tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post3514815255630596856..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Writing compelling charactersLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-11526080736395421812010-10-01T08:50:57.540-04:002010-10-01T08:50:57.540-04:00I love this post. You included some really helpfu...I love this post. You included some really helpful information. :)Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04225611074151575663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-32115827422989441882010-09-30T15:30:51.107-04:002010-09-30T15:30:51.107-04:00Great examples of details that show character!Great examples of details that show character!Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-19370659367724469412010-09-29T12:07:21.615-04:002010-09-29T12:07:21.615-04:00Excellent post! I loved your examples, especially ...Excellent post! I loved your examples, especially for objects.Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-11861882873482937242010-09-28T10:10:33.829-04:002010-09-28T10:10:33.829-04:00Elena: when the reader gets to put together the pi...Elena: when the reader gets to put together the pieces, they engage more, don't you think?<br /><br />Victoria: great application! I love it!<br /><br />Sticky notes: I use this idea a lot with secondary characters especially, so they seem more real, and because they can be catalysts for my protagonist. Making the cousin a real estate agent with keys to empty houses, for example, can prove useful to plot later.<br /><br />Sandy: glad it resonated with you.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-61094377601222190042010-09-27T20:02:39.697-04:002010-09-27T20:02:39.697-04:00Thank you for this post. It's a great post wit...Thank you for this post. It's a great post with some very powerful advice. Some of the most important, most telling, things about a character are the details (some seemingly unimportant) that the author's woven in. I'm definitely bookmarking this to read later!Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05360613352088629589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-9764497518002435692010-09-27T11:09:28.670-04:002010-09-27T11:09:28.670-04:00I love your examples of things that happen off-pag...I love your examples of things that happen off-page that show your character's true, well, character! I think I'm going to have to go through and make sure all of my characters have a little more character, and you've given me a great starting point for that. Thanks for the post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-71992090080699850282010-09-26T20:18:29.393-04:002010-09-26T20:18:29.393-04:00Love these ideas and hey, you gave me an idea, too...Love these ideas and hey, you gave me an idea, too. I love giving these neat little telling details like the wheel grease and then showing it's not what the reader expects. We think this gentleman was generous enough to stop and help someone, but what if it's all a show? What if a character rushes into a room with a story of his heroism and we discover he's a fraud? I do love twists like that when I read them. Now I just need to learn to USE them. LOLVictoria Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14012092208934951963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-30196398729910569002010-09-26T15:06:53.706-04:002010-09-26T15:06:53.706-04:00I love your idea of "trace evidence". B...I love your idea of "trace evidence". Blatant information in the narrative is usually much less effective than a small detail that the reader has to note and then insert into their forming opinion of the character. It requires the reader's active participation, which is going to make them intrigued to collect more clues.Elena Solodowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037029195682225565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-20323117614381636332010-09-25T23:12:56.092-04:002010-09-25T23:12:56.092-04:00Vicki: I think there's something to the "...Vicki: I think there's something to the "picture is worth a thousand words" idea that works in fiction too. <br /><br />Melissa: Thanks so much. I hope it proves a useful idea!<br /><br />Sherrie: Those small things can add up to big, living characters our readers love.<br /><br />Jessica: Funny thing is, I doubt this concept is original to me, but I can't remember who said it first. My guess would be Nancy Kress. Cause she's awesome and writes the best reference books for writers. <br /><br />And glad you like the new look. It was time to look a little more dynamic. :-)<br /><br />Talei: don't you find yourself intrigued when you meet a grizzled police veteran who knits or a soccer mom who secretly plays the stock market? Defying expectations is always compelling.<br /><br />Sharon: worry can be a powerful way of showing how your character is involved in a complex web of relationships and responsibilities.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-25877945577962209412010-09-25T23:02:57.145-04:002010-09-25T23:02:57.145-04:00Heather: I think there's a time and place for ...Heather: I think there's a time and place for telling, but it isn't in characterization. Who someone is is most powerfully revealed when the reader pieces it together from textual clues such as how a character speaks and behaves. Nothing makes me want to chuck a book faster than an author who labels rather than taking the effort to make traits evident.<br /><br />VR: And secondary characters who are living and changing offstage *during* the story also make a novel feel more real and stick with us.<br /><br />Tamika: Isn't that like real life, though? As we get to know others, the richness of their lives can become more and more apparent.<br /><br />Lola: Indeed. Even when characters are offstage! How interesting that everyone has picked up on the powdered donut from that tiny clue. It is what I had in mind, but other treats feature this component--Turkish Delight, Funnel Cake, for example. Very, very interesting.<br /><br />Jemi: it can be effective, if one is careful to not simply invert chiches, but creatively riff on them.<br /><br />Karen: Glad it's useful, and thanks for the kind compliment of the new design. It was fun to redecorate around here.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-24791925591028824792010-09-25T22:45:01.229-04:002010-09-25T22:45:01.229-04:00Margo: It is fun when characters tell you all abou...Margo: It is fun when characters tell you all about the pressing appointments they have, relatives they worry about, song that's been stuck in their heads. It's magical, really. And it can happen at any point--for me, it's people watching that often cracks open stuck passages to the characters I need. <br /><br />CLP: great comparison with method acting. I think it's easy to stop at charts of traits, and it simply isn't enough. Making those traits *dynamic* -- moving, acting--that's when magic happens in fiction.<br /><br />Shallee: details have the power to make concrete some aspect of character. <br /><br />JEM: Thanks. Not that I have anything against backstory, but a character who has a dynamic past but a blah present is going to bog down your story. I think this is especially important for secondary characters.<br /><br />Tricia: Thanks. Especially with secondary characters whose lives weave in and out of your protagonist's, it adds a lot to show they don't simply shut off when off stage.<br /><br />Jen: thanks for co-hosting this fun experiment. I'm glad you found the post thought-provoking.<br /><br />Elena: It was one of those lessons learned in the revision trenches. And from analyzing lots and lots of great books.<br /><br />Patti: I find it especially helpful to give folks in supporting roles things to do. While the protagonist is working toward her goal, the others around her helping or hindering--but not turning off--can add so much.<br /><br />Bish: I think it's cool how each of us shared different facets of the shiny jewel we call characterization.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-55867944712652658752010-09-25T22:23:32.014-04:002010-09-25T22:23:32.014-04:00Crystal: the trick after dropping in a detail like...Crystal: the trick after dropping in a detail like that is to resist the urge to explain. That's one of the cardinal rules in _Self-editing for Fiction Writers_. Let the detail show the story. Period.<br /><br />Christine: thanks. We recently had some donuts in the house (my pencil-thin 8-yo's of course), so the image was on my mind.<br /><br />Shannon: thanks. hope it proves useful.<br /><br />Carol: Exactly! Stories that resonate most for me do seem like I got to visit for just a short time with real people whose lives have been places and are going places.<br /><br />Janet: thanks so much. Most of these examples are ideas harvested from people-watching.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-76933907241198603752010-09-25T18:32:53.277-04:002010-09-25T18:32:53.277-04:00Great points...I love that you said they have worr...Great points...I love that you said they have worries...I hadn't thought of that before (other than ones relating to their immediate goals). Nice job...Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-65144743924441539202010-09-25T13:49:46.274-04:002010-09-25T13:49:46.274-04:00This is great, I love reading something new. Deta...This is great, I love reading something new. Details against type - I love the contradictory looks and assumptions - something I need to work on. Thanks for sharing such good tips! ;)Taleihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07317577935549931974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-78620293591690492682010-09-25T05:58:15.566-04:002010-09-25T05:58:15.566-04:00PS: Love you're new layout! You've changed...PS: Love you're new layout! You've changed it since I last visted :o)Jessica Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10889900730906728317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-51510493505343266312010-09-25T05:57:51.333-04:002010-09-25T05:57:51.333-04:00I think you're the first person to mention tha...I think you're the first person to mention that characters need a life outside the story. It's so easy to forget, but so vital to their development. Wonderful post!Jessica Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10889900730906728317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-38003500599871017952010-09-25T00:51:52.089-04:002010-09-25T00:51:52.089-04:00I love your sample details. Beautifully said!I love your sample details. Beautifully said!Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-66951403605369079542010-09-24T23:39:54.607-04:002010-09-24T23:39:54.607-04:00Wow. This is absolutely spectacular. I need to pau...Wow. This is absolutely spectacular. I need to pause and reflect on everything you said because there was so much brilliance in here.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-87315867557200007072010-09-24T22:33:02.991-04:002010-09-24T22:33:02.991-04:00Love your concrete examples! The little details l...Love your concrete examples! The little details like that make such a huge difference!Vicki Rochohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381089434014961076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-20915548396772277812010-09-24T21:08:04.614-04:002010-09-24T21:08:04.614-04:00Wonderful post. So much food for thought. Thanks s...Wonderful post. So much food for thought. Thanks so much!<br />Have a great weekend,<br />Karen<br />P.S. Think I said this before, but I love your new look!Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-60714175326264593432010-09-24T20:46:51.827-04:002010-09-24T20:46:51.827-04:00Playing against the type is great advice! It's...Playing against the type is great advice! It's a great way to make characters unique. :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-37188453602571923172010-09-24T20:32:23.753-04:002010-09-24T20:32:23.753-04:00A real life. Life is messy and complex.
And stra...A real life. Life is messy and complex. <br /><br />And strangely, I'm craving a powdered sugar donut! (really, I am.)<br /><br />Have a happy weekend, Laurel. (I have in-laws here right now...sorry this is so brief.)Lola Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394765053485642935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-26896351196957243182010-09-24T19:37:24.175-04:002010-09-24T19:37:24.175-04:00It's funny how our character start off feeling...It's funny how our character start off feeling a bit like a cardboard cut out, and then the more rediscover about them they pop off the page!Tamika:https://www.blogger.com/profile/04874834971492028558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-88263393876794590382010-09-24T18:32:38.787-04:002010-09-24T18:32:38.787-04:00Love the idea of a life outside of the story. I...Love the idea of a life outside of the story. I've never thought about it in those terms, but the stories that resonate with me are the ones where the characters are so real, I know they will go on with their lives after THE END. And I agree, details must always further plot or character. If they're only there as filler, it's time to pull out the red pen.VR Barkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927993233682731113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-2760073602244619552010-09-24T16:51:56.964-04:002010-09-24T16:51:56.964-04:00All excellent points. Plus, I think by giving them...All excellent points. Plus, I think by giving them something to do or one of the little mannerisms you suggested, you can show who that character is rather than tell. Ticks and little character giveaways are such an easy way to show the emotions and thoughts of a character without saying, "Jane felt nervous."Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18096173111325220168noreply@blogger.com