tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post5825067492994261959..comments2023-10-11T08:54:40.442-05:00Comments on Unedited: Determining your charactersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-14210245345223570492010-05-26T22:44:56.422-05:002010-05-26T22:44:56.422-05:00I loved your character with the fear of corn! Tha...I loved your character with the fear of corn! That made me chortle. ;-) My current character started out based loosely on a friend who was battling an illness. She passed on but will now be breathing her spirit through my pages. She was PERFECT for this WIP. I see her vividly (and have since I started) each time I write. <br /><br />I think all my characters have started out based loosely on myself or someone I have known before they grow into their own. It's sort of like birthing them then watching them mature on their own very quickly as children tend to do! <br /><br />I have to admit that I struggle with faults sometimes. Everyone has them, I know. I tend to overlook them in others and magnify them in myself. My characters can reflect this if I'm not careful!Jennie Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-56471475319031264582010-05-26T21:30:18.740-05:002010-05-26T21:30:18.740-05:00I think my characters take shape while I'm goi...I think my characters take shape while I'm going through the outline process. Some of it is who they need to be for this particular story, and some of it is who they feel to me like they should be. A lot of times they have characteristics and personality traits that I admire in other people and/or wish that I had.Susan Fieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02433408456603462774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-25041970188566645482010-05-26T21:02:33.872-05:002010-05-26T21:02:33.872-05:00I'm in revision stage of a short story current...I'm in revision stage of a short story currently and starting with a character worksheet. So, I'd say my characters develop as I write, and during the revision stage I'll go deeper into the 'corn fields.' I actually thought that was very creative of you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-3080198094084649152010-05-26T20:46:16.281-05:002010-05-26T20:46:16.281-05:00My characters come to me from a magnitude of place...My characters come to me from a magnitude of places. If I see a characteristic I like, I file it away until it is needed for a character.<br /><br />I also love seeing a character in real life. I've never seen a MC though, I have seen one of my really minor characters... that was creepy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01677563505368503476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-29534584526069065212010-05-26T20:27:04.067-05:002010-05-26T20:27:04.067-05:00I just recently started writing random pieces from...I just recently started writing random pieces from my secondary characters because although I felt in touch with my MC, I felt kind of disconnected with everyone else. That helped me figure them out. <br /><br />My current MC just came to me, she was a manifestation of many things in my life right now. I knew her the second I wrote her name. They haven't all been that easy to figure out though :)Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13259529350631356452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-76741054912922122672010-05-26T19:05:11.978-05:002010-05-26T19:05:11.978-05:00I don't know where they come from. Honestly, I...I don't know where they come from. Honestly, I don't. They come to me, they take me on their journey, and I spend the entire first draft getting to know them very well. <br /><br />I love E.'s posts by her characters. Fun!<br /><br />Yay you! for doing Habitat for Humanity. :) That good karma handed you a red-headed inspiration on a plywood platter. <br /><br />Love,<br />LolaLola Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394765053485642935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-28254776803055643212010-05-26T18:56:43.622-05:002010-05-26T18:56:43.622-05:00Ha I stalk famous people and steal their identitie...Ha I stalk famous people and steal their identities, and mold them into who I think they should be. It's fun! You can turn Joe Drug Addict into mr. Suave or Haley Hoe Bag into a princess. :)T.J. Carsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13916627399622909282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-18958740345885334142010-05-26T18:37:35.220-05:002010-05-26T18:37:35.220-05:00For me, characters are defined by the scenarios th...For me, characters are defined by the scenarios they're in. My characters often come in pairs, as my works are romance-heavy. But they're very faint. I "discover" them through writing the first draft. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-8036467017718424302010-05-26T17:53:24.888-05:002010-05-26T17:53:24.888-05:00It all starts with the emotion for me. I know how ...It all starts with the emotion for me. I know how they feel, how they react, what they want. Then I fill in (some) of the physcial characteristics. The rest fills in as I write.Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-71478152720047895432010-05-26T17:36:07.058-05:002010-05-26T17:36:07.058-05:00My characters start as fragments with their motiva...My characters start as fragments with their motivation being my central focus!! Then if need be, I divulge their physical peculiarities in little snippets but not all at once and not too much detail. I want something left for the reader's imagination...Not sure if this is good or not but it's what I do :)angelarenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13639436719051155045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-69614972441938462512010-05-26T17:05:11.700-05:002010-05-26T17:05:11.700-05:00I just let my characters come to me and tell me wh...I just let my characters come to me and tell me who they are. And I usually don't press them for info until it becomes important to the story. Usually. :) Happy SATC day tomorrow!!Kimberly Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13957037411750752950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-60596887458648890192010-05-26T16:52:20.299-05:002010-05-26T16:52:20.299-05:00I like to mold characters based on people I alread...I like to mold characters based on people I already know -- or people I have met. No one famous... just the ordinary folks. <br /><br />Using them as a springboard is fun -- especially with semi-attractive boys who would only be so perfect if I could tweak "this or that" certain thing about them. In writing, I can! It's perfect. ;)Leigh Hutchens Burchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13974935740527936303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-43258632867156884122010-05-26T16:19:54.991-05:002010-05-26T16:19:54.991-05:00I describe in bits and pieces, too, not all in one...I describe in bits and pieces, too, not all in one info dump during the first scene.<br /><br />I also try not to over-describe. If it is not important, I don't mention it.<br /><br />I hate to bring up King, but in <i>It</i>, I didn't realize one of the kid characters was black until midway through the book.<br /><br />It's not always necessary to describe your characters to your reader to give them the full impact.<br /><br /> - EricEric W. Tranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-3987737171677241832010-05-26T16:11:15.561-05:002010-05-26T16:11:15.561-05:00Awesome post! I laughed at the corn example.
My ...Awesome post! I laughed at the corn example.<br /><br />My characters all come from different places (as I mentioned in my last blog post, I got the idea for one character from my own reflection.) Like you, I mold my characters for a while before sitting down and writing about them.Shelley Slyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981620646634240160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-59277451838632413372010-05-26T15:41:39.995-05:002010-05-26T15:41:39.995-05:00Interesting post, Jen!
As for me, my characters a...Interesting post, Jen!<br /><br />As for me, my characters and their storyline kind of popped into my head one day when I asked myself the question "who would be complete paranormal opposites in a dating sense?" After that, they pretty much told me who they were and I just had to listen, but I did know them very well (due to hours of mentally obsessing) before I put them on paper.<br /><br />As for their physical attributes, I have a general idea of what I want them to look like and then I scour the model and celebrity pool to find the exact someone who brings that idea into sharper focus for me. I like having that vivid picture in my mind. I do that when I'm reading, too - pick a celebrity I think fits the author's description. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04109677382274000163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-19858554436134920932010-05-26T15:39:43.305-05:002010-05-26T15:39:43.305-05:00I try to pull traits from different people. And I...I try to pull traits from different people. And I like to "people watch". <br /><br />I started out with a rough idea of what my mc was like, but she really didn't come to life until I was a few chapters in my WIP.Melissa Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530652829980250261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-7372253101381600092010-05-26T14:29:31.426-05:002010-05-26T14:29:31.426-05:00Cool! My characters pop into my head with a detail...Cool! My characters pop into my head with a detailed sketch and then from there I make them form into dimensional people by writing 100 things (or more) about each one. It's all over place, the things I come up with then.<br /><br />However, as you can tell from my last post, I'm losing whom some of the secondary characters are becoming so I'm definitely going to try the writing from their perspective thing!<br /><br />Happy Wednesday!Jackeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351019926958000627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-77068529158972004452010-05-26T13:46:32.533-05:002010-05-26T13:46:32.533-05:00I'm like you, Jen - my characters grow with th...I'm like you, Jen - my characters grow with the writing. It's like they're growing up with me!Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-53346374705020248522010-05-26T12:56:19.461-05:002010-05-26T12:56:19.461-05:00I like to take a mix of people (including myself) ...I like to take a mix of people (including myself) and mesh them into my character. Being a people watcher helps. I like looking for the little unique details of people all around - personable details, as well as physical.<br />Have a great night! :)MTeacresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381461599028233499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-90707173865404057772010-05-26T10:26:19.541-05:002010-05-26T10:26:19.541-05:00Honestly, I have no idea. They just happen. I'...Honestly, I have no idea. They just happen. I've done a few character charts, but they usually take a while and I end up changing a few details throughout the story anyway. <br /><br />I guess most of the time I think of a basic sketch of the plot - the girl is moving from here to here and she's had this type of lifestyle - and then the character creates herself from there. What would be more interesting? An outgoing girl that moves to a new town and joins the popular crowd, or a shy girl that's afraid of moving to a new town but somehow gets accepted by the popular crowd? Of course, I would never use that plotline - it's been done way too many times. But you get the idea.<br /><br />I'm also considering doing voice journals as James Scott Bell has suggested. What you do is start from your character's perspective and just write as them. Don't stop for like five minutes.<br /><br />Tessa<br />www.christiswrite.blogspot.comTessa Emily Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08625256104634830104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-3458821524193626632010-05-26T10:16:32.754-05:002010-05-26T10:16:32.754-05:00Jenna - What a fun experience!! Did you talk to he...Jenna - What a fun experience!! Did you talk to her? Ask her a million uncomfortable questions until you were escorted off the premises?<br /><br />Nicole - Your way sounds so much more fancy than mine!!! Maybe one day I'll be that great. ;)<br /><br />Lindsay - I love the whispers, I never know what they look like from there so they do need work, but they speak and I listen, they're my favorite kind of character.<br /><br />Theresa - You are so right!! Making characters is fun!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-84491413937316743542010-05-26T10:12:45.627-05:002010-05-26T10:12:45.627-05:00I'm like you. I think about looks, problem, m...I'm like you. I think about looks, problem, motivation, voice, and go from there. Sometimes they look like someone from TV, but never anyone too famous. Sometimes I make them up. Building character by character, place by place, problem by problem, is so much fun.Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-51096260162034793422010-05-26T10:12:41.272-05:002010-05-26T10:12:41.272-05:00My MC came to me pretty much as they are. I don...My MC came to me pretty much as they are. I don't know where they came from, but one day they whispered. I did do some of those character sheets half-way through my first edit. But other than that, I knew everything. <br />I'm not sure if it'll work the same next time though.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04313619484424363895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-33213535131764054622010-05-26T09:23:42.591-05:002010-05-26T09:23:42.591-05:00My main characters come to me in a flash, similar ...My main characters come to me in a flash, similar to catching the glimpse of a reflection in a store front window. As I write about them, they whisper to me until I've learned as much as I can about them (a process that never truly ends). At one point, I realize the flash of a reflection looks more like a film in HD.<br /><br />Great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01899768909313326172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122888753760790051.post-57000043521815395602010-05-26T09:15:18.448-05:002010-05-26T09:15:18.448-05:00I recently met my character at a party. I already ...I recently met my character at a party. I already had an idea of who my character was, or more like what she needed to be for the piece to work, but it wasn't quite gelling. When I met this woman, lightbulbs went off and I knew exactly who my character needed to be. She immediately went from 2-dimensional to living, breathing 3-dimensional.Jenna Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07591399291903261245noreply@blogger.com