tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post7424465433936013220..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How To Write Characters Who Are Different From Each OtherStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-40514655853231152742017-01-20T15:54:44.447-06:002017-01-20T15:54:44.447-06:00This really helped me a lot. A lot of my character...This really helped me a lot. A lot of my characters have the same personality and I need to change that. Thanks for always blogging great tips. I would love to read more of these having to do with character development, and creating characters. <3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-85724335231300730702017-01-17T13:36:45.063-06:002017-01-17T13:36:45.063-06:00I love using music for characters, especially for ...I love using music for characters, especially for working out backstories because the music just gets infused into the characters. James Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-23445579488361607042017-01-17T13:33:45.750-06:002017-01-17T13:33:45.750-06:00These are definitely some helpful tips on how to d...These are definitely some helpful tips on how to develop unique characters. Figuring out my character's personalities through backstory is one of my favorites because it forces you to create a context for the character which can just open so many doors.James Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-62686858832668008242017-01-16T23:09:11.760-06:002017-01-16T23:09:11.760-06:00I've done this, too! And I found it really hel...I've done this, too! And I found it really helpful. I need to get back into it, actually. :DRachelle O'Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02884513979937452569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-11536774581289246332017-01-16T22:34:12.120-06:002017-01-16T22:34:12.120-06:00Free writing interviews was a big help to me for o...Free writing interviews was a big help to me for one of my stories the other year (it was actually a lot of fun!), but this is a good reminder to do it again for my current story. <br />As far as something that is different from me, my main character doesn't like thinking about the future. <br />Thank you for sharing all these ideas!! Maryhttps://mistycorners.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1220290233708529662017-01-16T21:40:16.093-06:002017-01-16T21:40:16.093-06:00I tend to write lots of male characters, so they a...I tend to write lots of male characters, so they are all quite different from me in that regard. However, it's more of a challenge to make my female leads individual enough and to make energetic, talkative lead characters, since I am quiet and pensive in nature. I think that's the most prominent piece of my personality that infuses itself in my characters. Thank you for addressing this topic, Mrs. Morrill!Olivianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-61809937456111712072017-01-16T21:28:13.061-06:002017-01-16T21:28:13.061-06:00I'm glad you found something that worked so we...I'm glad you found something that worked so well for you, Jenneth!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-23040459505098802482017-01-16T21:27:33.581-06:002017-01-16T21:27:33.581-06:00I love writing bold, outspoken characters! For tha...I love writing bold, outspoken characters! For that exact reason. I would rather fold myself up into a corner :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56144851806831541902017-01-16T21:26:50.552-06:002017-01-16T21:26:50.552-06:00Christian, I frequently write character journals a...Christian, I frequently write character journals after the first draft. Sometimes I pause during the first draft to do so, if I feel like my lack-of-understanding is damaging the plot, but it's hard for me to do character journals before I've written most of the first draft.<br /><br />I bet music would work really well for some writers. I usually can't handle having anything on while I write!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7823122841358053132017-01-16T21:23:44.943-06:002017-01-16T21:23:44.943-06:00The morality issue is a struggle for many writers,...The morality issue is a struggle for many writers, I think. I've found it's become easier as I get older and have a more diverse group of friends. It sounds like you're doing a great job of being intentional!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-68625935366495728332017-01-16T21:20:36.942-06:002017-01-16T21:20:36.942-06:00It's my favorite too, Tessa!
And I agree. I&...It's my favorite too, Tessa! <br /><br />And I agree. I've discovered more interesting things about side characters from doing the journals. And they're way more fun than filling out charts!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-60738698915145169592017-01-16T21:19:03.673-06:002017-01-16T21:19:03.673-06:00I'm so glad, Lexi!I'm so glad, Lexi!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-29098593615784490682017-01-16T19:00:48.211-06:002017-01-16T19:00:48.211-06:00Had the same problem. My two main characters were ...Had the same problem. My two main characters were "good me" and "bad me." I once tried character journals, but they didn't really work for me until I came up with an altered version: character *interviews*. I inserted myself, as myself, into the story world and met my characters in places like coffee shops. Talking to them like I would conduct an interview for journalism class made them feel more real, and therefore, more diverse.Jenneth Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806251588834115742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-39663797112871015562017-01-16T18:44:02.529-06:002017-01-16T18:44:02.529-06:00He is a boy! He is also outspoken, while I'd r...He is a boy! He is also outspoken, while I'd rather not speak up.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-73326859486342389302017-01-16T16:05:32.754-06:002017-01-16T16:05:32.754-06:00This was a great article and extremely relevant to...This was a great article and extremely relevant to me. A while back I got into an argument with a person who accused me of not being a "mature writer" because I hold a certain worldview. She didn't seem to understand that my characters are not me, and I am not my characters. Especially since, in regards to my current WIP, all but one of my main characters are criminals.<br />And I've tried character journals before but they've never worked for me as I write them before I get very far in the draft and my characters become completely different people who render the previous writing inaccurate. Now I've taken to plotting my story, but pantsing my characters.<br />And has anyone tried making music playlists to get in the characters heads? I'm doing it now with seven songs per character and it actually works pretty well if music "speaks" to you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11881323297366779812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-18411175159583466522017-01-16T12:03:47.443-06:002017-01-16T12:03:47.443-06:00Thanks for this article, Stephanie! I have definit...Thanks for this article, Stephanie! I have definitely been guilty of creating a bunch of me-characters before. I particularly struggle with creating characters whose morality differs from my own. But that's how life is. I have to work hard at letting my characters be what they're supposed to be. For my current WIP, I'm writing characters who come from different backgrounds from each other, and I'm trying hard to stay true to that. Rachelle O'Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02884513979937452569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-89312655373072479252017-01-16T10:30:23.248-06:002017-01-16T10:30:23.248-06:00Love this, Stephanie! Creating characters has alwa...Love this, Stephanie! Creating characters has always been probably my favorite aspect of writing. (Which isn't surprising, seeing that it was my favorite part of playing Barbies when I was a kid, too.) ;) The character journal that James Scott Bell recommends always helps me tap into my characters' history far more than character charts. I love the way their voice rises to the surface during the process, too. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing these tips!<br /><br />Tessa<br />www.christiswrite.blogspot.comTessa Emily Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08625256104634830104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-81569277482680942022017-01-16T09:48:56.148-06:002017-01-16T09:48:56.148-06:00Thanks! I'm working on relaxing and saying, &q...Thanks! I'm working on relaxing and saying, "Okay. My characters don't have to have the same personality."<br />This post will help a LOT. <br />Lexinoreply@blogger.com