Comments on: Knowing Your Characters http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:17:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Christophe Desmecht http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3413 Christophe Desmecht Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:16:57 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3413 A while ago, people kept telling me that they loved my writing because "I knew the characters I was writing about." I wondered how that was possible, because I invented most of my stuff on the spot and let things flow how they would naturally flow. I then came to the conclusion that I knew these characters so well because they were all based on people I knew or knew about. They weren't exact copies, in fact most of them had been mixed and matched. But this I think made me write about them in a way that felt natural to me, and then I guess also felt natural to read about. Susan, have you ever written about people you knew? Or wrote characters based on people you knew? And if you did, how did you do your pre-writing in those cases? Thanks for the wonderful information. I'm learning a lot thanks to you! A while ago, people kept telling me that they loved my writing because “I knew the characters I was writing about.” I wondered how that was possible, because I invented most of my stuff on the spot and let things flow how they would naturally flow. I then came to the conclusion that I knew these characters so well because they were all based on people I knew or knew about. They weren’t exact copies, in fact most of them had been mixed and matched. But this I think made me write about them in a way that felt natural to me, and then I guess also felt natural to read about.

Susan, have you ever written about people you knew? Or wrote characters based on people you knew? And if you did, how did you do your pre-writing in those cases?

Thanks for the wonderful information. I’m learning a lot thanks to you!

]]> By: Robert Treskillard http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3415 Robert Treskillard Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:02:29 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3415 I would think that the ability to write at least 1 good book a year (minimum) would be considered a positive sign to an agent and a publisher, especially if you are proposing a series of books. Is that true? Would a publisher look askance at you if you told them it took you 2 or 3 years to write your first book--even if it is good? One other question, Susan. I am assuming the speed you are talking about is for the 1st draft. How long does it take you to edit it into presentable material? I would think that the ability to write at least 1 good book a year (minimum) would be considered a positive sign to an agent and a publisher, especially if you are proposing a series of books.

Is that true? Would a publisher look askance at you if you told them it took you 2 or 3 years to write your first book–even if it is good?

One other question, Susan. I am assuming the speed you are talking about is for the 1st draft. How long does it take you to edit it into presentable material?

]]> By: Cate http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3416 Cate Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:02:07 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3416 Ah, so I'm not crazy, that's good to know! Susan, I really liked what you said about inviting your characters to hang out with you--I'm going to try that. Except--well I might have to make some adjustments as they're science fiction characters. But they might like to see earth for a day or so, who knows? I might have to explain the PB and Js. Quite honestly, I'm surprised at what you call pre-writing. Everything I've ever heard called pre-writing involves long dissertations on research to form arguments...which I have a natural aversion to. But what you are suggesting, what a liberated approach! Is this like what you call composting, Randy? Ah, so I’m not crazy, that’s good to know!

Susan, I really liked what you said about inviting your characters to hang out with you–I’m going to try that. Except–well I might have to make some adjustments as they’re science fiction characters. But they might like to see earth for a day or so, who knows? I might have to explain the PB and Js.

Quite honestly, I’m surprised at what you call pre-writing. Everything I’ve ever heard called pre-writing involves long dissertations on research to form arguments…which I have a natural aversion to. But what you are suggesting, what a liberated approach! Is this like what you call composting, Randy?

]]> By: Karla Akins http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3418 Karla Akins Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:30:19 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3418 This part of writing is actually my favorite part. I love getting to know my characters. I do sometimes base them loosely on people I know -- at first. I will say something in my notes like, "she is like Virginia" to remind me a little bit of the direction I want the character to go in the story. But as I continue to create the character, they really do become their own unique creature. I love the idea of the interview and "talking" to them. I hadn't thought of that! And I'm going to try the journal entries, too. Thanks! See, this little bit here and little bit there is good for me as a working Mom with three kids with disabilities at home. I can work on this while I'm tending the home fires. I can do things a little bit here and a little bit there as time allows, and eventually all the little bits will come together. These are wonderful tips. I appreciate them! This part of writing is actually my favorite part. I love getting to know my characters. I do sometimes base them loosely on people I know — at first. I will say something in my notes like, “she is like Virginia” to remind me a little bit of the direction I want the character to go in the story. But as I continue to create the character, they really do become their own unique creature.

I love the idea of the interview and “talking” to them. I hadn’t thought of that! And I’m going to try the journal entries, too. Thanks! See, this little bit here and little bit there is good for me as a working Mom with three kids with disabilities at home. I can work on this while I’m tending the home fires. I can do things a little bit here and a little bit there as time allows, and eventually all the little bits will come together. These are wonderful tips. I appreciate them!

]]> By: D. E. Hale http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3419 D. E. Hale Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:33:25 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3419 You know, I've done the whole "character interview" before and it is extremely helpful in getting to know them on a much deeper level. Sometimes, they've even surprised me in their answers. Maybe I HAVE lost it, huh? What's frustrating is when I get to know them, and then find out that they are completely wrong for the story. One time, I needed my MC to have a love-interest, so I started forming a girl for him. Well, once I got to know her better, I found out that she was completely wrong for him. He would not even give this girl the time of day...ha! Anyway, I'll have to try letting my current MC hang out with me. I know you said to only do one at a time, but could you imagine the interaction I'd get from letting all three of my major characters hang out at the same time? You know, I’ve done the whole “character interview” before and it is extremely helpful in getting to know them on a much deeper level. Sometimes, they’ve even surprised me in their answers. Maybe I HAVE lost it, huh?

What’s frustrating is when I get to know them, and then find out that they are completely wrong for the story. One time, I needed my MC to have a love-interest, so I started forming a girl for him. Well, once I got to know her better, I found out that she was completely wrong for him. He would not even give this girl the time of day…ha!

Anyway, I’ll have to try letting my current MC hang out with me. I know you said to only do one at a time, but could you imagine the interaction I’d get from letting all three of my major characters hang out at the same time?

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3420 Camille Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:01:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3420 Oh please oh please, I'd love to see a sample of a character interview and a journal entry. I don't know why, but I like to see a person's thoughts in print. (those pesky visual types) I'm having fun learning a little about my characters as they exchange letters on behalf of two old ladies. I hear you need to be careful when including letters in a novel, so I'll be sparing with them since there are several over the course of the story, but I like the hero's first letter, and how the reader will see a slightly sardonic side of the hero through this letter that the heroine is too gracious to see. Oh please oh please, I’d love to see a sample of a character interview and a journal entry. I don’t know why, but I like to see a person’s thoughts in print. (those pesky visual types)

I’m having fun learning a little about my characters as they exchange letters on behalf of two old ladies. I hear you need to be careful when including letters in a novel, so I’ll be sparing with them since there are several over the course of the story, but I like the hero’s first letter, and how the reader will see a slightly sardonic side of the hero through this letter that the heroine is too gracious to see.

]]> By: Carrie Neuman http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3421 Carrie Neuman Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:03:14 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3421 Camille, I'm a big Orson Scott Card fan. In his Ender's Shadow series, all the chapters open with an email or short exchange of emails so you see what the characters were doing behind the scenes. Sort of like Randy's sequels. Some of the best lines in Shadow of the Giant were in the emails. Camille, I’m a big Orson Scott Card fan. In his Ender’s Shadow series, all the chapters open with an email or short exchange of emails so you see what the characters were doing behind the scenes. Sort of like Randy’s sequels. Some of the best lines in Shadow of the Giant were in the emails.

]]> By: Anna http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3422 Anna Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:37:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-3422 This is a great post, because this is what I keep planning on doing. I have made journals for a few of my characters, but sadly I'm not sure how to start them. I feel like it needs to be what they would think or say, and I still haven't quite found their voice yet. My MC has multiple personalities. It's kind of like every littler personality that only she would know about if she weren't so out-going was being released into public, but at the same time, she is very secretive. I like the idea of hanging out with a character. So how do you find the voice of your character? Especially when they're so hard with those multiple personalities...the kind of characters that stand out from most of the others. The problem is making her unique and unlike most characters written without making her seem inhuman....as with no faults. She drives me nuts! She's a fantasy character as well, so how do you deal with that? What kind of questions do you ask to non-Earth people? (She is human though...just try adding pointy ears. :) ) Anna This is a great post, because this is what I keep planning on doing. I have made journals for a few of my characters, but sadly I’m not sure how to start them. I feel like it needs to be what they would think or say, and I still haven’t quite found their voice yet. My MC has multiple personalities. It’s kind of like every littler personality that only she would know about if she weren’t so out-going was being released into public, but at the same time, she is very secretive. I like the idea of hanging out with a character. So how do you find the voice of your character? Especially when they’re so hard with those multiple personalities…the kind of characters that stand out from most of the others. The problem is making her unique and unlike most characters written without making her seem inhuman….as with no faults. She drives me nuts! She’s a fantasy character as well, so how do you deal with that? What kind of questions do you ask to non-Earth people? (She is human though…just try adding pointy ears. :) )

Anna

]]> By: 10 Best Resources For Creating Fictional Characters | Literaryzone http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-7908 10 Best Resources For Creating Fictional Characters | Literaryzone Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:43:12 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/17/knowing-your-characters/#comment-7908 [...] Ingermanson has 6 published books and is a writing mentor for many young fiction writers. Great advice by him on how to go about character [...] […] Ingermanson has 6 published books and is a writing mentor for many young fiction writers. Great advice by him on how to go about character […]

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