tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post1451874657631045189..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: People not CharactersElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-31727317144064129242009-11-06T10:49:09.591-08:002009-11-06T10:49:09.591-08:00Michele; I'm extremely low-tech when it comes...Michele; I'm extremely low-tech when it comes to outlining. I make notes about all the main plot points and then put them in order. Different colours of ink help me differentiate the various plots and characters.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-45861965345739636682009-11-06T10:25:15.117-08:002009-11-06T10:25:15.117-08:00Elspeth this is off-topic...You seem very organize...Elspeth this is off-topic...You seem very organized, what system do you use? How do you outline? Do you have certain software you prefer? I'm trying to find my way and haven't yet...I need ideas! Thanks.<br /><br />MicheleJournoMichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11170364981958685438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-84317107957056180412009-11-06T07:02:16.602-08:002009-11-06T07:02:16.602-08:00this is so true and I appreciate your thoughts on ...this is so true and I appreciate your thoughts on it. Authors often write the way THEY think and talk and their characters ALL sound like them and the same. NOT true to life-like. As an editor I run into this all the time. GET REAL - real people are all different, all talk, act, to stupid things, good things, everything in unique ways. It's a challenge, true, but good novels accomplish actualThe Old Sillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09661188622348794193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-28441998955385746772009-11-06T04:35:02.659-08:002009-11-06T04:35:02.659-08:00This is where I struggle, making characters real, ...This is where I struggle, making characters real, then showing their progression as the story progresses. I'm working on it.T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-12206097876147054332009-11-05T18:42:05.922-08:002009-11-05T18:42:05.922-08:00Elizabeth; I am trying. Some might seem familiar...Elizabeth; I am trying. Some might seem familiar types, but there's lots going on underneath the masks.<br /><br />Carol; I still get surprises; today one of my more silent men decided it was time to speak with a very loud voice. I let him; he had a good point to make!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-33480624115734462092009-11-05T18:12:28.642-08:002009-11-05T18:12:28.642-08:00I so wish I could know my peeps in advance like yo...I so wish I could know my peeps in advance like you do. Mine turn around and say, "That's all I'm telling you 'til we get this show on the road."<br /><br />Wanna trade people?Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-80777172669288126292009-11-05T17:51:40.946-08:002009-11-05T17:51:40.946-08:00Elspeth, I love that you're working hard to pr...Elspeth, I love that you're working hard to provide your readers with a new experience---characters that aren't stock characters.Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-41360711439733318332009-11-05T15:32:29.841-08:002009-11-05T15:32:29.841-08:00Jemi; Good for you! I recommend heavy doses of v...Jemi; Good for you! I recommend heavy doses of vodka!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-8693607945966430492009-11-05T14:58:06.077-08:002009-11-05T14:58:06.077-08:00Great post, Elspeth. My characters are real enough...Great post, Elspeth. My characters are real enough to be acting like real teenagers right now! Hopefully that continues :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-3594667249794140832009-11-05T13:22:24.867-08:002009-11-05T13:22:24.867-08:00Elisa; Glad you liked it! I think every writer w...Elisa; Glad you liked it! I think every writer wants to create characters readers would like to meet.<br /><br />Dorte; I so admire those of you who can write a story in 500 words! I don't think I have the skill to write that precisely.<br /><br />Elizabeth; It's odd. I do far more preparation for writing than I ever did when I was acting. Acting was fairly easy. Not sure what Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-29187482989595315472009-11-05T13:00:55.320-08:002009-11-05T13:00:55.320-08:00I am always struck by how much preparation actors ...I am always struck by how much preparation actors do for a role, going way beyond what's in the script, (sometimes as in depth as what toothpaste the character uses), but then you know that because you are an actor. You can't go wrong when you follow Hemingway's advice.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-51621713239785488432009-11-05T12:58:57.887-08:002009-11-05T12:58:57.887-08:00Very sound advice!
I have not always been succes...Very sound advice! <br /><br />I have not always been successful with all my characters, but I think all the flash fiction pieces I have written recently have helped: when you only have 500 words to tell a story, you have to make the character credible in a few words.Dorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-10387457949244030922009-11-05T12:04:39.585-08:002009-11-05T12:04:39.585-08:00Love this post!
I fall in love w/ my characters, ...Love this post!<br /><br />I fall in love w/ my characters, no doubt. I want them to be people my readers yearn to really meet and talk to themselves.<br /><br />And some new ones have been popping in lately. We'll see how long they stay. :)Elisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08399296868934652020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-90873899431912755452009-11-05T11:55:33.457-08:002009-11-05T11:55:33.457-08:00Margot; We seem to employ very similar methods; I...Margot; We seem to employ very similar methods; I hope I have the same level of success as you!<br /><br />Michele; I hope it helps; best of luck!<br /><br />Stephanie; Everyone has their own methods; I'm fairly sure if I didn't plan I'd end up hip-deep in chaos.<br /><br />Crystal; Since you asked; I write it all down like mini-biographies. It does take time, but it's worth Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-23244151401661495582009-11-05T11:38:54.145-08:002009-11-05T11:38:54.145-08:00I can see how having the people developed would ma...I can see how having the <i>people</i> developed would make the actual writing easier to delve into. What I find intriguing is the lengths you go to...down to the smallest detail or piece of information about them. How do you keep all the facts and characteristics straight? <br /><br />I know some writers/authors use post boards, some outlines, some are just THERE - in their heads. Are you able Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04855818112935929377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-63844984542397427462009-11-05T11:31:06.985-08:002009-11-05T11:31:06.985-08:00I'm not a pre-planner by nature. I think about...I'm not a pre-planner by nature. I think about my book but I don't have it planned out. I've tried planning but what I find is that once I start writing, the people take over and reveal themselves to me. It's amazing how often something pops up that surprises me about this character I created. Weird.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-33003404161213949332009-11-05T11:07:08.391-08:002009-11-05T11:07:08.391-08:00I've blamed a couple false starts on the chara...I've blamed a couple false starts on the characters not taking over. But maybed I didn't get to know them well enough before writing. I'm glad I read this today. I was just perusing books on getting organized: in life, in writing, in everything! This is very vital to me right now. Thanks, Elspeth!<br /><br />Michele<br /><a href="http://southerncitymysteries.blogspot.com/" rel="JournoMichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11170364981958685438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-14110793241213785142009-11-05T10:36:13.487-08:002009-11-05T10:36:13.487-08:00Elspeth - You are so right! Real characters are th...Elspeth - You are so right! Real characters are the essence of a good story, whatever the genre. As you say, without those characters, any plot's likely to fall flat because the characters are. I like your idea, too, of learning about your characters - really getting to know them - before you write. I try to do the same thing. And, once I get started writing, I do my best to let the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com