have your Boston-born and bred character living a daily schedule appropriate to the wife of a southern planter. Common sense, of course.
It would be appropriate to combine historical material about two, three or four different women if their backgrounds were similar. Try not to be too complex at first, let your character grow slowly and convincingly. Your clothing and your activities should always be appropriate to your station.
It was pointed out that one of the biggest problems with first person interpretation is that if you do not do your homework, you may fall into the trap of hiding behind your character. The easy way out! For this reason, some individuals prefer to dress and act the part, but speak in third person. They feel that this approach enables them to best interpret the differences between then and now.
First person or third -- it's up to you.