tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post2455957085406341770..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How to Avoid Creating Repeat CharactersStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-80377132759282611112016-08-21T11:16:22.705-05:002016-08-21T11:16:22.705-05:00I'm planning on writing a whole slew of books....I'm planning on writing a whole slew of books. A couple of series, a couple novels etc. (who knows if that'll actually happen) but I think this is great advice! Especially since all my characters are living in the same multi-verse. So the side characters from one story, are the main characters in another. Thanks for the advice! Hopefully I should get all these books done! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-76675546999545523142015-09-02T14:13:53.055-05:002015-09-02T14:13:53.055-05:00This is a good post. I enjoyed reading it.
A thou...This is a good post. I enjoyed reading it. <br />A thought for a possible article: how to avoid characters actually literally SOUNDING like each other. I read things all the time and if I was blind folded in a group of characters, I would never be able to tell which character was saying something. Even peoples' dialogue should be unique in its tone and its word choice. That's something a lot of writers often forget.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02738863731228445934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-81996561846646140352014-01-11T02:16:32.832-06:002014-01-11T02:16:32.832-06:00Thanks for the tip. Thanks for the tip. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-42869210193618224932013-10-07T19:12:08.227-05:002013-10-07T19:12:08.227-05:00I used to go to a hispanic church, and I was able ...I used to go to a hispanic church, and I was able to use it in my latest WIP. While all my characters need lots of work, (especially the FMC, who I'm having to work the residue from my fantasy FMC out of), he fell right into character! It's so fun when things like that happen. :)Connie Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00929239591451167169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-24541893490455864822013-10-07T19:09:15.513-05:002013-10-07T19:09:15.513-05:00I love Character Chatting with my character to get...I love Character Chatting with my character to get know them better. :)Connie Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00929239591451167169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-10523719908648956002013-10-04T20:00:52.384-05:002013-10-04T20:00:52.384-05:00Thanks so much! This is definitely something I'...Thanks so much! This is definitely something I've worried about before (and done...unfortunately. such a bad feeling when you review the manuscript and go, "I've read something like this before...")Olivia Smithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248659353869417682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-24376363913469779212013-10-04T08:01:51.982-05:002013-10-04T08:01:51.982-05:00Like a lot of others have commented, I love using ...Like a lot of others have commented, I love using Myers-Bring. I'm ENFJ and my current MC is INTJ. I found that rather interesting since most of my friends are INTJ. Recruiting my writer friends to roll play with my characters is a great way to learn about them (though time consuming if you're not careful). I also like using Karen S. Wiesner's "Character Sketch" worksheet for getting started. I'm pretty sure you can get the worksheet off her website. Here's a link the sheet I worked out when starting to figure out my current MC. http://leahegood.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/character-sketch-heather.pdfLeah E. Goodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266134192771082815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48618596156273865052013-10-03T19:31:26.014-05:002013-10-03T19:31:26.014-05:00It's kind of hard to explain via comment. You...It's kind of hard to explain via comment. You can e-mail me for all the information.Sarah Faulknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00244256396217402116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-51275241699242393272013-10-03T19:17:19.807-05:002013-10-03T19:17:19.807-05:00What's it about, Sarah?What's it about, Sarah?TW Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213969076030457918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-87131284743703246772013-10-03T17:03:17.276-05:002013-10-03T17:03:17.276-05:00Awesome post! Thank you for posting! I really need...Awesome post! Thank you for posting! I really needed this post, as I'm often fearful of creating "repeat characters".Kristin Doddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-82451633716754920342013-10-03T15:28:44.957-05:002013-10-03T15:28:44.957-05:00I worry that I'm doing the same character over...I worry that I'm doing the same character over and over again that I'm writing the same character with a different name. But, whoo, as I am on my journey, I learn my character--and they never seem the same at the end. (phew!) I live in Indonesia--so I see several different religions, the ways different people live, and lots of unusual that must be used in books sometimes. ;) Good post, I really enjoyed reading it! :D<br /><br />TW Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213969076030457918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-30304540620471582462013-10-03T14:37:10.605-05:002013-10-03T14:37:10.605-05:00i worry about this all the time! I'll have mom...i worry about this all the time! I'll have moments where I think "wouldn't this be cool?!" and I think "nope, did that with your last book, be original!" And will have to have try and brainstorm a totally new character idea. Keeping backstory fresh helps!Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433338978586263492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-38128443401524307502013-10-03T13:47:34.172-05:002013-10-03T13:47:34.172-05:00I was running into that problem recently. Thanks! ...I was running into that problem recently. Thanks! There was one thing that I tried to do to make new characters fresh which is by observing strangers and friends outside and seeing how they react and making stories based on that. I'll try the other advice that you mentioned =)Winfield Lyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04730646624154619977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-21983037119806118592013-10-03T13:37:32.910-05:002013-10-03T13:37:32.910-05:00I've struggled with that too, Sarah. I'm g...I've struggled with that too, Sarah. I'm glad you found a way to fix it!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72903669696476656862013-10-03T13:36:35.746-05:002013-10-03T13:36:35.746-05:00Samuel, this: "I suggest figuring out what te...Samuel, this: "I suggest figuring out what temperament you are before making your characters any of them." was very interesting to me! Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-13738291310063257242013-10-03T13:35:36.972-05:002013-10-03T13:35:36.972-05:00Samuel, yes, I have said that! That's how Skyl...Samuel, yes, I have said that! That's how Skylar came about. Of course Ellie, the main character in my new series, is a lot like me. Her life situation is very different, though. And I don't view her as being me, which was what I did as a teen writer, envision the main characters as myself. If that makes sense :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-10690896884334928712013-10-03T13:32:20.010-05:002013-10-03T13:32:20.010-05:00That's brilliant, Jonathan! Love that idea.That's brilliant, Jonathan! Love that idea.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1133458921384497302013-10-03T13:32:02.676-05:002013-10-03T13:32:02.676-05:00Theme song! Love that idea!Theme song! Love that idea!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-55331931286266708392013-10-03T13:28:44.661-05:002013-10-03T13:28:44.661-05:00I assign very different theme songs to each charac...I assign very different theme songs to each character, and when I find one's personality drift off I listen to their song. <br /><br />But I do have a problem with snippy MCs... And unlike Sara, I have a problem with my characters never wanting to do the right thing. They're all selfish and sarcastic. And they do the right thing only for the wrong reasons >.<J. Liessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14121721342246613055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-29723058288694518972013-10-03T13:24:16.034-05:002013-10-03T13:24:16.034-05:00I sometimes feel the same way. But you're righ...I sometimes feel the same way. But you're right, it is different for different people. :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-85800472896433249642013-10-03T12:07:35.645-05:002013-10-03T12:07:35.645-05:00Hmm. I sometimes find it easier to write about cha...Hmm. I sometimes find it easier to write about characters that are like me, but I guess that's different for different people. Miss Lauren, Myer-Briggs is really useful. It's neat that you're an INTJ too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17458155493064724533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-4087586534417295922013-10-03T09:30:02.459-05:002013-10-03T09:30:02.459-05:00Hey I am an INTJ as well. Myres-Briggs is really h...Hey I am an INTJ as well. Myres-Briggs is really helpful! I generally do a voice journal for my characters then go through the personality types and try to figure out what they are. Since I already have their voice I can easily use Myres-Briggs to help be figure out actions and motives.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12728508020557789277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-82595280202682355922013-10-03T09:21:17.122-05:002013-10-03T09:21:17.122-05:00One thing I've tried is making "Obstacle ...One thing I've tried is making "Obstacle courses" for my characters. It helps me see how each character overcomes obstacles in his or her own way. If they all go about it in the same way, then I know they're too similar.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12156219526438230605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-13723763720379884682013-10-03T08:55:53.072-05:002013-10-03T08:55:53.072-05:00I think Stephanie said that she had a hard time wr...I think Stephanie said that she had a hard time writing novels with a main character that is just like her. <br />It's easier to write about someone with a different personality.Samuel Deckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08117949231936267303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-54747885048808104892013-10-03T08:32:56.354-05:002013-10-03T08:32:56.354-05:00Hey Go Teen Writers! I need help with a teen write...Hey Go Teen Writers! I need help with a teen writer project. E-mail me if you want more information. I need all the teens and writers I can get. My e-mail is sarah(dot)y(dot)faulkner(at)gmail(dot)com.Sarah Faulknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00244256396217402116noreply@blogger.com