tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post7781294739943348057..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: Knowing Your Characters Can Take A WhileStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-37110810920247792402015-03-01T17:15:54.684-06:002015-03-01T17:15:54.684-06:00I agree completely about not knowing the people in...I agree completely about not knowing the people in your story until after the first draft. I just finished the first draft of a fantasy I am working on. I had a lot of ideas for one particular person before I starting writing about him, but as the story progressed a lot of them didn't fit. But maybe they will fit someone else that I haven't met yet or don't know well enough yet. This is what makes writing so much fun - the journey of discovery. :)<br /><br />God bless, Anne Marie :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-67858252584048842342015-03-01T14:38:14.024-06:002015-03-01T14:38:14.024-06:00I feel this way, too! I always have to get through...I feel this way, too! I always have to get through the first draft (and sometimes more) before I really know the character and can capture their voice.<br /><br /><br />Alexa S. Winters<br />thessalexa.blogspot.comAlexa Mintahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865586987033390255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-5230051813706844942015-02-25T10:52:45.623-06:002015-02-25T10:52:45.623-06:00I have the same feeling as well. I won't truly...I have the same feeling as well. I won't truly understand my main characters until editing the 1st draft, or in the subsequent drafts as well. I gain a better understanding as more time continues on.Winfield Lyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04730646624154619977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-40156892451433043052015-02-24T22:29:52.985-06:002015-02-24T22:29:52.985-06:00What a fun idea!What a fun idea!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-69312983922882805282015-02-24T22:29:35.523-06:002015-02-24T22:29:35.523-06:00I've had similar things happen, Emma, and it&#...I've had similar things happen, Emma, and it's so cool when you find that missing piece :) (And it's so crazy sounding that I'm glad we have other writers to talk to when it happens!)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36622997144321811892015-02-24T22:28:24.121-06:002015-02-24T22:28:24.121-06:00I think you're right, Miri. Even for writers w...I think you're right, Miri. Even for writers who like to plan every detail, its impossible to plan out your characters perfectly. They definitely have to be discovered as you go along.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-87852447555091582072015-02-24T22:24:28.305-06:002015-02-24T22:24:28.305-06:00Isn't that the truth? Showers are magical.Isn't that the truth? Showers are magical.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-90697879370951503862015-02-24T22:23:46.614-06:002015-02-24T22:23:46.614-06:00It's comforting to know, isn't it?It's comforting to know, isn't it?Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-82904616558361974022015-02-24T22:23:25.555-06:002015-02-24T22:23:25.555-06:00Agreed!Agreed!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-73009721957334038892015-02-24T21:53:29.165-06:002015-02-24T21:53:29.165-06:00Brainstorming in the shower... so true!... that cr...Brainstorming in the shower... so true!... that cracked me up.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12331254068588265995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-8563652082744920592015-02-24T21:33:17.894-06:002015-02-24T21:33:17.894-06:00I do something called Story Character Chatting (SC...I do something called Story Character Chatting (SCC), where you roleplay with your own characters. It's fun, and great for getting to know your characters.Carrie-Anne Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840611324784474990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-69838442727591138912015-02-24T20:51:11.519-06:002015-02-24T20:51:11.519-06:00I find that my characters are stubborn... takes a ...I find that my characters are stubborn... takes a while for them to tell me everything, takes a while for me to pry them open and find out who they really are. For example, one of my MC's told me AFTER I wrote the first draft of my story that he was abused his whole life. I was pretty ticked at him... I had to go back through and add a lot and rewrite. It made my story have a bit more of a density that was really cool to see that this really fit with everything. It's like a 6th sense. The reasons that they do what they do are all connected in a way that I don't see with my pantsing habits until after they are unfolded and layed out, I can see why they are like they are, why he's so insecure, why she doesn't understand certain things, why he's always afraid and uncomfortable and doesn't have friends. It's really awesome... I love writing. It helps figure out how your brain works as well! Very interesting... Emma Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789949390534981103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56363211373862551682015-02-24T18:53:38.609-06:002015-02-24T18:53:38.609-06:00Great post!
I tend to plot out how I want my MC t...Great post!<br /><br />I tend to plot out how I want my MC to be... only to find when I start writing that she's not reading that way. I used to ascribe this to bad-first-draftness and being an amateur writer, thinking that if I just edited more, either as I went or afterward, then my MC would read right', but I'm beginning to think it's just a part of letting nice streamlined dreams grow into people who don't necessarily behave like they're 'supposed' to. And when I stop caring so much about making sound [adjective], that's when they get their own voice. <br /><br />I guess it's just an adjustment for my perfectionist brain to make, to work out how the character is apart from my original idea of them. I'm planning a new project (well, I say new, but this plot bunny's been hopping around for a long long time) , and one thing that I hope is going to help is that I had my characters interact with my NaNo friends' characters. Maybe now that I've gotten over the shock of them not talking 'right' and struggled through that messiness already into something that feels real-ish, my draft'll be a leetle more smooth. But I think I'm going to have to accept that whatever I do, whether I've plotted like crazy or not, what's gonna happen is that I start writing and mild to horrific chaos ensues. XDMiri Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-49409203874272375212015-02-24T18:06:44.540-06:002015-02-24T18:06:44.540-06:00Yeah I don't end up really loving my character...Yeah I don't end up really loving my characters until after writing three drafts of my first book and first drafts of my second and third book in the series. But I definitely think it's the going through trials with your characters that bond you with them. It's like, you may know all about someone from your friend, but you won't actually ever enjoy that person's company until you meet them and spend time with them for yourself. I like to write short stories about my characters that'll never make it into the book, and I recently started prompted character journals. <br /><br />Then of course...there's always brainstorming in the shower...Jenneth Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806251588834115742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7482059028114661622015-02-24T18:01:46.001-06:002015-02-24T18:01:46.001-06:00I've always liked a good challenge and a large...I've always liked a good challenge and a large cast. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-43201703896584272972015-02-24T17:21:55.622-06:002015-02-24T17:21:55.622-06:00When I started to write my first draft, I felt lik...When I started to write my first draft, I felt like I didn't know my main character at all. Now on my second draft, I feel like I understand her better. I never knew others had trouble with not knowing characters! Great post!Elliana Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16413357069434106041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-89992936643369412312015-02-24T14:42:24.968-06:002015-02-24T14:42:24.968-06:00It takes me a long time to fully flesh out my char...It takes me a long time to fully flesh out my characters as well, and in most cases it takes me more than just the first draft. I find that with each revision pass, my characters get better fleshed out, and that's part of what makes writing a novel so much fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72406805399473913202015-02-24T13:57:52.932-06:002015-02-24T13:57:52.932-06:00When I go back through first drafts, I find a lot ...When I go back through first drafts, I find a lot of times I was close on characterization, just not quite on target. Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-46568576853420369492015-02-24T13:57:01.358-06:002015-02-24T13:57:01.358-06:00That's wonderful! What a help that will be as ...That's wonderful! What a help that will be as you're writing.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-49743270187117537962015-02-24T13:56:21.705-06:002015-02-24T13:56:21.705-06:00Such a great idea, Megan!Such a great idea, Megan!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-35315684504963369832015-02-24T13:55:56.833-06:002015-02-24T13:55:56.833-06:00How interesting! I like edits because I'm like...How interesting! I like edits because I'm like, "Ah. I think I finally have you figured out." :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-13526680296939778342015-02-24T13:55:05.235-06:002015-02-24T13:55:05.235-06:00I'm very similar. It's always worth the ti...I'm very similar. It's always worth the time!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-11687819205611026812015-02-24T13:53:57.263-06:002015-02-24T13:53:57.263-06:00I'm glad you like the quote. I found it really...I'm glad you like the quote. I found it really comforting.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-74032477962659066872015-02-24T13:53:07.514-06:002015-02-24T13:53:07.514-06:00Five POVs is a lot to juggle!Five POVs is a lot to juggle!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-12199022607057133772015-02-24T13:52:36.278-06:002015-02-24T13:52:36.278-06:00Great idea!Great idea!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.com