Comments on: Thousand-Word Characters http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/ Adventures in Writing on the Road Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:01:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Theresa Milstein http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2422 Theresa Milstein Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:30:51 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2422 What is it about being in the midst of writing that forces the pieces to possess us even in our dreams? Some writers disagree, but many feel that their characters have lives of their own. I heard a published author once say that when one of her characters asked a question, she was crushed by the other character's answer. While you can't write separate novels on all the characters, the fact that their lives are multi-layered will keep you from making the same mistake of many writers who create one-dimensional characters or stereotypes. Even for walk-ons. Good luck on reigning it in. What is it about being in the midst of writing that forces the pieces to possess us even in our dreams?

Some writers disagree, but many feel that their characters have lives of their own. I heard a published author once say that when one of her characters asked a question, she was crushed by the other character’s answer.

While you can’t write separate novels on all the characters, the fact that their lives are multi-layered will keep you from making the same mistake of many writers who create one-dimensional characters or stereotypes. Even for walk-ons.

Good luck on reigning it in.

]]> By: Angie http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2290 Angie Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:10:50 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2290 Funny you should mention supporting characters.... The novel I just contracted has these two characters I absolutely love. No, not the protags, although I love them too, but I <i>really</i> love these two other guys. One's a 200+ year old mage (who's slender and pretty and looks about 22) and the other is his apprentice (who's 6'4" and muscley and is and looks about 30) and they just have this great back-and-forth banter thing going on, as well as their more serious interactions. I have a short story about them done and ready to go, plus a couple of others about half done, and I have a couple of novels about them in the notes-and-thinking stage. And every now and then I think, "Why the hell didn't I just write about <i>them?!"</i> Except the main story (at least, the one I wrote) isn't <i>about</i> them. [sigh] I just have this sneaking suspicion that this is going to end up one of those series where readers advise other readers, "Oh, it's great, but skip the first book." [laugh/headdesk] We'll see. :) Angie Funny you should mention supporting characters….

The novel I just contracted has these two characters I absolutely love. No, not the protags, although I love them too, but I really love these two other guys. One’s a 200+ year old mage (who’s slender and pretty and looks about 22) and the other is his apprentice (who’s 6’4″ and muscley and is and looks about 30) and they just have this great back-and-forth banter thing going on, as well as their more serious interactions. I have a short story about them done and ready to go, plus a couple of others about half done, and I have a couple of novels about them in the notes-and-thinking stage. And every now and then I think, “Why the hell didn’t I just write about them?!” Except the main story (at least, the one I wrote) isn’t about them. [sigh]

I just have this sneaking suspicion that this is going to end up one of those series where readers advise other readers, “Oh, it’s great, but skip the first book.” [laugh/headdesk]

We’ll see. :)

Angie

]]> By: Charles Gramlich http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2274 Charles Gramlich Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:55:52 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2274 Sounds like you are in the zone. I've had minor characters want to take over. Sometimes I've given 'em much bigger roles than before and sometimes I tell them they'll have to wait until I write "their" book. yeah, and that'll happen any time now. But it shuts 'em up. Sounds like you are in the zone. I’ve had minor characters want to take over. Sometimes I’ve given ‘em much bigger roles than before and sometimes I tell them they’ll have to wait until I write “their” book. yeah, and that’ll happen any time now. But it shuts ‘em up.

]]> By: Natasha Fondren http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2273 Natasha Fondren Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:09:36 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2273 Oh that's cool, RJ! I love when that happens! Oh that’s cool, RJ! I love when that happens!

]]> By: Natasha Fondren http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2272 Natasha Fondren Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:09:20 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2272 LOL, Robin! Sounds good to me! :-) LOL, Robin! Sounds good to me! :-)

]]> By: Natasha Fondren http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2271 Natasha Fondren Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:09:02 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2271 That's a good point, Bernita. I might have to tone it down, because the pov character would see them as normal. That’s a good point, Bernita. I might have to tone it down, because the pov character would see them as normal.

]]> By: Natasha Fondren http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2270 Natasha Fondren Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:07:55 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2270 Oh wow, Bevie! Now that's a bit character... explosion! Wow, so cool. Oh wow, Bevie! Now that’s a bit character… explosion! Wow, so cool.

]]> By: Natasha Fondren http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2269 Natasha Fondren Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:07:08 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2269 I hope so, Rick! I hope so, Rick!

]]> By: Natasha Fondren http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2268 Natasha Fondren Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:06:58 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2268 He is very vivid, Susan! :-) He is very vivid, Susan! :-)

]]> By: Natasha Fondren http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-2267 Natasha Fondren Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:06:32 +0000 http://www.natashafondren.com/writing/writing-craft/thousand-word-characters/#comment-2267 I just downloaded Fool to my Kindle. I've been meaning to read Christopher Moore since you've told me about him! She's not a bit character from Les Miz, but a bit character in my re-telling of Les Mix. :-) I just downloaded Fool to my Kindle. I’ve been meaning to read Christopher Moore since you’ve told me about him!

She’s not a bit character from Les Miz, but a bit character in my re-telling of Les Mix. :-)

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