tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post8244086725435011930..comments2024-03-28T08:48:51.749-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: How to Avoid Creating Plastic CharactersJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-38706678976050357452010-05-20T03:56:54.531-04:002010-05-20T03:56:54.531-04:00Do you know, I have failed to get to know my chara...Do you know, I have failed to get to know my characters properly. I know who they are, but not what they are made of. How do I know this? Because of your fantastic worksheet.<br /><br />Yes I have Ywriter to lay out my characters, but it is the little things you have outlined. The nail biting, head scratching stuff.<br />I will spend time on this as my next edit session.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-91279925198226686112010-05-19T17:05:53.497-04:002010-05-19T17:05:53.497-04:00I love your point that you should know the charact...I love your point that you should know the characters before you start writing! Aside from what you mentioned, I just spend a lot of time daydreaming about my characters. I let them live inside my imagination for months (or longer!) before I start writing. By the time I do, I know what I need to know to make them real to readers. :)amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11336975095197662050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-58880680613952561592010-05-18T19:52:14.524-04:002010-05-18T19:52:14.524-04:00I am totally a plot driven girl too!! I think that...I am totally a plot driven girl too!! I think that's why I like romance so well, rarely do you see a romance that doesn't have a well defined plot vs. Women's fiction, which is usually more character and journey driven. I think this is very much preference, but you're right. A plot driven book can't neglect characters, and a character driven book can't neglect plot either.<br /><br />How do I keep them from being plastic? I think some of the same things you mentioned. A past is huge, give them motivations, quirks, and, for me, a personality. The books I like the least have main characters with dull personalities.Krista Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10772828583379163612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-58503946777618022092010-05-18T19:09:09.394-04:002010-05-18T19:09:09.394-04:00Plastic characters - this is an interesting way to...Plastic characters - this is an interesting way to think about it. The picture it generates for me will help me develop genuine characters. Thanks:)Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-476899671126105252010-05-18T18:41:04.412-04:002010-05-18T18:41:04.412-04:00Great post. The crime writer Michael Rowbotham, wh...Great post. The crime writer Michael Rowbotham, who was previously a ghostwriter of autobiographies of 'celebrities', said he believed his fictional characters as much alive as his biographical subjects. I have a pilot in my novel & every time I glance up at aircraft flying overhead (which happens frequently where I live) I imagine him up there.Benisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04571828221792556122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-12462505021949869562010-05-18T18:30:50.322-04:002010-05-18T18:30:50.322-04:00Thanks for the link to the character worksheet, Jo...Thanks for the link to the character worksheet, Jody! Great blog!<br /><br />One of my favorite books on the subject is Debra Dixon's "Goal Motivation & Conflict." I attended a GMC workshop years ago and it was SO fantastic.<br /><br />I'm most definitely a seat-of-my-pants writer, so one key way to develop my characters is just staying open to what they're going to say. I love when they do or say something and I go "I did not know that. But yeah, it totally fits!" Happened today as a matter of fact. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-85618008791379802522010-05-18T13:50:41.513-04:002010-05-18T13:50:41.513-04:00I like what Tab said about writing about people. W...I like what Tab said about writing about people. Whether it's fiction or non, I think the better we allow ourselves as writers to know who we're writing about, the more we can open our hearts to allow them full voice, the richer the story will be.Deb Shuckahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03439395710731341021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-29523098073129753822010-05-18T13:10:28.622-04:002010-05-18T13:10:28.622-04:00Hi Jody -
I'll have to check out your charact...Hi Jody -<br /><br />I'll have to check out your character sheet. <br /><br />I usually have a general idea of who my characters are and what makes them tick before I start writing. On my latest WIP, I used information about their occupation and characteristics of the Type A personality. <br /><br />Thanks for the helpful tips.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Susan :)Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-254379848002697262010-05-18T11:43:52.572-04:002010-05-18T11:43:52.572-04:00Great post!! That Character Worksheet rocks. Thank...Great post!! That Character Worksheet rocks. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!<br /><br />To breathe life into my characters, I actually find actor head shots for each of them, and then watch them in movies and youtube clips to see them in action. Casting my book is one of my favorite parts of the pre-writing process.Erika Robuckhttp://www.erikarobuck.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-1028099167369573022010-05-18T09:00:37.274-04:002010-05-18T09:00:37.274-04:00I love how organized and thorough you are, Jody. I...I love how organized and thorough you are, Jody. I cannot wait to read The Preacher's Bride!!!<br /><br />My characters are already real. But it never hurts to embellish a look or a tone of voice to add a dash of flavor to a personality.<br /><br />The real characters in my stories are sometimes zanier and more horrible than fictional characters!Jeanette Levelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12898750484193832082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-10350872688909187282010-05-18T08:40:37.736-04:002010-05-18T08:40:37.736-04:00I'm still learning how to do this correctly. T...I'm still learning how to do this correctly. The more I write, the more I realize how much has to go into every detail. Especially about my characters--Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-43144574166017148122010-05-18T04:04:26.231-04:002010-05-18T04:04:26.231-04:00I find that working out my characters actually hel...I find that working out my characters actually help me with the story. "What kind of person do I want to write about?" I ask myself. From there, the plot develops. <br /><br />And yes I write up a list of distinct charcter traits, history and appearance so that it remains consistent throughout the story. There is nothing worse than reading a book where the character's eyes are blue and then later in the story they are green for no apparent reason. Very distracting for the reader.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-46299481883806564572010-05-17T23:43:22.904-04:002010-05-17T23:43:22.904-04:00Hey Jody...great post. I try to make my characters...Hey Jody...great post. I try to make my characters real by giving them problems, desires and flaws that people can identify with. My characters are never perfect or larger than life, so hopefully readers can connect with them. <br />But its still a struggle at times to create very real characters.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-87820678802109638282010-05-17T22:56:09.966-04:002010-05-17T22:56:09.966-04:00This is so timely for me, Jody! Thank you! And tha...This is so timely for me, Jody! Thank you! And thanks for posting your worksheet... I will definitely check that out!Kristen Torres-Torohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903038121623389560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-59021607448811647032010-05-17T20:32:04.623-04:002010-05-17T20:32:04.623-04:00Great post, Jody! I have experimented with differe...Great post, Jody! I have experimented with different ways of getting to know my characters. What I have found most helpful for me is writing their backstory. Sometimes it's just a couple of pages written in their voice telling the main things that have happened in their lives up to the point where the story starts. Depending on the book I might do that for several characters or just one or two.<br /><br />I really like your idea of defining strengths and weaknesses. I might try that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-64254762692372294752010-05-17T18:38:20.759-04:002010-05-17T18:38:20.759-04:00Currently, I don't write character sketches. H...Currently, I don't write character sketches. Honestly, I have a fear I will bury my character under structure because I am extemely analytical. I hope to find a balance where I can write fiction with characters pre-planned as you describe and not analyse to the point of paralysis. Great information Jody. It's printed and tacked up on my writing board for further processing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-22305751857084067302010-05-17T17:03:19.077-04:002010-05-17T17:03:19.077-04:00I live with my characters in my head for awhile be...I live with my characters in my head for awhile before I start writing anything down. I figure if I can think about my characters for a certain amount of time and continue to discover things about them, they'll be interesting and dynamic throughout the novel or story I'm writing. Then I fill out character sheets and answer tons of questions about them. Doing this is one of my favorite parts! The characters provide some of the best things in novels, and I strive to write compelling characters just like my favorite novels.Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-48121540510013636112010-05-17T16:48:33.957-04:002010-05-17T16:48:33.957-04:00I fill out character sheets too. I also try to det...I fill out character sheets too. I also try to determine the top five words to describe them. <br /><br />I love, love, love figuring out my characters!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-79936179145999454452010-05-17T15:55:40.443-04:002010-05-17T15:55:40.443-04:00Good post! I love writing relatable characters and...Good post! I love writing relatable characters and find that I look for that in novels I read as well.<br /><br />I don't fill out a character worksheet but I can't begin writing my story until I know some about the character's past, what contributed to the kind of person they are now, and how those events and thoughts motivate their actions now. I also have to know what it's going to take to motivate them to change.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-5621079849003068242010-05-17T15:25:33.827-04:002010-05-17T15:25:33.827-04:00what a phenomenal post. thanks for taking the time...what a phenomenal post. thanks for taking the time to put this together -- so helpful!!Taherehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03111022596822176769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-1114945798079608702010-05-17T14:16:17.620-04:002010-05-17T14:16:17.620-04:00Love this post!!! Great advice and I'm taking ...Love this post!!! Great advice and I'm taking it to heart. Don't need no Fisher Price toys in my book!! :)Jaime Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07768583469408522818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-20205989965060492622010-05-17T13:47:59.771-04:002010-05-17T13:47:59.771-04:00A well timed post for me.A well timed post for me.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-17473318976104385382010-05-17T13:07:43.199-04:002010-05-17T13:07:43.199-04:00Everyone has an agenda.
Remember that, and your c...<b>Everyone has an agenda.</b><br /><br />Remember that, and your characters will come alive.<br /><br />They cardboard up on you when their only agenda is to move the plot forward.<br /><br />Not all of your characters care about your MC or his/her conflicts.<br /><br />Not all of them care about your plot, or where your story is going, or what your opinion is about certain topics (e.g. politics or race relations or cats v. dogs).<br /><br />Agenda.<br /><br />Give them all an agenda and they'll surge to life.<br /><br />Trust me.<br /><br /> - EricEric W. Tranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-82530171038037041282010-05-17T12:19:29.619-04:002010-05-17T12:19:29.619-04:00Thank you for this post, Jody!
I have read so muc...Thank you for this post, Jody!<br /><br />I have read so much about character development and things, but this is a good reminder. I'm working on a short story for a national competition and I've been having a hard time with it. I realize now it's because I just haven't spent enough time with my main character.Karen M. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06972093977468313631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-2663545271399122572010-05-17T12:09:17.951-04:002010-05-17T12:09:17.951-04:00First off, thank you for the character worksheet! ...First off, thank you for the character worksheet! It's marvelous and I may have to print it out to use for my new WIP. Thank you for sharing!<br /><br />The best way I've found to develop my characters is to speak their dialogue out loud and act out scenes. I know, it sounds (and looks) crazy, but if I can act it out, sound it out, and it's believable, I can really feel that character saying and doing those things, then I know they're real enough to continue.<br /><br />Happy Monday,<br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683486631901017529noreply@blogger.com