Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Connecting with Characters

Me: Look Sadie (insert character name here) we need to talk.

Sadie: About what?

Me: Well I asked you to be patient, that once I was finished with Stella we could talk, but now you've stopped talking and are having temper-tantrums, I really don't have time for this.

Sadie: I know, just like you didn't have time for me becuase Stella was so much better than me.

Me: You're really being childsih.

Sadie: AM NOT!

Me: Are Too!!

Sadie: AM NOT!

Me: Are -- you know what nevermind, we aren't doing this.

Sadie: You never wanna do what I want to do!! *stomps feet*

Me: Do you want to talk about the story now? I'm listening.

Sadie: *silence* *blank stare*

Me: Sadie?

Sadie: *ignoring me*

Me: Fine, you can come back to me when you're ready.

Sometimes characters don't like talking to you, but ignoring isn't the answer. Can you relate?

41 comments:

Carrie Harris said...

Heh. My problem is the opposite. My characters are pushy; they won't shut up. Maybe bribe Sadie with chocolate?

Diana Mieczan said...

Hahhaha...I love that:) I agree with Carrie...maybe chocolate would do the trick:)hahaha
Kisses,sweetie

Aubrie said...

Oh yes, sometimes my characters are silent. I have to put them in situations to get them to talk!

Christina Lee said...

LOL! That Sadie sure is a character (pun intended) ;--)

VICTORIA SAAVEDRA said...

This was too funny! I don't really have a problem with my characters being silent, but perhaps these ladies are onto something with the chocolate? Or is she a more vanilla kind of girl?

: )

Vicki Rocho said...

You just quoted sooooo many of the conversations I have with my daughter! She tries to talk over someone else then gets mad because I can't listen to two people at once. When I finally turn my attention to her, she ignores me. UGH.

Maybe I need to give HER chocolate?

Jaydee Morgan said...

Yes, it's one extreme to the other. Either they can't shut up or they don't say anything at all.

Lindsay said...

Hi, I'm back from my hols!

Heehee, you know my vote will be to bribe with chocolate.

Joanne said...

I'd put her in a tricky, totally unexpected situation. She'll be talking before you know it then!

Crystal Cook said...

So funny!! :) Sometimes I have to listen really quietly to mine, they're shy :) Good luck!

Paigeewa said...

Haha, hopefully Sadie will come around sooner rather then later.

I can totally relate though. It's awful when the characters you want to talk to don't, but other characters will and you don't want to deal with them!
Happy Tuesday!

Candyland said...

I wish I had the problem of them not shutting up. Mine ignore me all the time. I have to bribe them to come out and talk.

Sitting Behind Homeplate said...

I'm just in awe of your creative process. Take her to a ballgame (LOL) but really she's teaching you patience and understanding - the tantrums, ignoring you. She's preparing you for something big so be prepare when she drops the bomb. ;)

Connie

Sitting Behind Homeplate said...

Oh and guess what showed up in my inbox? My weekly Borders coupon with Linger smack dab in the middle as my suggestion from them! Guess what I'm ordering ...

Connie

vic caswell said...

i think you handled the tantrum beautifully. better to just wait it out than try to force her to speak (it just won't sound right!) :)

Summer Frey said...

I think your character needs some liquid lubrication, of the vino variety. ;-)

You know me; I'm one of those strange silent writers, the one without any other voice in her head...

Jennifer Shirk said...

LOL! Yes, sometimes they hold back and hold back then all of a sudden will suprise me with too much information. :)

Jillian said...

Ha Can I ever lol.

Cute post.

Meredith said...

Maybe give her a few days to cool off :) Love this post! Characters can be so demanding sometimes...

Laurel Garver said...

My characters do this at times. I invite the troublesome individual to take a walk with me and the pooch on the wooded trails near my house. I ask her a leading question like "how did you feel when...[some plot point occurs]?" Usually she'll get talking.

A said...

You're funny :-)

A said...

You're funny :-)

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss jen! that was fun to read. mostly i dont have trouble with the ones in the book im doing now cause im the hero. i talk lots more when i got a bunch of reesee peanut butter cups on the table. :)
oh, i got a girl in a book i just started. ack! i dont know if shes gonna talk to me or not cause mostly im not so crazy about girls. im gonna bribe her with chocolate and ice cream.
...smiles and hugs from lenny

About Me said...

Characters can so finicky, but it is the writer who is in control, push your weight around a bit. :)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Jen--You won a random prize on my 18 day random question/prize blog party... Please email me your address to skmayh at q dot com. :)

Terry Stonecrop said...

Oh yes, characters can be a major PIA! Especially MC's, if you know what I mean. Gardner and I are at odds a lot:)

Jennie Bailey said...

I have one that is dodging me artfully at the moment with her dark magic. I was planning on setting a trap for her this afternoon. Once I have her, I have ways to make her talk. Many ways. Not all of them pleasant. She doesn't like to be tickled. That may be my form of torture with her. We'll see how quick she talks surrounded by many hands going coochie-coo. ;-) Congratulations on your random win!

Shelley Sly said...

I can relate! Rarely do my characters behave. They're either not talking and refusing to disclose any info that will help me, or they're yakking so loud that I can't concentrate on anything. Oh, characters...

Unknown said...

LOL -- yes, I can relate! Hey, congrats on rolling 600 followers!! Whoot!!!!!

A said...

My characters tend to keep up a stream of conversation until the exact middle of a story/book attempt, and then they shut right up. It's a conspiracy, I tell you.

Rachael West said...

Have you tried giving her vino??? LOL. Thanks for the comment love today you brightened my day for sure!

Clara said...

Oh definetly! That was so cute, sadie is just like a child lol. Characters can be like that soooo often!!!

Try offering her chocolate!

Kimberly Franklin said...

Our lovely characters. What would we do without them??

Theresa Milstein said...

Love this post!

All my characters hate me right now. I feel like a bad mother. I mean, writer.

The Words Crafter said...

I loved this, so funny!!! I think mine are being uncooperative because I haven't paid them a lot of attention lately....gotta go open the doors in my brain and let them play at whatever they want for a while...

Susan Fields said...

Take Sadie on a walk - that'll probably get her talking. :)

Susan Fields said...

Take Sadie on a walk - that'll probably get her talking. :)

LMB said...

Jen,
Thanks for stopping by my blog & leaving such a sweet comment- it truly made my day...Good luck with your own writing! I'll have to read through your past posts & get brought up to speed on your project.

Ramona said...

hey im sorry its taking me soo long to do your drawing. im just busy with animation school etc. but I promise I will at least start it by next week.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

haha..yep, I can relate to that.

Imola said...

Lovely!