tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post1429346076261436620..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: What To Do With Characters Who Don't Yet Have A Story by Katymarie FrostStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-31313200391445013782016-09-12T06:37:01.079-05:002016-09-12T06:37:01.079-05:00Stickmen always count! I love stickmen! Pictures a...Stickmen always count! I love stickmen! Pictures aren't required anyhow. I just get a lot of my character ideas from when I doodle while listening to things like lectures or lessons and stuff, so a lot of times that's what I have. With all that other stuff, you would have enough information to have some very good, viable candidates. Hopefully this helps them out, and and you!Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84129927021105740402016-09-11T04:50:12.688-05:002016-09-11T04:50:12.688-05:00I am most definitely trying this! Usually I just d...I am most definitely trying this! Usually I just do the whole 'character résumé' thing and answer questions on them, get their MBTI personality type. I'm not very good at drawing though....do stickmen count? :)Elle https://www.blogger.com/profile/07518290032673211900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-78128903584458603252016-09-07T21:37:52.126-05:002016-09-07T21:37:52.126-05:00I'm sorry about your computer, Hannah. That ha...I'm sorry about your computer, Hannah. That happened to mine just before I wrote this article. I was really lucky because I had emailed myself most of my big stuff just to make sure I had a backup. It sounds like you have some fun ways of coming up with characters. I have gotten characters the flash-fiction way before too. Usually that ends up stretching into a larger story, so they usually don't get as far as my shelter. Good luck on your observation characters. I haven't really tried getting characters that way. Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-71821082087987434772016-09-07T21:21:42.031-05:002016-09-07T21:21:42.031-05:00Thanks for this post. I might just have to try the...Thanks for this post. I might just have to try the folder thing. My computer has crashed three times and I've lost tons of good writing so, it'd be nice to have a backup. <br /><br />Character typically come to me in the form of flash-fiction like scenes. Where I get an inspiration about their character and write 2,000 or so words on them. I keep all those stashed in an 'Inspirations' folder on my computer. Currently, though, I'm using a different tactic. I'm observing two people in my college classes and gathering as much info as I can about them. I'm hoping to have a full character profile by the end of the year. Of course I'll change names and genders and switch up backstories and stuff, when I put them into a story, but yeah. And I can't draw to save my life, so I don't create many stories that way. :) Jesus Girl (aka Hannah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15188623825301576640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-90698455776907538692016-09-07T18:45:13.309-05:002016-09-07T18:45:13.309-05:00You are so lucky to have a friend that can do that...You are so lucky to have a friend that can do that for you! My cousin made the cover for my book, but as for just drawing out characters, I'm on my own. Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-6642730860495876802016-09-07T18:38:02.033-05:002016-09-07T18:38:02.033-05:00I tried another character drawing again (not the s...I tried another character drawing again (not the same person though) and even though she didn't turn out exactly the way I pictured her it was still a cool drawing. I haven't really stressed about character drawings, mostly because I shared my story with a friend and she drew some awesome pictures of a couple characters. She's an amazing artist.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652485434796760077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-77939853052983000122016-09-07T17:51:37.096-05:002016-09-07T17:51:37.096-05:00Yay! Another success story! That's awesome, Ju...Yay! Another success story! That's awesome, Julia. And thanks for being so nice about my drawings. It doesn't usually turn out how I hope when I try to draw my characters either. I guess these ones were a little different because they started out as drawings, so I really didn't have expectations yet. I usually just draw stuff for myself and my own satisfaction, so I don't stress if they don't turn out perfectly. Don't give up on drawing characters if you like it. Just do it for fun. Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56575259785693118442016-09-07T17:38:05.347-05:002016-09-07T17:38:05.347-05:00I am very happy if my idea can be of use to you! I...I am very happy if my idea can be of use to you! I never really thought of calling it an orphanage, but that works just as well. Hopefully your characters all get adopted eventually. Eventually, meaning soon, rather than later ;-) Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-50940816118375636572016-09-07T16:56:03.008-05:002016-09-07T16:56:03.008-05:00This is a cool idea, Katymarie. I'll definitly...This is a cool idea, Katymarie. I'll definitly be trying this out. I sort of already have a homeless shelter, but it's mostly filled with names and plot ideas. Though I did once add a character to it and now he has his very own story.<br />Your drawings are really cool, by the way. I tried drawing a character once, but my art skills were a bit lacking and she didn't turn out how I hoped.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652485434796760077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-31880474055689711112016-09-07T13:00:14.033-05:002016-09-07T13:00:14.033-05:00I very much enjoyed your post, Katy! Thanks for sh...I very much enjoyed your post, Katy! Thanks for sharing. I have lots of homeless characters but haven't thought of making a folder for them, which is silly considering my obsession with file folders. I think I will start an orphanage folder straight away! :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-24794006006904389952016-09-06T14:59:08.459-05:002016-09-06T14:59:08.459-05:00Thank you for you kind words, Olivia. I love to dr...Thank you for you kind words, Olivia. I love to draw my characters too. It's one of the things I do when I feel like I've hit a wall in my writing. Somehow doing something different, yet still related, helps put me back into the right frame of mind. There are one or two I can never get to look quite right, but I do it more for fun than for perfection. I'm sure your characters would love a shelter to camp out in until they find another good spot to appear. It sounds like a perfect spot for them! Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-6855413541826434192016-09-06T14:29:56.170-05:002016-09-06T14:29:56.170-05:00Good article, Katymarie! Like all your other reade...Good article, Katymarie! Like all your other readers, I love your artwork. I think they have a lot of character, and I especially like the medieval themes. I sometimes sketch out my characters to help get a solid visual, but it's not super easy for me, and I usually wait until I have a lot of info on them and a particular purpose for needing to draw them before I start. I have a few fun misfits who appear briefly in my first book that I'd like to use again, so maybe I should give them a homeless shelter to camp out in until then. :) Thanks for sharing, Katymarie!Olivianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-47821099368992340212016-09-06T14:22:16.680-05:002016-09-06T14:22:16.680-05:00I think a lot of people probably have something si...I think a lot of people probably have something similar. I guess calling it my homeless shelter just helps me feel more connected with my characters--like they're more human or something. I don't know if that's always an advantage, but they all hold a special place in my heart, whether they have a home in a story or not. Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-5846096955132890162016-09-06T14:08:11.086-05:002016-09-06T14:08:11.086-05:00What a fun idea! I do have a file on my computer t...What a fun idea! I do have a file on my computer that serves this general purpose--I call it my Ideas folder, but most of my ideas are just character backstory, LOL. Love calling it a homeless shelter though. Perfect. =)Roseanna Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245767775900250399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-82387261005767449722016-09-06T12:18:44.069-05:002016-09-06T12:18:44.069-05:00Thanks Maddie! I love having everything in one pla...Thanks Maddie! I love having everything in one place for easy access. I will confess, I'm not perfect at keeping it that organized all the time, but it makes such a difference when I do. I hope this helps you and your characters. Good luck with your shelter! Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-39064014933532645382016-09-06T12:06:12.344-05:002016-09-06T12:06:12.344-05:00Thanks Ashley. I so hate having to cut awesome cha...Thanks Ashley. I so hate having to cut awesome characters! At least this way they aren't entirely gone. Maybe he will get an entire story of his own someday. Or at least a great part in someone else's. Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-24829820714004232782016-09-06T10:13:08.470-05:002016-09-06T10:13:08.470-05:00This is such a cool idea! I love the idea of havin...This is such a cool idea! I love the idea of having it all in once place. While I do document my random character ideas, they're scattered abroad. I have a list of names I like in one notebook, and then random scraps of paper in random folders full of random story and character facts that take three million years to find if I decide I need them. If a character is super persistent and I get lots of ideas for them, but no real story, I'll make them their own pinterest board sometimes. But a shelter...oh, I may have to start one of my own. Great post!<br />Maddie Morrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10881137664211550244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-76565506297023413362016-09-06T09:48:28.484-05:002016-09-06T09:48:28.484-05:00LOVE this idea. I always have more characters than...LOVE this idea. I always have more characters than I know what to do with. I just had to cut a DARLING, oh-so-quirky character from one story because he wasn't carrying his weight... He definitely needs a place to go for a while. Ashleyhttps://thewriterlyone.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-61407758504604623372016-09-06T06:11:33.916-05:002016-09-06T06:11:33.916-05:00Thank you for your kind words about my drawings, J...Thank you for your kind words about my drawings, Jessica. I've never been very shy about letting people read my writing, but I do get slightly self conscious about my artwork. I hope you enjoy your own homeless shelter for characters, and I really hope my book is worth the wait! Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-51319594512817088642016-09-05T22:20:38.760-05:002016-09-05T22:20:38.760-05:00Wow! You are an amazing artist Katymarie! Making a...Wow! You are an amazing artist Katymarie! Making a 'homeless shelter for your characters is an awesome idea! Thanks for the post!!! I can't wait to read your book!!!! :)<br />~Jessica :)Victoria Penninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424056855251658404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-77756798076642686872016-09-05T16:53:38.460-05:002016-09-05T16:53:38.460-05:00I am becoming more and more convinced I need to ut...I am becoming more and more convinced I need to utilize Pinterest with this. I have an account, but I hardly ever use it. Now I'm beginning to think I need to re-explore it. Sounds like your system works great for you. Thanks for sharing!Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-15304025274551432702016-09-05T16:50:44.426-05:002016-09-05T16:50:44.426-05:00I love having names! I need to work on building up...I love having names! I need to work on building up my list again, since I've pretty much exhausted what I had. I hope this idea works for you and some characters. Perhaps your names will come in handy when you come across a character without one. Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-86490394870767365572016-09-05T16:47:17.028-05:002016-09-05T16:47:17.028-05:00This sounds like a great use for Pinterest! I migh...This sounds like a great use for Pinterest! I might have to try it to have an electronic copy of mine. That way I could access it from any computer with an Internet connection. Cool idea. Thanks!Katymarie Frosthttp://www.katymariefrost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-86689354884814124412016-09-05T16:41:02.280-05:002016-09-05T16:41:02.280-05:00I don't do this exact thing, but have a simila...I don't do this exact thing, but have a similar mix of things. In my "office" I have a stack of small papers with individual names written on them that I have heard and liked that I will sometimes flip through. Then, on Pinterest, I have two boards dedicated pictures of people who I think look like interesting characters and for whom I will sometimes put descriptions with. Then I have another board where I pin any "recycled" ideas that have been cut from my novels, including characters. I like using pinterst for this because it is easy and backed up on the internet but can also be made secret.Bookishqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04815467506294547118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-91590329660993031402016-09-05T16:38:49.809-05:002016-09-05T16:38:49.809-05:00Cool post! I've never thought about saving up ...Cool post! I've never thought about saving up characters, though I do have a master file for names I've picked up which has been super helpful. I'll have to give this a try:) Reid Xhinoreply@blogger.com