Bottle Trees and Broken Dreams - Synopsis and Character Sheets

I haven't talked about my book in a few months, and I feel like talking about it might get me motivated to finally finish my edits. I'm very close to the finish line, and I'm almost ready to start querying for agents. I'm also fortunate enough that there have been a number of you curious to learn more about the actual content of the book, so that's what I'm bringing to the table this evening.

You can check out the first two parts of this series where I talk about what the manuscript writing process was like for me and give my thoughts after reading the whole thing for the first time in the links below:

Part 1

Part 2

I'll be talking editing and query in the coming weeks, but for today, I just want to talk story. No technical stuff, no complaining about editing, just pure, unadulterated story.

The Synopsis

Felicity Thompson is new to town. The hustle and bustle of New England suburbia grew old, and she thought she’d find solace in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. Unfortunately, from the night she moved in on Willow Street in [Redacted]*, she began suffering from debilitating night terrors.

The nightmares have kept her up, night after night, leading to hallucinations and paranoia that permeate into her waking life. Trying to move forward and create a name for herself, she finds work at a local bar. There, she begins interacting more with the public, and that’s when the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place.

Turns out, this quiet, valley town has skeletons in the closet, and her nightmares are more than just dreams. The two women who haunt the back of her eyelids, are in fact, haunting her as she wakes. She is the vessel that must deliver justice, no matter the costs. Can she succeed?

*The [Redacted] is because I actually have to rename the whole town (found out it was a real place). I'm sorry, I know I said no technical stuff. Just know that's supposed to be a town name.

The Characters

(These character sheets were actually written for a graduate class a little over a year ago. I've gone in and fixed them up a bit. Additionally, I've omitted some parts as they are long, but if you need a good character breakdown template, I can provide the full sheet upon request.)

Felicity Thompson

Age: 26

Nationality: Scottish-American

Hometown: Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Current Residence: [Redacted], Virginia

Occupation: Bartender

Income: $40,000/year

Talents/Skills: DIY, crafting, and hobbies. Home improvement. Bartending. Budgeting. Gardening.

Birth order: Only child

Parents (describe relationship): Deceased. Being an only child, she was relatively close to her parents, but they always kept the relationship professional. Big emotions were never discussed, and she has a hard time opening up and asking for help because of it.

Significant Others (describe relationship): Hamilton [Redacted] – Got very close with each other very quickly. Hamilton seems supportive through Felicity’s tumultuous emotions.

Relationship skills: She can put on a mask and be who she needs to be, a perk of working in customer service. When she’s anxious, she breaks down, and it shows.

Physical Characteristics

Height: 5’5”

Weight: 180 lb

Race: Caucasian

Eye Color: Green

Hair Color: Orange/Red/Ginger

Skin color: Pale

Shape of Face: Heart

Distinguishing features: Freckles, sharp nose, bold eyebrows.

How does she dress? She dresses casually for work at the bar, generally in a tee shirt and jeans. She likes to dress up on occasion in floral dresses and flowy tops. She enjoys wearing natural makeup.

Mannerisms: Both charismatic and awkward, depending on the situation she finds herself in. She can be quick-witted and friendly sometimes, yet distant and cold others.

Habits: She’s a smoker.

Health: Healthy, average 20-something, physically. Suffers from panic attacks and psychosis.

Speech patterns: She’ll take pauses in thought. Umms and likes are common.

Greatest flaw: Anxiety, too trustworthy, sets herself up for sadness

Best quality: Strong-willed, witty, problem solver

Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes

Educational Background: High School Diploma

Intelligence Level: Average

Any Mental Illnesses? Panic attacks, psychosis, delusions.

Character's short-term goals in life: Finish making her new house a home. Find a friend group in this lonely new town.

Character's long-term goals in life: Make a positive, fulfilling life for herself in [Redacted].

How does Character see herself? She goes from feeling like she has all the answers to thinking she knows nothing at all. She’s very wishy-washy in how she views herself. Lots of self-doubt, with moments of confidence sprinkled in.

How does Character believe she is perceived by others? She feels generally liked in the town she’s just moved to. She’s very good at putting on a face in front of others. She recognizes what to say and do to fit in... For the most part.

How self-confident is the character? She fakes it 'til she makes it.

Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof? Emotion 10000%. It drives everything she does. Though she does stop and think about things on occasion, and she is logical, emotions run deep.

What would most embarrass this character? People finding out how “crazy” she really is.

Emotional Characteristics

Strengths/Weaknesses: Kind, smart, adaptable/Paranoid, pessimistic.

Introvert or Extrovert? Extroverted introvert.

How does the character deal with anger? Bottles it up until it explodes.

With sadness? See the previous answer.

With conflict? Runs away from it, she needs time to think. She’ll talk to the person she's in conflict with once she cools off.

With change? Embraces it.

With loss? Loses herself.

What does the character want out of life? To be happy.

What would the character like to change in her life? Her mental state.

What motivates this character? Love and happiness.

What frightens this character? Death

What makes this character happy? Being with her cat and reading a good book. Peace and bliss.

Is the character judgmental of others? She tends to judge a book by its cover without getting to know them first. Can be vain.

How the Character is Involved in the Story

Character's role in the novel: Main character

Scene where the character first appears: The first word of Chapter 1. She is the narrator.

Relationships with other characters:

1. Hamitlon: -- Romantic interest, tumultuous relationship.

2. Donny: -- Coworker at the bar, friendly, father-like figure.

3. Melissa Shriver: -- Felicity’s therapist.

4. Bud Hawkins: -- Patron at the bar who she gets to know over time.

-

Hamilton [Redacted]

Age: 28

Nationality: German-American

Hometown: [Redacted], Virginia

Current Residence: [Redacted], Virginia

Occupation: Receptionist

Income: $30,000/yr from his job, $30,000 in allowance

Talents/Skills: Charismatic, one of those people that everyone just likes.

Birth order: Only child

Parents: Very close with his mother. His father died very young.

Significant Others (describe relationship): Felicity. She caught his eye from the first day he saw her and they formed a close relationship rather quickly.

Relationship skills: Can talk himself out of anything if he needs to.

Physical Characteristics

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 200 lbs

Race: Caucasian

Eye Color: Honey Brown

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Glasses or contact lenses? No

Skin color: Light/Tan

Shape of Face: Diamond

Distinguishing features: Striking, dark eyelashes.

How does he dress? Jeans, jean jacket/leather jacket, tee shirt with the sleeves rolled, cowboy boots, or skater shoes.

Mannerisms: Can seem cocky. Holds his head high but keeps a relaxed demeanor.

Habits: Smoker, drinker

Health: Physically fit

Hobbies: Riding/Fixing his motorcycle, listening to music, hiking/outdoorsman.

Speech patterns: Speaks concisely, with deliberate word choice, and doesn’t falter.

Greatest flaw: Overconfident

Best quality: Good listener

Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes

Educational Background: College drop-out

Intelligence Level: Above Average in some ways, remedial in others.

Any Mental Illnesses? He wouldn’t admit to it if he had one.

Learning Experiences: His father dying so young shaped him.

Character's short-term goals in life: Live fast, die young, have fun.

Character's long-term goals in life: Doesn’t have any.

How does Character see himself? Loves themself.

How does Character believe he is perceived by others? Loved by others.

How self-confident is the character? Incredibly, too much so.

Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof? Both, they’d tell you they were ruled by logic, but emotion is a close second.

What would most embarrass this character? For someone to see him vulnerable.

Emotional Characteristics

Strengths/Weaknesses: Smarts, charisma/Overconfident, egotistical, selfish

Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert

How does the character deal with anger? Quietly and by themselves.

With sadness? Sad? They don’t get sad.

With conflict? Plays it cool and makes the other person look stupid by not showing emotion.

With change? They’re not used to it. They’ve lived in the same place all their life.

With loss? Numb to it.

What does the character want out of life? To find happiness and feel powerful.

What would the character like to change in his life? Leave [Redacted], but it’s best to stay close to his allowance and easy life.

What motivates this character? Selfishness, getting what they want.

What frightens this character? They’d say nothing but losing everything frightens them.

What makes this character happy? Getting what they want. Instant satisfaction.

Is the character judgmental of others? Not outwardly, but they see themselves above others.

How the Character is Involved in the Story

Character's role in the novel: Romantic interest.

Scene where the character first appears: Chapter Wwo as the receptionist at Felicity’s new therapist's office.

Relationships with other characters:

1. Felicity: -- Starts out strong. Very quickly wins her affection. [Redacted, redacted, redacted...]

2. Melissa Shriver: -- She is the therapist, and she owns the office building Hamilton works in as well. They are… close.

3. Bud Hawkins: -- Hates him with a burning passion and lets Felicity know. Convinces her he’s not to be trusted.

-

Bud Hawkins

Age: 28

Nationality: English-American

Hometown: [Redacted], Virginia

Current Residence: [Redacted], Virginia

Occupation: Collects disability/Freelance artist

Income: $30,000 yr

Talents/Skills: Writing, sculpture, painting, drawing

Birth order: Oldest of two

Siblings (describe relationship): Really close to his sister Anna. They got each other through the suicide of their mother and the death of their father to cancer. He’s been heartbroken since she went missing.

Relationship skills: Withdrawn, but when he lets people in they tend to get along. He’s afraid to let himself be known.

Physical Characteristics

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 200 lbs

Race: Caucasian

Eye Color: Light Blue

Hair Color: Dark brown

Glasses or contact lenses? No

Skin color: Warm Ivory

Shape of Face: Square

Distinguishing features: Missing right eye

How does he dress? Jeans, cowboy boots, tee-shirts, sweatshirts, and bomber jackets. Casual, every man from the South.

Mannerisms: Quiet and withdrawn. Moves slowly through the world.

Habits: Occasional beer. Coffee drinker.

Health: Permanently disabled, mentally and physically from a car accident he was in on the night of his sister’s disappearance.

Favorite Sayings: Not a problem.

Speech patterns: Slow and deliberate.

Disabilities: Blind in one eye, PTSD, chronic pain

Greatest flaw: Doesn’t let people in.

Best quality: Kind soul.

Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes

Educational Background: High School drop-out

Intelligence Level: Highly intelligent

Any Mental Illnesses? PTSD, Panic disorder

Learning Experiences: Losing both of his parents and his sister.

Character's short-term goals in life: Get through each day with purpose.

Character's long-term goals in life: Find the meaning of life and happiness.

How does Character see himself? Sees himself as a monster.

How does Character believe he is perceived by others? Believes he’s perceived as a monster.

How self-confident is the character? Not at all.

Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof? Logic; understands how people see him and reacts to that. Hides himself away when he’s emotional.

What would most embarrass this character? He feels embarrassed and socially anxious because of his missing eye. There’s not much more that can make him feel out of place.

Emotional Characteristics

Strengths/Weaknesses: Kindness, Emotional intelligence, Selfless/Self Isolation, Self-Sabotage

Introvert or Extrovert? Introvert

How does the character deal with anger? Breaks down and cries.

With sadness? Breaks down and cries.

With conflict? Runs away from it.

With change? Numb to it.

With loss? Numb to it.

What does the character want out of life? To find healing and forge meaningful relationships with people.

What would the character like to change in his life? Would like to make good friends and show his true self to the public more.

What motivates this character? Hope

What frightens this character? Never seeing his sister again.

What makes this character happy? Hanging out at the bar and writing.

Is the character judgmental of others? Not at all.

How the Character is Involved in the Story

Character's role in the novel: I can't say, it will spoil it!

Scene where the character first appears: Felicity's first day of work, he's sitting at the bar top. Chapter Three.

Relationships with other characters:

1. Felicity Thompson: -- Bartender at the bar he frequents. She [Redacted], and they [Redacted] toward the end.

2. Hamilton: -- They went to high school together and never liked each other. [Redacted, redacted, redacted]...

3. Melissa Shriver: -- His sister’s therapist.

4. Anna Hawkins: -- His sister and best friend. He’s constantly thinking of her and trying to come up with the answer to her disappearance.

-

Other minor characters:

Donny Walker - Bartends at the same bar Felicity works at. He acts as a father figure toward her. He's always saying things that are deep and meaningful by accident.

Melissa Shriver - Felicity's therapist. She's a very by-the-book, elegant, kind of, sort of, up-tight person. She knows what to say and when to say it. She doesn't pull any punches.

Jeanie - She's a psychic who lives and works across the street from the therapy office. She acts as comedic relief, and she helps Felicity through some of her troubles.

Anna Hawkins and Harper Friedman - Two young women who went missing from [Redacted] within 2 years of each other.

What now?

Well, that's all I have for today. Even with cutting things out, the character sheets were long, but hopefully, they can provide good insight into how these characters might interact with one another in the text.

Let me know if you have any questions, whether they're about the story itself or the process of developing characters. Thank you for reading!