When it comes to understanding and developing characters in a novel, one author has a unique approach that involves taking her characters grocery shopping. Flynn Berry, the author of „Trust Her,“ finds that pushing a cart around a supermarket is the best way for her to truly grasp her characters and bring them to life on the page. This seemingly mundane activity allows her to delve into the intricacies of her characters‘ personalities, preferences, and motivations.
Berry explains that she typically takes her characters to the supermarket when she is about a quarter of the way into a first draft. By this point, she has a solid understanding of her character’s disposition, internal struggles, and overall life circumstances. However, a supermarket trip can help shake loose additional details and insights that further enrich the character development process.
In her latest novel, „Trust Her,“ Berry discovered that her character Tessa cooks as a means of maintaining control and order in the face of mounting threats. On the other hand, Tessa’s sister Marian finds cooking to be dull and restrictive. This dynamic between the sisters opened up a wealth of tensions and complexities in their relationship, adding depth to their interactions and motivations throughout the story.
While some of the details gleaned from these supermarket excursions may not directly make it onto the page, they provide Berry with the confidence and insight needed to authentically portray her characters‘ actions and dialogue. For example, knowing that a character like Eamonn has an empty fridge except for beer and leftover take-out packets may not be crucial to the plot, but it helps Berry shape his character with authenticity and depth.
Berry highlights the vulnerability and humanity that can be observed in people as they navigate a supermarket. Whether they are tired, hungry, worried about prices, or fulfilling the role of caregiver, individuals reveal a lot about themselves through their grocery shopping habits. This vulnerability can be a rich source of inspiration for character development and storytelling.
Throughout literature, there are numerous examples of memorable supermarket scenes that capture the essence of characters and their relationships. From Evie Wyld’s „The Bass Rock“ to Ore Agbaje-Williams‘ „The Three of Us,“ these scenes showcase how food and shopping can be used to reveal character traits, emotions, and desires. Food, in particular, often serves as a powerful symbol of intimacy, tension, and connection in storytelling.
In novels like Claire Messud’s „The Woman Upstairs“ and Kamila Shamsie’s „Home Fire,“ food plays a pivotal role in shaping pivotal moments and relationships. Whether it’s a shared meal that deepens a bond or a solitary snack that reflects inner turmoil, food and grocery shopping can add layers of meaning and complexity to a narrative.
Beyond character development, food and shopping also serve to anchor stories in specific seasons, landscapes, and cultures. Descriptions of summer fruits, winter comfort foods, and regional specialties can evoke a sense of time and place, immersing readers in the world of the story. For authors like Berry, exploring and incorporating food traditions into her writing process has been a way to connect with her characters and the atmosphere of her novels.
In conclusion, the act of grocery shopping may seem mundane, but for authors like Flynn Berry, it is a powerful tool for understanding and developing characters in a novel. By observing how characters navigate a supermarket, make food choices, and interact with their surroundings, authors can uncover valuable insights that enhance the richness and authenticity of their storytelling. Food and shopping scenes not only reveal character traits and relationships but also serve as symbolic markers of emotion, culture, and setting in a narrative. Next time you find yourself at the supermarket, consider the story behind the person pushing the cart – you may just uncover a world of depth and complexity waiting to be explored.
