tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post549407249008080047..comments2024-03-28T03:02:16.508-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: Making Memorable Minor CharactersJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-31166082974654245542021-10-27T18:45:31.232-04:002021-10-27T18:45:31.232-04:00We should get to know about, What is GMB<a href="https://www.toppagerankers.com/what-is-gmb-and-how-to-rank-your-keywords-using-it/" rel="nofollow">We should get to know about, What is GMB</a>Jone Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14350828535907978067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-19950629182353648622021-09-01T13:04:41.176-04:002021-09-01T13:04:41.176-04:00Estes does really well is that she makes her minor...Estes does really well is that she makes her minor characters memorable.<br /><a href="https://accentroofingremodeling.com/roofing-contractor-in-cedar-park-tx/" rel="nofollow">Roofing Contractor Services In Cedar Park TX</a>Jone Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14350828535907978067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-91716119109159638882011-09-30T11:26:55.980-04:002011-09-30T11:26:55.980-04:00YA author John Greene is brilliant at this. I'...YA author John Greene is brilliant at this. I've read his books, and each minor character still stands out in my mind. And I never got any of them confused because he did such a great job of making them unique.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-13468596303057079612011-09-30T10:11:41.778-04:002011-09-30T10:11:41.778-04:00I loved Ginger Pye as a girl! Pinky Pye, too.I loved Ginger Pye as a girl! Pinky Pye, too.Caroline Starr Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-28609562573999461652011-09-30T09:02:44.452-04:002011-09-30T09:02:44.452-04:00Kudos to you for sharing books with your kids, ins...Kudos to you for sharing books with your kids, instead of just keeping it your career. A teacher read "Swampy and Babs in the Okeenokee" by Zan Heyward to us during my elementary years. Those afternoons planted seeds that grew into my own desire to write. I recently found a signed copy of the book on Amazon for a few dollars. Good thing they had no idea what I would have paid for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-55303135519596806042011-09-29T14:09:44.100-04:002011-09-29T14:09:44.100-04:00Makes sense, Jody...
My biggest problem is that m...Makes sense, Jody...<br /><br />My biggest problem is that my main characters always hide from me until I'm doing the rewrite. XD And a lot of times, I worry that they're not sympathetic enough for the reader... I'll have to work on keeping my minor characters in the background until it comes time for them to shine. :]Silent Pageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06538537005860204111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-88140126142178867832011-09-29T12:37:37.271-04:002011-09-29T12:37:37.271-04:00This is super timely for me-- I am just working on...This is super timely for me-- I am just working on these very details right now. Love the idea of levels of importance- such a great way to look at it. Thanks for giving me a little more direction!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-73157871245690232612011-09-28T20:13:53.419-04:002011-09-28T20:13:53.419-04:00Ginger Pye is one of my favorite books, and Uncle ...Ginger Pye is one of my favorite books, and Uncle Bennie a favorite as well. I recommend The Middle Moffat by the same author. Another favorite book with good secondary characters is A Single Shard--an absolute gem. Crane man is used in multiple ways from the irony of his name to the life lessons he teaches the protagonist.<br /><br />I think these unique minor characters really infuse a richness into the great books.Deb Atwoodhttp://www.peninherhand.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-64087025694720459252011-09-28T20:03:52.408-04:002011-09-28T20:03:52.408-04:00This is one of my favorite books, and such a good ...This is one of my favorite books, and such a good example of each point you've made.<br /><br />Have a great week. :)MTeacresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381461599028233499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-76620953297205060422011-09-28T19:04:38.880-04:002011-09-28T19:04:38.880-04:00Hi @Silent Pages! I don't think we want to con...Hi @Silent Pages! I don't think we want to confuse our readers about who our main characters are. We want them to clearly be rooting for the hero and heroines of our stories. So while we need to bring our minors to life, they can't outshine the real heroes! But, I know plenty of authors who pull a minor out of the book to use in the next book. I definitely think that's workable (and we can give our readers somewhat of a teaser or the desire to keep reading the next book to find out what happens). But even with that, they can't take over the story, ya know? :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-44291836097976147912011-09-28T18:40:34.552-04:002011-09-28T18:40:34.552-04:00I'd like to think that not many of my minor ch...I'd like to think that not many of my minor characters fall into the 'cardboard' realm...<br /><br />But as far as the other side of the scale goes... *clears throat*<br /><br />One of my minor characters has become my favorite character ever. Her backstory is this year's NaNoWriMO novel.<br /><br />Does it count as 'taking over the story' if they become the main character of the next book -- the prequel?Silent Pageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06538537005860204111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-78117520977488718652011-09-28T18:21:37.590-04:002011-09-28T18:21:37.590-04:00Thanks Jodie, I found this post extremely helpful ...Thanks Jodie, I found this post extremely helpful and thought provoking. Thanks for sharing!Elizabeth Younghttp://gardengatewares.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-27809865356541774802011-09-28T14:34:03.229-04:002011-09-28T14:34:03.229-04:00Hi everyone! So glad the list is helpful! And Liza...Hi everyone! So glad the list is helpful! And Liza, a cemetery groundskeeper sounds VERY memorable! Love it! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-66813728823001414682011-09-28T13:59:39.581-04:002011-09-28T13:59:39.581-04:00I just invented a minor character who is a cemeter...I just invented a minor character who is a cemetery groundskeeper and remembered where everyone was buried. I had fun with that one. This is a helpful post! Thanks Jody!Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-77628663262310528762011-09-28T11:20:48.339-04:002011-09-28T11:20:48.339-04:00Hmm, I never gave minor characters this much thoug...Hmm, I never gave minor characters this much thought. I mean, I think about them when I'm writing and usually give them a tag and specific purpose, but otherwise left them be.<br /><br />This is an encouraging and eye-opening list--thanks, Jody!MK Jorgensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03531862410439190225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-24458181736079757092011-09-28T11:10:45.451-04:002011-09-28T11:10:45.451-04:00I love creating minor characters. They help shape ...I love creating minor characters. They help shape the main character, help push or pull him/her along to achieve the goal. Without minor characters, books would fall flat.<br /><br />Happy Wednesday!<br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683486631901017529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-9994137645196688262011-09-28T11:02:25.961-04:002011-09-28T11:02:25.961-04:00This is so helpful, thanks a bunch for pointing th...This is so helpful, thanks a bunch for pointing these things out. Also I will have to get this book now. :)Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526875813399934443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-80776683264226690792011-09-28T09:44:23.981-04:002011-09-28T09:44:23.981-04:00Hi Anne & Keli! I truly do think that our mino...Hi Anne & Keli! I truly do think that our minor characters add a layer of richness to our stories that major characters alone can't do. And it's definitely something I'm becoming more conscious of improving with each book!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-51321461232568696512011-09-28T09:06:47.910-04:002011-09-28T09:06:47.910-04:00I had such fun with the minor characters in my deb...I had such fun with the minor characters in my debut novel. My desire was to make each of them unique and memorable but not so much so that any of them stole the show. One of the biggest validations that I did OK was that my publisher used two of the secondary characters in my marketing copy. The marketing team seemed to really "get" the characters, presenting them exactly as I'd envisioned them. It's my hope that readers will enjoy them and what they add to the story.Keli Gwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236868298400593688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-10313248069353842472011-09-28T08:43:07.420-04:002011-09-28T08:43:07.420-04:00I love minor characters. They're subtle, yet ...I love minor characters. They're subtle, yet without them I don't think the book would be as good. <br /><br />And I think that having minor characters with unique names gives them more creedence on the page. Makes you never forget them.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-78293651877591918892011-09-28T08:35:19.145-04:002011-09-28T08:35:19.145-04:00Good morning Jessica and Naomi!
It was great to se...Good morning Jessica and Naomi!<br />It was great to see you at ACFW, Jessica! And Naomi, how did I miss seeing you there? Boy, what a bummer that we didn't meet! It is hard to remember to carry out those tags throughout the book. I sketch out a few important things about my minor characters and refer back to my list throughout the book. I also don't want to overdo the tags! There's such a balancing act, isn't there?Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-30923711687667940712011-09-28T08:16:41.382-04:002011-09-28T08:16:41.382-04:00Nora Roberts always seems to have really memorably...Nora Roberts always seems to have really memorably minor characters. I just read (okay, skimmed) Where the Heart Is by Billie Lettes, and the minor characters struck me right away. I mean, she has a character named Sister Husband with blue hair who gives the protagonist a gift basket with a calendar in it and then says how the protagonist is to ignore the couple AA meetings she scheduled in there. Don't think I'll be forgetting Sister Husband any time soon. :-)<br /><br />And yes, I need to get better at making my own secondary characters stand out. I seem to add tags at the beginning of the novel but don't carry them through the rest of the story.Naomi Rawlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02431203734855694561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-17193936988390967862011-09-28T06:58:43.888-04:002011-09-28T06:58:43.888-04:00Hmmm, I'm not sure how well I handle minor cha...Hmmm, I'm not sure how well I handle minor characters but I posted today about Jule Lessman's most recent book and I really love her character Gabe.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.com