tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post3717702976085615641..comments2023-10-24T05:53:13.006-05:00Comments on Something She Wrote: Does It Have To Be That Hard?Janna Leadbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-47351365229687688722008-09-02T21:44:00.000-05:002008-09-02T21:44:00.000-05:00Jen, it's great you've got your technique figured ...Jen, it's great you've got your technique figured out. I think that's half the battle for us, really.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-46258826201826665432008-09-02T21:37:00.000-05:002008-09-02T21:37:00.000-05:00Let me also add my dittos to "Do whatever works fo...Let me also add my dittos to "Do whatever works for you!"<BR/><BR/>That said, I've learned the hard way that for me, I have to know my characters as well as I can (though I don't do character charts, it's more like scribbled notes and a lot more in my head)because my stories tend to ultimately be about THEM more than the plot. For me, the plot is a means to an end, to reveal character, to see Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11705320883615938075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-4474686497626117632008-08-31T16:21:00.000-05:002008-08-31T16:21:00.000-05:00Janna, I've often thought the same thing, that it ...Janna, I've often thought the same thing, that it seems like a lot of extra work. Not meaning I don't want to put in the necessary effort, just that I don't think that step is something that would help me. My character notes consist of half a page with character names, plus a brief description of who they are, and that was mostly so I didn't duplicate names. <BR/><BR/>That being said, my story isMelanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-89953945658803233942008-08-29T20:21:00.000-05:002008-08-29T20:21:00.000-05:00I think up my main characters in my mind, coming u...I think up my main characters in my mind, coming up with characteristics and personalities gleaned from astrology signs with certain traits. With anyone's astrological sign, there are other factors such as rising sign which compliments the sun sign, while providing conflicts.<BR/><BR/>For secondary characters, sometimes I keep a brief chart list if there are several, and need to keep a record of Barbara Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610140328527165017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-83648535678735679122008-08-29T18:23:00.000-05:002008-08-29T18:23:00.000-05:00I should add that I do agree with the "whatever wo...I should add that I do agree with the "whatever works for you" sentiment. Thinking about characters beforehand works for me, but it might block the flow for others.WendyCinNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15548500219172368038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-8147079180140277502008-08-29T11:11:00.000-05:002008-08-29T11:11:00.000-05:00Write/right on, Janna! Blow up the "rules&quo...Write/right on, Janna! Blow up the "rules" when they don't apply to or fit you. Every writer knows when he/she is in the groove with a WIP. Personally, I did a basic outline for chapter & plot structure, and like you, my characters are heavily based on real people (or combos of people), so I knew them inside and out without having to lay it out on paper first. <BR/><BR/>WhateverAngie Ledbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16407006980893727627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-71812883809518202502008-08-28T18:52:00.000-05:002008-08-28T18:52:00.000-05:00I spend a lot of time getting to know each of my m...I spend a lot of time getting to know each of my main characters before I get too far in the story. For me, it makes the writing much more controlled. <BR/><BR/>If I don't take the time to do this, then my characters all sort to sound like me and have the same reactions to things that I would. <BR/><BR/>And I'm really not that interesting.WendyCinNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15548500219172368038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-54880258050680227982008-08-28T18:15:00.000-05:002008-08-28T18:15:00.000-05:00I guess my character grows as I go. I have a gener...I guess my character grows as I go. I have a general idea and then I am surprised as he or she takes shape as I write! We each use what works for us, I think!Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-14204439513281519282008-08-28T12:22:00.000-05:002008-08-28T12:22:00.000-05:00Interesting, Joanne! I love how our techniques can...Interesting, Joanne! I love how our techniques can be so different, yet we're each able to put out works of quality.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-59877216298422272542008-08-28T12:12:00.000-05:002008-08-28T12:12:00.000-05:00I like to have a decent profile of my character b/...I like to have a decent profile of my character b/c then I incorporate those traits/interests in the way the char expresses herself thruout the story. It's almost a way of coloring in the character.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-86469281909977828362008-08-28T12:08:00.000-05:002008-08-28T12:08:00.000-05:00Sure, I can see the relevance in that. I make occa...Sure, I can see the relevance in that. I make occasional "notes," too, like you said, so as not to forget a pertinent detail.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-24704640494121641712008-08-28T11:52:00.000-05:002008-08-28T11:52:00.000-05:00Well, I've done both- I've written some stories wh...Well, I've done both- I've written some stories where I've made thorough profiles for the characters, but often that's just so that I don't forget anything I might fleetingly mention (like a birthday or something). Other times, I just write and go with it. I always feel like I know my characters well without the profiling, but the profiling is just more so I have a record of little details justcolbymarshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056535503422186623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-62843609007540576132008-08-28T11:04:00.000-05:002008-08-28T11:04:00.000-05:00Yes, I was trying to figure out how hugs fit into ...Yes, I was trying to figure out how hugs fit into the equation. ;)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your input, Melissa. I couldn't agree with you more.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-61389825986732614322008-08-28T10:54:00.000-05:002008-08-28T10:54:00.000-05:00Ok, that should be "huge" and not "hugs"! hahahaOk, that should be "huge" and not "hugs"! hahahaMelissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-15713226738888271762008-08-28T10:53:00.000-05:002008-08-28T10:53:00.000-05:00I am a very firm believer that what works for one ...I am a very firm believer that what works for one writer may not work for another. Some of us have hugs character biographies or make detailed lists or plot out every scene. And some of us don't. Yet each method works for that person.<BR/><BR/>I think it's perfectly ok to NOT follow the unwritten rules. There are really no hard and fast rules. Even punctuation and grammar can be changed if the Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.com