Beautiful People: Clara and Teresa Tallant

 I've started writing a new story! I've finished the Regency one, and am now taking a break from it before I decide how best to edit it. This new one is set in the present day, but it's not got a particularly modern feel to it; and I decided to do some Beautiful People questions for the main character, Clara Tallant.

First things first: Clara looks quite like Emma Thompson in her younger days:

She's twenty-one at the start of the book.

Here we go with the questions!

What is her full name?

Clara Cecilia Tallant.

Does her name have a special meaning?

Apart from the meanings of the names themselves, not particularly. I chose Cecilia as her second name as I have yet to come across a likable character in literature called Cecilia, so thought I would create one!

Does she have a methodical or disorganized personality?

Fairly methodical. She is neither obsessively neat nor horrifyingly untidy.

Does she think inside herself more than she talks to her friends

(more importantly, does she actually have friends)?

She is definitely an introvert, and doesn't like to talk that much in company; she's learnt to make conversation, however, when it's necessary. Her closest friend is her sister. Her other friends begin to move away from her home town, while she chooses to remain at home.

Is there something she is afraid of?

Her fears are generally fairly nebulous; the most clearly defined is a dread of having to do anything in public. She hates speaking to groups of people, and even in her family, she prefers to stay quiet and listen.

What is one of her strongest childhood memories?

The last holiday her family had together before her siblings began to leave home.

What is her favorite food?

Crackers and cheese! She could happily eat nothing else.

Does she believe in love at first sight?

Not particularly. 

What kind of home does she live in?

Her home is slightly chaotic. It's full of loud, creative siblings, a father who likes to debate, and a mother who loves to experiment in the kitchen. Although she's an introvert, Clara loves the noise - so long as she can shut herself in her room when she wants to.

What does she like to wear?

Elegant, yet unobtrusive clothing. This would be the sort of thing she would wear.

What do your other characters have to say about her?

Her immediate family like her introspection, her occasional moments of quiet drama, and her compassion. They also appreciate her work around the house and in the home. Most other people don't really get it, and think she's wasting her time.

Which one of the seven deadly sins describes your character?

Probably pride. She's apt to be irritated because people don't appreciate her, she thinks; growth in humility is something she needs to work on.

Now... more questions for a different character - Clara's nineteen-year-old sister, Teresa! 

If Teresa were played by an actress, it would definitely by Florence Pugh, even though I've only seen her in Little Women (2019)

What is her full name?

Teresa Phillipa Tallant.

What's her favorite ice cream flavor?

Blackcurrant, with a drizzle of chocolate sauce!

Your character is getting ready for a night out. Where is she going? What is she

wearing? Who will she be with?

She's going to a big party at a friend's house. It will be full of people she hardly knows, with a handful of strangers and about two close friends... and she's looking forward to it! She's wearing a red velvet sheath dress and a sparkly gold capelet, with a matching bag and shoes.

Look at your character's feet. Describe what you see there. Does she wear dress

shoes, gym shoes, or none at all? Is she in socks that are ratty and full of holes? What

does she consider comfortable and what does she consider agony?

She's wearing ankle boots and stripy socks. That's her idea of comfort. She would never wear socks with holes in, or plain black socks.

What does she like to wear?

Let's pick a random outfit...

What kind of music does she listen to? Does it change depending on her mood

or is it always consistent? (Feel free to share samples!)

Her mood is pretty stable... she normally listens to worship music or songs from musicals, and usually sings along... loudly.

Does she have any musical talent? Play an instrument? How's her singing voice?

She'll give anything a go! She plays the bass recorder, and sings alto to Clara's soprano.

What kind of book would you catch her reading?

Probably an obscure cookery book, a book on fashion history, or a classic Jane Austen.

How would she spend her summers (or her holidays)?

Driving for hours to spend a night with friends, going out in the evenings, spending time with her family.

It's Saturday at noon. What is your character doing? Give details. Ex. If they're eating

breakfast, what's on the menu? Is she hiking, shopping, lazing around?

It depends entirely on the weekend. She might be visiting a historic place with her family, she might have gone to help with the shopping, she might be reading... 

There is a specific set of questions for siblings, so here goes!

Describe their relationship in 3 words.

Teasing, caring, sometimes impatient.

What kind of things do they like to do together?

Talking... a lot. Teresa is almost the only person Clara will fully open up to.

What was their biggest fight?

They had an argument about who was going to sleep where in a shared hotel room. Clara got so angry she threw a book at Teresa, and then spent the rest of the evening weeping in remorse.

How far would they go to save each other?

As far as necessary!

What are their pet peeves about each other?

Clara finds Teresa's energy extremely irritating sometimes. Teresa finds Clara's reluctance to interact with strangers vexing.

What are their favorite things about each other?

Clara appreciates Teresa's honesty, openness and fun. Teresa likes Clara's ability to be relaxed and slightly silly when they're together, and her gentleness.

What traits do they share? Mannerisms, clothing, quirks, looks, etc.?

They both bite their cheeks when they're trying not to laugh. They both find pushy people irritating.

Who has the stronger personality?

They have totally different personalities... neither is necessarily stronger.

 

How does their relationship change throughout your story?

It changes in that Clara becomes franker and more open.

I'll leave it there for now, but let me know what you think. I have created a montage, of sorts, which, while not the best, hopefully gives you some idea of the general feel of the story! Would you like to see more BPQ's for other characters in the book? Let me know in the comments!