Behind the Curtain - Writing Advice
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There is a term I've found myself using quite a bit lately. Negative space is hardly something that I coined, but I think it relates to a concept that many beginning writers fail to grasp appropriately. I sometimes find myself feeling the need to put a long, complicated explanation into my text regarding why a character acts in a certain way. The truth really is that sometimes the most effective way to sketch someone is simply by letting the reader realize what it is that that character isn't thinking about.
Our characters are just like us. Our thought processes are defined by who we are, and more often than not we never even contemplate things that others see as logical, obvious concepts.
More and more I'm coming to understand that when I have to use too many words to get my point across it really just means that I'm using the wrong techniques to try and do the job. The next time you're struggling with characterization, maybe it's time to take a closer look at your character and see if there is a better way to sketch them.