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Writing questions - 6/17/2010 11:44:36 PM
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brooke04
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Joined: 8/24/2006
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Sometimes when I write, I struggle with developing a character to make them more believable.
I write historical fiction. Any suggestions?
< Message edited by brooke04 -- 6/18/2010 3:29:02 PM >
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RE: Writing questions - 6/21/2010 7:57:50 PM
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Crushmaster
Posts: 482
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From: The South, In The Good Ol' U.S. of A.
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Let me see if I help.
Well, fiction writing is fiction. If it wasn't a little bit unbelievable, it wouldn't be much fun writing or reading. Is it a specific issue with your character(s), or is it just a range of problems? Also, could you please give me an example of one of the characters?
Probably the best way to make them "real" is to look at, well, people. And, like I said, they need to be a little not-so-ordinary in one way or another. Lastly: Do you write in first-person, third-person, or both (in the same book, that is)?
Hope this helps. Just trying to think of stuff off the top of my head.
God bless,
Crushmaster.
_____________________________
http://www.areyouagoodperson.org
(2 Corinthians 5:17) - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Christ is Lord and King! To Him I give all glory and honor.
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RE: Writing questions - 7/11/2010 7:43:57 PM
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Dancre
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Well, you'll need to know the character inside and out. What are her fears, hopes and dreams? what is her worse problem in life? What is she struggling with the most? How does she see herself as opposed to what others see within her? does she have a secret? What will happen if that secret comes out? Does she have a flaw that gets her in trouble? What do others think about this flaw as opposed to her? Do an interview with the character. What does she say? The more you get to know her, the more she'll come alive on the pages.
kim
kimkouski.com
quote:
ORIGINAL: brooke04
Sometimes when I write, I struggle with developing a character to make them more believable.
I write historical fiction. Any suggestions?
_____________________________
Kim
http://Kimkouski.com/
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RE: Writing questions - 7/13/2010 6:10:29 PM
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9drtr
Posts: 1050
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Toronto the Good
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dancre
Does she have a flaw that gets her in trouble?
If she doesn't have a flaw that gets her in trouble she'll be boring. All characters need flaws.
_____________________________
Edwin
When we know who is coming, how can we worry about what is coming? When the last hour belongs to us, how can we worry about the next minute?
Ross Crighton
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RE: Writing questions - 7/13/2010 8:46:43 PM
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Dancre
Posts: 335
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That's right!! That's why I put down the question, make Brook think about flaws. That's why I gave her all those questions, make her think. Also you can take a person who is very 'perfect' and give her a secret. Like she has addictions to stealing things but no one knows about it, or is ashamed that she binges and purges. Or as Sal Stein said, the character is Mr. Perfect, but carries a picture of a naked girl in his wallet and no one knows about it. Or as my writing mentor, Patricia Hickman, has said on FB, does she compare herself and wish she was like someone else, but that someone else is very shallow and vain? That one was cool!!!! So there's a lot of things that you can do to take the boring character and make her more interesting.
Patricia taught me that you almost have to know why do people do the things they do? What makes them tick? Once you understand that, it will be easier to give life to a boring character.
quote:
ORIGINAL: 9drtr
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dancre
Does she have a flaw that gets her in trouble?
If she doesn't have a flaw that gets her in trouble she'll be boring. All characters need flaws.
_____________________________
Kim
http://Kimkouski.com/
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RE: Writing questions - 7/13/2010 11:37:12 PM
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9drtr
Posts: 1050
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From: Toronto the Good
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The single character who impresses me most is King Lear, and look at his flaws. He was petty, jealous, ungrateful ...
_____________________________
Edwin
When we know who is coming, how can we worry about what is coming? When the last hour belongs to us, how can we worry about the next minute?
Ross Crighton
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RE: Writing questions - 7/13/2010 11:40:18 PM
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Dancre
Posts: 335
Joined: 4/12/2005
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Hamlet!! Now there's another coolo character!!! He's a player, selfish, disrespectful . . . :))
quote:
ORIGINAL: 9drtr
The single character who impresses me most is King Lear, and look at his flaws. He was petty, jealous, ungrateful ...
_____________________________
Kim
http://Kimkouski.com/
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RE: Writing questions - 7/14/2010 12:33:35 AM
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9drtr
Posts: 1050
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Toronto the Good
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dancre
Hamlet!! Now there's another coolo character!!! He's a player, selfish, disrespectful . . . :))
... he elevated being wishy-washy to an art form ...
And of all Shakespeare's characters Sir John Falstaff has the most lines ... and the most character flaws.
_____________________________
Edwin
When we know who is coming, how can we worry about what is coming? When the last hour belongs to us, how can we worry about the next minute?
Ross Crighton
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RE: Writing questions - 7/14/2010 9:42:54 PM
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Dancre
Posts: 335
Joined: 4/12/2005
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Brooke, if you really want to see an interesting and believable character, then get this DVD:
David Tennant in Hamlet. I first saw this on PBS and David's performance blew me away. He recreated Hamlet showing Hamlet not as some suicidal, skinny brat, but as a snobby kid who is disgusted by his uncle and mom's behavior. He shows Hamlet's horror at seeing his dad's ghost, then hatred for his mom and uncle. it's a really powerful performance and once you see it, you'll see how to create that three diminsional powerful character that connects with the audience. So don't be afraid to throw in flaws, problems, conflicts, hates, loves all these things that make us human.
kim
kimkouski.com
_____________________________
Kim
http://Kimkouski.com/
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