tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post6436902074271824480..comments2023-08-10T03:35:55.682-07:00Comments on The Prosers: Creating, Summoning, or RevealingSheena Boekweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08227547053651725634noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-66125310918767098422012-02-03T23:22:14.162-08:002012-02-03T23:22:14.162-08:00@Melanie: Yeah, page fifty seems to be the magical...@Melanie: Yeah, page fifty seems to be the magical place where I suddenly realize that I have real characters for me too. :)<br /><br />@Sheena: I didn't know you were a drama major. How awesome. And a villian who loves Jonas Brothers has to be the coolest villian EVER.<br /><br />@Sarah: Aww, thank you. :) Doing a voice journal is a great idea, especially for those secondary characters who don't really get a chance to tell their stories. <br /><br />@Dustin: My family love neapolitan ice cream. Everyone gets the flavor they want. I'm not really sure how to make that a metaphor for writing, but I'm glad this post was helpful. :)<br /><br />@Imogen: I understand your impatience. It is a lot of work for me especially when I have to dig deep into backstory. <br /><br />@Sabrina: A few thoughts.<br /><br />1. I know you write a lot of short stories, and in my limited experience with short stories, my characters never disobey me there. I need about fifty pages before they start the mutiny.<br /><br />2. There is nothing wrong with plot driven stories. I really enjoy Micheal Crichten (most of his works anyway). He always has an interesting concept that keeps me going, and I hardly even notice the MC.<br /><br />3. So many times I love the side characters so much more than the main characters. Not a bad way to go.<br /><br />4. Is it possible that you are too hard on yourself? Send my the Volcano story, and I'll see what I think. :)MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-21567507762262400922012-02-02T21:45:40.239-08:002012-02-02T21:45:40.239-08:00See, that's the thing - my characters definite...See, that's the thing - my characters definitely feel created to me, rather than summoned. I have found that filling in backstory really does help.<br /><br />For me, plot ideas are easy. But that creates sort of a backward process for coming up with characters - who would live this sort of adventure? And that, if I'm not careful, leads to plot rather than character-driven stories. And I have to be really careful that I'm not warping characters to fit the plot. I think my best solution is to develop the side characters as much as possible. That's the way that I've gotten some of my more interesting one.<br /><br />But still, my characters rarely seem real to me - and they almost never disobey. Thus my request for posts. :) So thanks for all the posts on character, everyone! You guys rock.Sabrina Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06218305456791199409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-80448996986923493572012-02-01T19:03:31.740-08:002012-02-01T19:03:31.740-08:00I always have problems with characters, normally b...I always have problems with characters, normally because I never give them time to show me who they are. I'm too impatient to work out their backstory and motivations. I never give them time to have goals. It's something I really have to work on.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05746017057593508370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-21970325664358415112012-02-01T12:42:31.824-08:002012-02-01T12:42:31.824-08:00Indeed, excellent post.
Sadly, I plop characters ...Indeed, excellent post.<br /><br />Sadly, I plop characters into my story ideas. The story ends up like Neapolitan ice cream. You have all the flavors, but they're lined up next to each other.<br /><br />Motivation. Back story. Desire. All good stuff to consider when trying to round out a character.Dustinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00862376335621446963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-57838001212652941952012-02-01T10:19:37.028-08:002012-02-01T10:19:37.028-08:00I have a hard time getting to know my characters a...I have a hard time getting to know my characters and giving them strong personalities sometimes. I always want everyone to be reasonable and rational and then they don't want to do anything interesting. Because I'm so very reasonable :)<br /><br />Acting sounds like a great suggestion. It ain't gonna happen, because I live right outside Los Angeles and acting classes are big business around here... for actors :) But James Scott Bell recommends something similar that can be done privately: A voice journal. Open a new file or a blank page and start writing in that character's voice, in 1st person. I've found that for everyone except my MC, it's a lot harder than it sounds and almost always instructive.<br /><br />Great post, MaryAnn! Thank you. (And while I sometimes ask for backstory, I never doubt that you know your characters inside and out - which is what really makes the story shine!)Sarah McCanlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05692009969291537927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-72323538611239202322012-02-01T07:52:35.620-08:002012-02-01T07:52:35.620-08:00I was a Theatre major in college, and that, to me ...I was a Theatre major in college, and that, to me is the best part about writing. I get to play all of the parts! I've always hated having to stick to just one part, or one accent.<br /><br />My favorite characters are the ones that just show up, without me inviting them. Like the background character that does something interesting, or the villain who surprises me with his fondness for the Jonas Brothers.<br /><br />I love random characters, and characters who are in some kind of pain.<br /><br />For the story I'm working on right now, (one of them anyway) I've been a little stalled, and your post makes me think perhaps I just don't know the characters enough. Thank you!Sheena Boekweghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08227547053651725634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-67123744780761858542012-01-31T16:15:26.922-08:002012-01-31T16:15:26.922-08:00Awesome post! Our methods of characterization soun...Awesome post! Our methods of characterization sound very similar. Right around page 50 of a writing a book I find myself thinking, "I wish I'd known this about this character before I started writing." Maybe I start writing too quickly, or maybe that's a necessary step. I don't know. <br /><br />I've never thought about the connection between acting and characterization before. I like that. Sometimes I even do that when I'm watching TV, though I'm sure it's not as personal.Melanie Crousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10353025724182677932noreply@blogger.com