Comments on: Answers To Character Creation Questions http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:38:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Destiny http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2497 Destiny Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:15:54 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2497 Thanks for the answer. I think it might just work. Besides, it will give me something new to read. Umm...besides that...yaay! first comment! Sorry, I'm random. Thanks for the answer. I think it might just work. Besides, it will give me something new to read. Umm…besides that…yaay! first comment!

Sorry, I’m random.

]]> By: Lois Hudson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2498 Lois Hudson Sat, 29 Sep 2007 13:59:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2498 Destiny, I think we create those "almost perfect" (they probably start out perfect) characters because we wish that's the way life really was. Movie stars used to be our heroes in the days of high glamour and carefully staged publicity, that we didn't realize was carefully staged. Since the days of tell-all reporting, we see every little (and big) moral flaw. Even physical flaws, because we get the play-by-play coverage of tummy tucks and face lifts. I think peeling away the mystery of these people has removed the "hero" quality to some extent, but it may help us as writers to understand how to create real characters. I had trouble picturing one MC. Someone asked me if he was really necessary to the story. I had to think long and hard - and really get to know him better to make him real - yes, he was necessary. Great conversations. Destiny, I think we create those “almost perfect” (they probably start out perfect) characters because we wish that’s the way life really was. Movie stars used to be our heroes in the days of high glamour and carefully staged publicity, that we didn’t realize was carefully staged. Since the days of tell-all reporting, we see every little (and big) moral flaw. Even physical flaws, because we get the play-by-play coverage of tummy tucks and face lifts.

I think peeling away the mystery of these people has removed the “hero” quality to some extent, but it may help us as writers to understand how to create real characters.

I had trouble picturing one MC. Someone asked me if he was really necessary to the story. I had to think long and hard - and really get to know him better to make him real - yes, he was necessary.

Great conversations.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2499 Lynn Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:50:29 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2499 If a person is dead, can you write about them in a fictional manner? I have a character in a WIP that I knew as a child but he is now dead - he is a minor character. In another WIP that is mostly in my head right now, the historical characters are well known, related to my family through marriage, and my mother keeps telling me they were not well liked (although I don't intend to portray them as unlikeable because I personally think they were heros with flaws). Do I need to ask their family permission to write about them? They lived 150 years ago. If a person is dead, can you write about them in a fictional manner? I have a character in a WIP that I knew as a child but he is now dead - he is a minor character.

In another WIP that is mostly in my head right now, the historical characters are well known, related to my family through marriage, and my mother keeps telling me they were not well liked (although I don’t intend to portray them as unlikeable because I personally think they were heros with flaws). Do I need to ask their family permission to write about them? They lived 150 years ago.

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2500 Camille Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:09:15 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2500 Barb & Randy - thanks for the tip on the book for WOMEN ONLY --- it's on its way! When I looked it up, I noticed Feldhahn has one for MEN and PARENTS also. I bet these would all be useful to writers. THANKS! Barb & Randy - thanks for the tip on the book for WOMEN ONLY — it’s on its way! When I looked it up, I noticed Feldhahn has one for MEN and PARENTS also. I bet these would all be useful to writers. THANKS!

]]> By: Donna http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2501 Donna Sat, 29 Sep 2007 21:51:23 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2501 I also have the book coming, thanks!, as my MC and one of the antags are male. And I'm working on my character letters (this does really make you think about the story as well as the character). I have a question that's not exactly just character related. My WIP is an historical fiction and so I've been doing a lot of research on the places in that period, how people lived, what they wore, etc, and I'm wondering how to keep from getting burnt out on it all before I get to really writing the first draft. Being a freshman I sometimes wonder if I didn't bite off more than I can chew with this story but it won't leave my head. I also have the book coming, thanks!, as my MC and one of the antags are male. And I’m working on my character letters (this does really make you think about the story as well as the character).

I have a question that’s not exactly just character related. My WIP is an historical fiction and so I’ve been doing a lot of research on the places in that period, how people lived, what they wore, etc, and I’m wondering how to keep from getting burnt out on it all before I get to really writing the first draft. Being a freshman I sometimes wonder if I didn’t bite off more than I can chew with this story but it won’t leave my head.

]]> By: Andra M. http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2505 Andra M. Mon, 01 Oct 2007 01:30:07 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2505 Donna: How about writing your story first, then research to add the specific details of the time period later? Donna: How about writing your story first, then research to add the specific details of the time period later?

]]> By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2508 Daan Van der Merwe Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:59:18 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2508 Thank you very much for your opinion. Thank you very much for your opinion.

]]> By: Lara http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2510 Lara Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:32:28 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2510 Feldhan's book is coming back off the shelf - never thought about it in terms of character development. Also, does defining characters by personality type (sanguine, choleric, etc) help make them more believable? Or is that just extra work? I'm loving all the helpful tips - Getty Images, character letter writing. Now I just need to get working! Feldhan’s book is coming back off the shelf - never thought about it in terms of character development.

Also, does defining characters by personality type (sanguine, choleric, etc) help make them more believable? Or is that just extra work?

I’m loving all the helpful tips - Getty Images, character letter writing. Now I just need to get working!

]]> By: Kate http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2512 Kate Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:04:40 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/09/28/answers-to-character-creation-questions/#comment-2512 Al Young, California's poet laureate, said it's incumbent upon us as human beings to write from the POV of someone who is very different from us in some way--gender, race, etc. It's an act of empathy and humanity. Al Young, California’s poet laureate, said it’s incumbent upon us as human beings to write from the POV of someone who is very different from us in some way–gender, race, etc. It’s an act of empathy and humanity.

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