tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post742687599644300148..comments2024-01-22T05:21:28.419-05:00Comments on IshtaBlogs: How To Write Compelling CharactersIshta Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-50877414331521697852010-10-06T10:08:11.586-04:002010-10-06T10:08:11.586-04:00Hello!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog :)...Hello! <br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by my blog :) There are so many from the (not a)blog-fest I wasn't able to visit.<br /><br />I like how you're able to bring your theater training into writing. <br /><br />I love that you're able to really <br />get into your characters. I need to try it with my characters, unruly as they are!<br /><br />Thanks for following!<br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683486631901017529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-10874501448934699432010-09-29T22:58:52.235-04:002010-09-29T22:58:52.235-04:00Nicole, yes - fantasy books almost need a prequel ...Nicole, yes - fantasy books almost need a prequel to get the world's history as well as the characters' backstorie!<br /><br />Dayana, good point about flashbacks. Backstory doesn't always have to explicitly show up in a book, but it's good to have it handy for moments like those.<br /><br />lbdiamond, thanks for stopping by! My favorite characters are always the ones at odds with themselves - they're the ones I really want to get to know.<br /><br />Erica, welcome! I'm glad we agree! When minor characters' backstories aren't there for me, I find everything involving those characters suffers - dialogue, scene structure, etc.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-10468388975334080882010-09-29T22:43:53.676-04:002010-09-29T22:43:53.676-04:00Great post! Contradicting characters is a great id...Great post! Contradicting characters is a great idea ;o) I agree all the characters need a story too, even the minor ones. <br /><br />Fantastic ideas about backstory ;o)erica m. chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14773306703153110737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-39413755017974620602010-09-29T22:15:30.348-04:002010-09-29T22:15:30.348-04:00Oooh, this is a great point--having a character at...Oooh, this is a great point--having a character at odds with themself--VERY compelling. <br /><br />Nice post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-3891119913163603722010-09-28T03:53:20.220-04:002010-09-28T03:53:20.220-04:00Good call on backstory. I really think backstory a...Good call on backstory. I really think backstory and memories and flashbacks add a lot to a character, and I find myself disappointed when a book carries on too much and too fast with the current plot without letting me really understand what the MC cares about and what has affected him/her as a person.Dayana Stockdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03732725838165251900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-30485634499315223012010-09-27T11:02:39.030-04:002010-09-27T11:02:39.030-04:00I love creating backstory. I think some of that is...I love creating backstory. I think some of that is because I like to write fantasy, so I have to not only have a history of the characters, but a history of the world too. Great post.Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-10820875133654223572010-09-27T02:28:48.503-04:002010-09-27T02:28:48.503-04:00Wow - you guys have blown me away with your suppor...Wow - you guys have blown me away with your supportive comments! Thanks for visiting, everybody! And to those of you who are new here, welcome to my blog! Pull up a piece of cyberspace and make yourselves comfortable.<br /><br />I'll be busy over the next week trying to catch up on all of your posts on this subject - I think we can all learn a lot from each other!Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-1369217297196401242010-09-26T20:06:10.803-04:002010-09-26T20:06:10.803-04:00Great point about playing opposites Ishta. Loved ...Great point about playing opposites Ishta. Loved reading your post :)Rachael Harriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16764930101064527321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-61984228400827828172010-09-26T18:53:10.019-04:002010-09-26T18:53:10.019-04:00I also like characters who aren't quite what w...I also like characters who aren't quite what we expect. And it sounds as if your theatrical experience is very useful for getting to know your characters.Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-65945837792061707432010-09-25T21:05:22.507-04:002010-09-25T21:05:22.507-04:00Theatrical arts and writing are sewn together from...Theatrical arts and writing are sewn together from the start. Good post.<br />Nancy<br /><a href="http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">N. R. Williams, fantasy author</a>N. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-90115873634136731742010-09-25T12:14:39.746-04:002010-09-25T12:14:39.746-04:00I use a little of both. It really depends on my mo...I use a little of both. It really depends on my mood and how well I'm familiar with my characters, how long they've been running around in my cranium. great tips!Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-56697660520449146732010-09-25T08:25:49.614-04:002010-09-25T08:25:49.614-04:00I try to use both the elements you mention, to var...I try to use both the elements you mention, to varying degrees of success. Excellent points! :)DL Hammonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02007260062331783715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-36541602538188356302010-09-25T06:05:07.141-04:002010-09-25T06:05:07.141-04:00I totally agree about making characters contradict...I totally agree about making characters contradict themselves. Perfect example! Great post!Jessica Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10889900730906728317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-85830812691438078242010-09-25T01:52:44.874-04:002010-09-25T01:52:44.874-04:00I love that you can connect so much between acting...I love that you can connect so much between acting and reading. It's like both forms of art have the same goal, just have different ways of showing to get to the end result! I think you do know how to create a compelling character.Michelle Merrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00040685503147648297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-32638577331777251982010-09-25T00:25:45.170-04:002010-09-25T00:25:45.170-04:00Twists....I LOVE twists. When characters surprise ...Twists....I LOVE twists. When characters surprise me, they stay with me.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-5627929732580175702010-09-24T22:04:34.412-04:002010-09-24T22:04:34.412-04:00Your initial reaction was the same as mine. :-0 ...Your initial reaction was the same as mine. :-0 I haven't got a clue...I just start writing, cross my finger, hope, add stuff, hope some more, add some more stuff....LOL<br /><br />Great job! (please excuse my lack of humor...I think it's time for me to stop for the day.)Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-27735687983291844802010-09-24T20:51:43.475-04:002010-09-24T20:51:43.475-04:00I like creating the backstory, too.I like creating the backstory, too.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-58984653033322511532010-09-24T20:15:55.966-04:002010-09-24T20:15:55.966-04:00I don't fill out character sheets but I'll...I don't fill out character sheets but I'll have them write diary entries and stuff like that. And a lot more is revealed during the writing process too.Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-67584649627043214962010-09-24T17:35:35.383-04:002010-09-24T17:35:35.383-04:00I like the contradictions point! And the drama pa...I like the contradictions point! And the drama parallels. Nicely done.<br /><br />I'm new here - :) Nice to meet you!DL Curranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11386303187160819147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-2839474109830926252010-09-24T16:56:00.363-04:002010-09-24T16:56:00.363-04:00Dude! That linky thing was for CONVENIENCE. Just b...Dude! That linky thing was for CONVENIENCE. Just because we used it does not make this a blog fest! Okay, enough of that. :)<br /><br />Great points. I too, like people I can relate to.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-75977201361665209002010-09-24T16:48:46.779-04:002010-09-24T16:48:46.779-04:00I like this. The idea of figuring out who your cha...I like this. The idea of figuring out who your character is, what motivates him/her is kind of like listen to gossip about people you know.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-48736437046464899032010-09-24T13:38:49.647-04:002010-09-24T13:38:49.647-04:00Backstory is good to know, but not necessarily to ...Backstory is good to know, but not necessarily to make it into the book. And i totally agree about making characters with a twist...that SEEM at first as one thing, but really reveal to be something else. <br /><br />New here. *waves* Nice to meet you. :)<br />Have a terrific weekend,<br />LolaLola Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394765053485642935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-3634915314006512632010-09-24T12:53:01.904-04:002010-09-24T12:53:01.904-04:00Hi, I enjoyed your post here. I like characters t...Hi, I enjoyed your post here. I like characters that are quirky and a little mysterious. Backstories are essential, I'm always checking my notes to make sure the dialogue or behaviour is consistent for my main characters.Taleihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07317577935549931974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-12126169709413382892010-09-24T12:17:21.532-04:002010-09-24T12:17:21.532-04:00I like the bit about the contracticting themselves...I like the bit about the contracticting themselves and the Edward and Carlisle examples. Everyone has a quirk or thing that makes them interesting that doesn't quite fit their "image". Nice post! :Dj.leigh.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12086576155269323425noreply@blogger.com