tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post6430639781769086144..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How to Give Secondary Characters a Life...Without Them Taking Over the StoryStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79231624596677696332017-01-21T16:19:41.602-06:002017-01-21T16:19:41.602-06:00Do you think you could do more blogs on character ...Do you think you could do more blogs on character development and personality? I love this blog and those are the things I really benefit from. :)<br />-LHEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-23709705125288475722013-05-15T12:19:39.137-05:002013-05-15T12:19:39.137-05:00This is interesting to think about, but in the sto...This is interesting to think about, but in the story that I am really working on, the main character is self-centered. I try to drop hints that other characters don't lead a perfect life, for the readers benefit, but it can be hard to keep the main character from asking obvious questions or to keep her from pushing for an answer when one is needed.:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48745574235008064862013-05-05T18:24:16.927-05:002013-05-05T18:24:16.927-05:00I love reading this blog. It gives such awesome kn...I love reading this blog. It gives such awesome knowledge! and I find that reading it, helps me improve my writing when I thought it couldn't. But I do have a question. <br />You might have done a post on this before, but I don't know where it would be. Anyway, here it is.<br />What are the actual steps to getting your book published? It may be a dumb question but I really don't know. Do you really have to get managers? how much does it normally cost? (I had no idea it even cost to get a book publish..) So do you think you might could do a post on the steps to getting your book published?<br /><br />Thanks very much!<br />HannahAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15608476986435376712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-32672029306876425992013-05-03T10:34:42.029-05:002013-05-03T10:34:42.029-05:00This is such a fantastic post, and it's so tru...This is such a fantastic post, and it's so true, too! It's easy to get caught up in the head of your MC and forget to give the side characters dimension, but when you provide every character with struggles, triumphs, and a unique story of their own, it adds a lot of depth to a story. Some of my favorite characters from various books are secondary--Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, Dustfinger from Inkheart, Finnick from the Hunger Games, etc--and when done well, supporting characters can really enrich a novel. Currently, though, I think mine still probably fall a bit flat, so it's definitely something for me to work on. ;D Thanks for all of the amazing tips!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-76934887361999941252013-05-03T10:08:11.947-05:002013-05-03T10:08:11.947-05:00Yes, Emii! Jenny's books are wonderful :)Yes, Emii! Jenny's books are wonderful :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-89828692882093650272013-05-03T04:46:13.089-05:002013-05-03T04:46:13.089-05:00No...but now I think I'll have to! Dreaming An...No...but now I think I'll have to! Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble made me crack up so many times, my friends were looking at me like I was some crazed manic, lol. And Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. And Strange Angels series by Lili St Crow... I feel like I always mention the same books on here, I do read other stuff, I promise! These are just my long-standing faves... And Meg Cabot! Anything by her is hilarious, but my favourite is by far the Mediator series. If anyone else has read it, there's going to be a book 7! Eeep! :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11828772181763803223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-54123813908756199952013-05-03T04:41:56.161-05:002013-05-03T04:41:56.161-05:00@Roseanna interesting... I'm intrigued :) can&...@Roseanna interesting... I'm intrigued :) can't wait! You're so lucky you get updates before the rest of us poor tortured souls who have to wait! ;)<br />@emii hahaha, I loved them both, but in very different ways. I guess I wouldn't have een TOO upset if she'd gotten with gale... But Peeta risked himself for her so many times, and he was just too cute!!! XxAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11828772181763803223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-15895588716849362612013-05-03T02:40:52.339-05:002013-05-03T02:40:52.339-05:00I choose Chase. But both guys have super-cool name...I choose Chase. But both guys have super-cool names. Oh, Hannah, you could PICK in the Hunger Games? I'm still stuck! emiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042164350910286833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-4243325068866707542013-05-03T02:38:42.120-05:002013-05-03T02:38:42.120-05:00Jenny B Jones does this insanely well. I just fini...Jenny B Jones does this insanely well. I just finished "A Charmed Life" -- which is actually a three book series in one -- and wow, can I just say, I have no idea how many times I laughed out loud. In my psychology class, I was smiling so big and I started laughing and I had to convince my teacher that I wasn't laughing at her and her lesson on visual perception. Anyone else read it? emiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042164350910286833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-16832604865236223332013-05-02T20:05:28.709-05:002013-05-02T20:05:28.709-05:00In the first draft that I just finished (thank you...In the first draft that I just finished (thank you, NaNoWriMo), I actually have better character subplots than I thought. My MC's best friend has a similar personality and temper, and her main goal is to become a doctor. Another of my main character's goal is to excel at and get commended for his job. And they disagree with him a lot. I'll have to flesh that out more, though. Thanks for the post! <br />KatiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-83112803585258179832013-05-02T18:56:00.702-05:002013-05-02T18:56:00.702-05:00I have a definite opinion on the guy. And from wha...I have a definite opinion on the guy. And from what Stephanie has told me as she wrote book 2, I'm going to be SO mad at her! ;-)Roseanna Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245767775900250399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-64671857855125416912013-05-02T16:14:10.363-05:002013-05-02T16:14:10.363-05:00Yes, J.K. Rowling does this so well! I absolutly l...Yes, J.K. Rowling does this so well! I absolutly love her side characters...<br /><br />~Ellie :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-3431335656907348872013-05-02T15:24:50.650-05:002013-05-02T15:24:50.650-05:00This is great timing for me too! Because of the si...This is great timing for me too! Because of the situation I'm putting my characters in together, they haven't got a whole lot of individual problems. That's something I will definitely need to work on in my second draft.Kaitlin Scherzingerhttp://sweetnessinthedreaming.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-78156093700169784142013-05-02T15:14:10.704-05:002013-05-02T15:14:10.704-05:00Probably, yes. :) My problem with antagonism is I ...Probably, yes. :) My problem with antagonism is I don't LIKE bad stuff. xD But I know...I know...I need it anyway. ;)Amanda Fischerhttp://charactercentral.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-28367813921575181902013-05-02T14:58:29.863-05:002013-05-02T14:58:29.863-05:00In my opinion, it would be a little too convenient...In my opinion, it would be a little too convenient if all the secondary characters' problems ended at the same time as the MC's. I think it's good to have their lives keep going even when the MC's problems stop, like you said in the post.Kaitlin Scherzingerhttp://sweetnessinthedreaming.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-22570800770807726552013-05-02T14:24:00.552-05:002013-05-02T14:24:00.552-05:00Thanks Stephanie! :D It's like how in Harry Po...Thanks Stephanie! :D It's like how in Harry Potter, what makes the characters interesting is that they all have things going on--the twins are playing pranks, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are worrying about money, Lupin is worrying about his "condition" (trying not to spoil people!), Hagrid has some crazy new creature, etc. Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433338978586263492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-17037593197662816902013-05-02T13:34:16.796-05:002013-05-02T13:34:16.796-05:00This is perfect timing for me! On my lunch break I...This is perfect timing for me! On my lunch break I was working on my first draft and realized that I had given my MC's best friend a horrible experience to further the MC's story and then literally dumped the friend! As in, she was no where to be found in the rest of the story! I made a note to add her in more and went on, but now I have a place to start! Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-69450191081423798842013-05-02T13:32:10.185-05:002013-05-02T13:32:10.185-05:00Yes, they don't necessarily need beginnings, m...Yes, they don't necessarily need beginnings, middles, and ends. If they have their own POV, then some sort of plot arc is good, but if they're just the main character's best friend or something then you don't have to add a whole plot line unless it works for the story.<br /><br />And Allison's example is a good one. Bronte clearly has a life going on outside of mentoring Ellie. The reader doesn't need her to have a whole beginning, middle, and end. (Or at least I hope they don't, because I didn't give her one!)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-21895755095604069892013-05-02T13:29:24.724-05:002013-05-02T13:29:24.724-05:00Hannah, thank you! And that's so funny because...Hannah, thank you! And that's so funny because I felt the same way. Usually I have a clear idea of who the love interest will be, but Chase and Palmer kept flipping on me :) I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for telling me :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-27457227304964956932013-05-02T13:28:02.964-05:002013-05-02T13:28:02.964-05:00Pacing near the end can be a big struggle for a lo...Pacing near the end can be a big struggle for a lot of writers. I guess we're just so eager to get it done :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-34158434183405187952013-05-02T13:27:23.894-05:002013-05-02T13:27:23.894-05:00Lol, Arende :) Yes, I'll tell Erica. I always ...Lol, Arende :) Yes, I'll tell Erica. I always love when she gets featured because she's such a great teacher!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-37719913729908482302013-05-02T13:26:43.487-05:002013-05-02T13:26:43.487-05:00Mine too, Zara!Mine too, Zara!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-65445375700549201212013-05-02T13:26:30.151-05:002013-05-02T13:26:30.151-05:00I'm the same way, Cait. I love the surprises o...I'm the same way, Cait. I love the surprises of the first draft!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-70352419926169691142013-05-02T13:21:48.953-05:002013-05-02T13:21:48.953-05:00And now I'm done! I don't think I've r...And now I'm done! I don't think I've read a book so quickly since the Hunger Games. I really like where you ended it, Stephanie! But if course I'm dying for a sequel. And I approve of her choice of guy (won't give it away for people who haven't read it yet) but yeah -- I loved it! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11828772181763803223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-71280793139251282792013-05-02T11:10:22.278-05:002013-05-02T11:10:22.278-05:00They need something to do that doesn't just co...They need something to do that doesn't just consist of trailing after the MC like a puppy (if that makes sense.) It's like... When you read Ellie Sweet, Ellie's friend Bronte's struggles with writing and keeping up with her kids are a subplot. It's not related to the love triangle. Make sense?Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433338978586263492noreply@blogger.com