Welcome to my first ever Beautiful People post! Beautiful People is a monthly feature for writers hosted at both the Notebooks Sisters and Further Up and Further In. Its goal is to help us get to know our own characters better. You can read more about it at either of those wonderful blogs.
My first character is my main character from my July Camp NaNoWriMo. Clearly this yet-untitled novel is going to be set in Venice, but other than setting I really have very little to go off of as yet. So some of my answers may be vague, and I may feature Zaneta in another Beautiful People post once I figure out a bit more about her and actually give her a plot.
But for now, here goes!
1) What is their full name and is there a story behind why they got it?
Her name is Zaneta Soranzo. She is named after her paternal grandmother, Giovanna Soranzo, but everyone just calls her Zaneta. (Giovanna -> Gianeta -> Zaneta)
Also, the Soranzi are known through Venice as superior maskmakers. (Not really. Just for the story.)
(Why did I choose these names for her? No particular reason. I googled Venetian names and found some awesome databases, and then put them together because I liked how they sounded.)
2) How old are they, and when were they born?
Zaneta is somewhere between 17 and 20, and she was born sometime in the mid 18th century.
But most importantly, she was born during Carnevale, the day of the Doge's Grand Ball.
3) Describe their physical appearance. (Bonus questions: 1. What is their race/nationality/ethnicity? 2. Do you have a picture of them? If so, include it!)
Willowy stature and moderately tall, with long, thick, wavy brown hair, and large green eyes. A delicate nose and high cheekbones. A small, cherry mouth, with a fantastically charming smile. Long dexterous fingers (occasionally with dirty nails). Can do a lot of intricate handiwork, but is rather clumsy otherwise.
Bonus question 1. Why, Venetian, of course, and proud of it! The Soranzi family goes a long way back.
Bonus question 2. Sorry, no picture yet.
4) Describe your character's personality first in one word, and then elaborate with a few sentences.
(This one was hard.)
Whimsical. That word has a certain innocent and pure quality, and Zaneta definitely is both to a certain extent, but there's also a hint of secrets and mystery. Zaneta loves discovering mysteries and also has some of her own.
5) What theme song(s) fit their personality and story arc?
This:
(BUT DON'T THINK ABOUT THE TITLE. Ignore the title of the piece. Or the random weird picture of the redhead and the naked slenderman. Click play and close your eyes and just listen to the music. That is Zaneta, and her story. (Especially the beginning.))
6) Which one of the seven deadly sins describes your character?
Pride.
7) If they were an element (fire, water, earth, air), which one would they be?
Air.
8) What is their favorite word?
Mask. Maskmaking is in her blood.
9) Who's one person they really miss? (It could be someone who's passed away, or someone they're not close to anymore, or someone who's moved away.)
Her father, Bartolomeo Soranzo. He died a few years ago, and she took over his maskmaking business.
10) What sights, sounds, and smells remind them of that person?
His maskmaking tools that she inherited, his final unfinished mask hanging on the wall.
Well, that was fun! If you're a writer, consider doing one of your own.
~Sophia
Zaneta sounds like a really intriguing character. The fact that Maskmaking is in her blood makes her even more so! Good luck on Camp NaNo this July!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I am so excited to write about Venice :-)
DeleteZaneta sounds very cool. Though I was expecting the song to have words (from the way you talked about it), I enjoyed it anyhow. I think it's neat how you used a classical song.
ReplyDeleteWhy did you choose air as her element? You didn't elaborate at all, and I'm very curious on that point.
the writeress @ barefoot in the snow
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteSo I chose air because I find her just a bit flighty. She acts on her whims and says things the instants she thinks of them. Whichever way the wind blows her, that's the way she'll go.
Though I do think there's a spark of fire in her as well, one that I've discovered the more I write about her.
I love that! Now I like her even more.
DeleteI just read your comment form. I entirely agree: book discussions do make the world a better place, and there aren't nearly enough of them! That's one of the biggest reasons I enjoy blogging, because I get to talk about books and characters and plots and all of that. Especially characters.
ReplyDeletethe writeress @ barefoot in the snow
YES I ADORE good Characters. And the reason why I blog is because my parents got tired of me giving them long dissertations on whatever book I was reading. (They didn't expressly say it, just smiled and nodded, but I know they're not book people.) So I'm glad I found a place for my book discussions. :-)
DeleteHahaha, yes. Why does it seem no one near you in the real world likes long discussions on books and movies and characters? I'm lucky to have found some friends recently who do, which is sort of what actually got in into blogging (though I did already have a blog). Anyhow. It is neat that I can say whatever I like, and people can read it or not, but I can still have fun doing it without bothering anyone about it.
DeleteEXACTLY! Though now I do have some bibliophilic real-live friends/acquaintances (and I think many of them read this blog). And fangirling in real life is so much better than just writing "squee" online and using all caps :-)
DeleteI don't fangirl very much (I'm muchly introverted...usually), but it is so much funny in person. Said friend fangirls quite a lot. It's funny because, she's extroverted and I'm introverted, and on the surface we're very different. But we're actually exactly alike. So I suppose you could say I fangirl in my own way, especially when I'm around her ;)
DeleteHer blog is Scribblings, by the way. Figured I'd mention it while I'm at it :)
I'm introverted too, but not shy. (I think that's an important distinction to make.) Social interaction is just an effort for me. But once you get to know me and get me talking, I will fangirl your head off, especially about books.
DeleteOh and thanks for the link!
Yes, that is, I suppose! I used to be terribly shy, when I was little, but no one believes me lol But I can always get talking if you get me on the right subject in the right mood.
DeleteNo problem! Enjoy.