tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post1511723800399495705..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How to Build Unique Character VoicesStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-90313241434560330202015-02-21T10:48:25.087-06:002015-02-21T10:48:25.087-06:00I remember you saying Character Journals are helpf...I remember you saying Character Journals are helpful, so I tried it with my villain. It kinda failed miserably, so I put it off for a bit and learned more about him by writing a transcript/narrative of me personally interviewing him. That worked!<br />Then, just a week ago, I decided to try Character Journals again. For my Creative Writing class we have to do three journal entries a week: two prompted, one free write. The prompted entries were getting boring because they were all about me, but I really got down to business when I forced my characters to "write about a privilege you earned" or answer "what is one machine you couldn't live without?" It so worked!!!Jenneth Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806251588834115742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-31836366062631145532015-02-18T21:22:54.007-06:002015-02-18T21:22:54.007-06:00If it were me, I would just focus on building a st...If it were me, I would just focus on building a strong friendship between the two. Maybe since they're working together you could focus on how they work as a team to protect this girl? Or maybe they could discuss it like Tricia said, and decide it would be better not to have a romantic relationship because of how dangerous their job is, and it would be hard if something happened to one for the other person?<br />Anyway good luck! :D<br />-DeborahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-75543672385439170202015-02-18T14:21:09.605-06:002015-02-18T14:21:09.605-06:00I'm reading 'Assassin's Apprentice'...I'm reading 'Assassin's Apprentice' by Robin Hobb and the main character has a fantastic voice which also manages to grow as the character ages. I've often found getting someone to interview or interviewing my characters helps catch the voice. In terms of questions, some I've found useful have been general life coaching ones, and this list http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html?referrer= which is part of a study on self disclosure and has some really deep questions (when was the last time you cried in front of someone?).I've yet to try journaling the answers though. That'll be something to try...Miriamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-89131160889696334772015-02-18T01:23:18.931-06:002015-02-18T01:23:18.931-06:00Thank you all for your suggestions. I just forgot ...Thank you all for your suggestions. I just forgot to mention one thing - they've just met. (It'd be kinda hard for her to know his parents since they're dead, too) They're not best friends and they haven't been since they were kids as they've only just met. The religious thing was a nice suggestion but it won't work in my story nor will the marriage thing. It's hard especially since I can't pair either of them off. I was hoping that by putting an age gap (of three pathetic years!) in between them, it'd help but it's not. Maybe I should just find what they have in common and draw on that, as well as elaborating other friendships of theirs. Can anyone think of movies or books where the guy and the girl are just friends? It'd be good for me to study those relationships I think.<br />Oh and Deborah, one of my close guy friends and I were always 'shipped' together, even though nothing was going on. It separated us for a bit (the rumours made it awkward) but in the end we had a really easy friendship. I think part of what made it a friendship is that it was always funny, teasing and competitive. We wanted the best for each other and did favours or helped the other out. A little bit of plotted havoc in class never went astray either. <br />The problem I have, is that my characters are so dynamic that it's hard for them to do these kind of things. So basically They're both guards of sorts who are friends with the girl they protect. Obviously the three of them spend time together but I need to develop out my Mc's friendship with him. It's very hard but your suggestions have got me thinking. Any new ones would be appreciated too :)<br />-Sairah Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09489321889654683033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-39878098025624434102015-02-17T21:34:08.646-06:002015-02-17T21:34:08.646-06:00I just finished Airhead by Meg Cabot and I was imm...I just finished Airhead by Meg Cabot and I was immediately struck by the voice in that.<br />Also, great post! Voice is something I never grasp until closer to the end of the first draft, so I have to go back and edit that in. But by then, I know what my charries sound like, so it isn't too hard to spot the parts that aren't right.<br /><br /><br />Alexa S. Winters<br />thessalexa.blogspot.comAlexa Mintahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865586987033390255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-77602109628860141942015-02-17T11:52:47.479-06:002015-02-17T11:52:47.479-06:00Okay, thank you! I really appreciate your guys'...Okay, thank you! I really appreciate your guys' advice! Naomihttp://www.writingtoinspire7.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-461893983962250462015-02-17T10:59:58.368-06:002015-02-17T10:59:58.368-06:00STEPH!!! You must see this. It's wonderful and...STEPH!!! You must see this. It's wonderful and very applicable to your life right now, though I don't think your children are quite so wild. I think Ben will like it too. Brad did. I laughed so hard I cried, though I was at the theater and laughter is infectious...Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-57711849898064072292015-02-17T10:58:02.479-06:002015-02-17T10:58:02.479-06:00Thanks, Steph. I loved reading Eleanor's voice...Thanks, Steph. I loved reading Eleanor's voice in Eleanor & Park. I also loved Sam's voice in Jerk, California.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-44271556349327700292015-02-17T10:01:59.008-06:002015-02-17T10:01:59.008-06:00I keep hearing that I need to see that :)I keep hearing that I need to see that :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-49500012146898944232015-02-17T10:01:32.873-06:002015-02-17T10:01:32.873-06:00Yes, that's very freeing, isn't it? I spen...Yes, that's very freeing, isn't it? I spend a lot of time fixing character voices in edits.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-78818026989614312802015-02-17T08:29:51.935-06:002015-02-17T08:29:51.935-06:00If you want a good example of voice watch 'Mom...If you want a good example of voice watch 'Mom's Night Out.' Every single one of those characters have a unique voice and it's fun to watch how it plays out. :) Jesus Girl (aka Hannah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15188623825301576640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-29186498251098740192015-02-17T08:02:08.241-06:002015-02-17T08:02:08.241-06:00Stephanie,
This whole post was helpful, but t...Stephanie,<br /> This whole post was helpful, but the thing that stuck out to me the very most is that your character voices aren't always perfect in the first draft. Mine aren't either, but I was kind of afraid that, if I didn't get it right in the first draft, it would never happen. Or that my character would say something out-of-character and a key scene be dependent on it (making revision difficult).<br /> It's encouraging to know that character voices can be perfected later. Thank you!Esther Brooksmith (wisdomcreates)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15010043354045249021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-2249309740328054952015-02-16T21:11:37.319-06:002015-02-16T21:11:37.319-06:00I agree. Time is definitely the best tool for unde...I agree. Time is definitely the best tool for understanding how your characters talk and think.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84297788520304279502015-02-16T21:10:09.198-06:002015-02-16T21:10:09.198-06:00Agreed!Agreed!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-55744979057763260642015-02-16T21:09:58.646-06:002015-02-16T21:09:58.646-06:00Agreed! Spencer's voice is excellent. And it s...Agreed! Spencer's voice is excellent. And it sounds like you have a really good handle on who your characters are.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-26362813403866289222015-02-16T21:08:57.480-06:002015-02-16T21:08:57.480-06:00Natasha's ideas are really good. Another techn...Natasha's ideas are really good. Another technique I've seen used is making your character really good at something. We naturally like characters who have a skill we admire. Also, humor covers a multitude of flaws :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-32312479010225174492015-02-16T21:07:19.466-06:002015-02-16T21:07:19.466-06:00My Kindle doesn't show the scene breaks either...My Kindle doesn't show the scene breaks either - grr. I think it's because of the way it was formatted. I'm glad it still worked as you re-read it. I hyperventilated a little bit when I first saw they'd been left out :)<br /><br />Roleplay is a great idea!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-28385034357139280192015-02-16T21:04:45.737-06:002015-02-16T21:04:45.737-06:00I'm glad to hear that, Jessica!I'm glad to hear that, Jessica!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-50786891258574023472015-02-16T21:04:12.557-06:002015-02-16T21:04:12.557-06:00Great thoughts, Tricia!Great thoughts, Tricia!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-68723804995799450142015-02-16T19:02:46.049-06:002015-02-16T19:02:46.049-06:00Making character voices unique is so difficult. I&...Making character voices unique is so difficult. I'm currently revising my first novel, and all of my characters sound pretty much the same, except for my antagonist and my protagonist. I think the whole process of getting to know my characters and being comfortable in writing their voices is majorly influenced by the time I spend with my story. The more time I spend with it, the more I can develop it. Character journals also work really well, too. I always feel a bit silly writing them when I first start, but once I get going, it's really fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72081355526441585712015-02-16T19:01:43.940-06:002015-02-16T19:01:43.940-06:00This is actually something I've thought about ...This is actually something I've thought about before too, and never came up with a satisfying answer... But Miri your first suggestion especially stood out to me. I have relationships like that in real life, so I don't know why it never occurred to me! Thank you SO much (both of you) I may just have to dust one of my abandoned drafts off ;D<br /><br />-DeborahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-5952040095388968642015-02-16T18:11:17.569-06:002015-02-16T18:11:17.569-06:00Thank you, Natasha! I like those suggestions.... :...Thank you, Natasha! I like those suggestions.... :)Naomihttp://www.writingtoinspire7.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-87832158663951063492015-02-16T17:59:52.075-06:002015-02-16T17:59:52.075-06:00This was great! I loved Gabi's voice in the Ri...This was great! I loved Gabi's voice in the River of Time series by: Lisa T. Bergren. Jesus Girl (aka Hannah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15188623825301576640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-32251548738136248822015-02-16T17:28:53.715-06:002015-02-16T17:28:53.715-06:00I would suggest giving them a quirk. Yeah, they c...I would suggest giving them a quirk. Yeah, they can be brooding, they can be easily irritated, extremely sarcastic, or simply utterly miserable, but what if you were to give them just one thing that brought them a bit of happiness? One thing that they loved more than any other thing in the world? Maybe they still wouldn't be quite likeable, but it might make them easier to sympathize with.<br /><br />Or you might put in one character who, despite their circumstances, always seems to have a smile on their face. Maybe they would be a close friend to your MC, and they would be the only person who could get them to smile.<br /><br />Or you might do both. *Shrugs.* That's all I've got. I hope that it's been at least somewhat helpful, Naomi! :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08745444401384420773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-60676704476830298012015-02-16T15:44:02.343-06:002015-02-16T15:44:02.343-06:00I always liked Jill's spy novels as far as voi...I always liked Jill's spy novels as far as voice goes.<br /><br />Personally, I try to remember my characters personalities: Artemis is a goddess who believes this position makes her all-powerful and better than everyone else, she also hates people who only think about themselves, making her conflicted at times. She is brusk, never saying two words when she can use one, and dislikes people in general.<br /><br />Demetre is a compassionate guy, who tries to find the good in most everyone. He'll talk to most anyone as long as they will let him, but he doesn't let anyone (except for Artemis) take advantage of him. He and Artemis supremely dislike each other, but for their different reasons, feel they need to stick together.Bookishqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04815467506294547118noreply@blogger.com