tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post6020427281040916837..comments2024-03-25T05:17:05.202-05:00Comments on Writing In The Crosshairs: THE MONKEY OR THE WRENCH?Roland D. Yeomanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-65951125594460770392010-11-06T15:14:23.957-05:002010-11-06T15:14:23.957-05:00Well, it's confirmed. I'm strange. My wip ...Well, it's confirmed. I'm strange. My wip came from a problem I had with two other books-I didn't like their premise and sought something different I could play with in my mind. It evolved from there. Many reincarnations later, I have it.<br /><br />My nano story came from an actor in a movie-I'll save it for a blog post. <br /><br />Provocative post.....The Words Crafterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14520267901489487512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-66832436353531491192010-11-04T10:07:12.020-05:002010-11-04T10:07:12.020-05:00I think the way you've got it here is how I co...I think the way you've got it here is how I conceive of it... the SET-UP first, then the character, then the primary plot. It can take a long time percolating before the right plot for a setup and characters forms (though honestly, now that I've added mystery to my genres, those plots are much easier for me)Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-61142948032312645502010-11-04T08:32:17.359-05:002010-11-04T08:32:17.359-05:00Ellie : Yes, I think for personal stories it must ...Ellie : Yes, I think for personal stories it must always be about character. In huge epics of war or disaster, authors weave the stories of many characters in many functions to show the huge scope of the event. But the tale always strikes me as impersonal somehow. Just when I get interested in the plight of one character, I am jarringly torn from the scene.<br /><br />Jamie : You're so right. No matter how interesting the scenario, if the main characters are just shallow prose-puppets of the author, I feel nothing for the story and leave the book to gather dust.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-63351298612091557912010-11-04T03:17:26.871-05:002010-11-04T03:17:26.871-05:00Characters always win on this. A well written char...Characters always win on this. A well written character will always determine what course the story will follow, whereas a bland character will just mill along, being pulled by the plot when necessary.Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-79768631171647778372010-11-04T02:53:48.185-05:002010-11-04T02:53:48.185-05:00I really thought hard about which comes first afte...I really thought hard about which comes first after reading your post, and realised it is always character first for me. My characters tell me how they react to the problem, not the other way around!Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-12799301042298364802010-11-04T00:12:10.182-05:002010-11-04T00:12:10.182-05:00Jennifer : Oddly enough, I created the villainess ...Jennifer : Oddly enough, I created the villainess Maija before I did her twin sister, the eternal Meilori Shinseen -- wife of my undead Texas Ranger Samuel McCord. Many of my secondary characters cross over from one of my novels to another, taking larger or smaller roles depending on the needs of the story. Thanks for dropping in and commenting.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-42507342640795785772010-11-04T00:03:21.588-05:002010-11-04T00:03:21.588-05:00My stories usually evolve from a character too, bu...My stories usually evolve from a character too, but it's almost never the main character, weirdly enough. A lot of times it's the villain, or the person who witnessed something, and then it all expands from there.Jennifer Hillierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783975547643539868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-15102136528390553702010-11-03T23:18:55.910-05:002010-11-03T23:18:55.910-05:00David : Exactly. I loved the witty dialogue and sa...David : Exactly. I loved the witty dialogue and sauciness between the private detective Spenser and his love, Susan, and his hitman best friend, Hawk. No matter how lame the case might have sounded on the inside jacket, I went along for the ride with my old friends. And Robert B. Parker never let me down. Thanks for commenting. Have a great tomorrow.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-64094758435053255942010-11-03T23:05:40.943-05:002010-11-03T23:05:40.943-05:00I agree, my tales are always about character first...I agree, my tales are always about character first. <br />I have to like someone in any story to go along with it-no matter how great the prose or cinematography, I have to like somebody. And the more I like the characters the more I'll go along with everything else.nephite blood spartan hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17092519999184585295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-54207472975390068732010-11-03T22:43:07.965-05:002010-11-03T22:43:07.965-05:00LReneeS : In Lafayette as a young boy, Sherlock Ho...LReneeS : In Lafayette as a young boy, Sherlock Holmes and Ulysses provided me with worlds in which I could lose myself. They gave me the hope that with my mind I could untwist the bars which bound me at that time. And the hope proved true.<br /><br />Thanks for visiting and commenting. It means so much to me.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-29648442843415632382010-11-03T22:31:12.612-05:002010-11-03T22:31:12.612-05:00Great post, Roland. As always I think you've ...Great post, Roland. As always I think you've said it perfectly. I am also a writer who first has to create characters before I can work on in depth problems.<br /><br />I really liked your last sentence in this post about being a haven from the "storm" for readers. That was really powerful:) I love that with writing we can have this kind of affect on our readers. Who knew that by simply writing words we could take our readers into a world...perhaps even one they'd rather be a part of than the present one now.<br /><br />--LindseyLindsey Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05479405614100115901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-91221473550377669052010-11-03T21:33:24.412-05:002010-11-03T21:33:24.412-05:00Jodi : DVD's helped me with my fascination wit...Jodi : DVD's helped me with my fascination with Hannibal -- I could fastforward through the more objectionable scenes, while still following what was going on. Yes, I liked the first three -- although Anthony Hopkins sadly didn't play him until the second.<br /><br />Yes, Victor is my anti-hero, hiding his fear and loneliness with humor, wise cracks, and a mind so sharp it could cut diamonds.<br /><br />Caroline : Yes, for me it is character. I like the strange crisis, but I must have a vivid character to be the Ulysses in it challenging the gods.<br /><br />Laura : Yes, THE PASSAGE is proof that a great set-up fizzles without a magnetic main character to hang your story on. Pee Wee Herman and Brad Pitt both have similar skeletons -- it is how the flesh is draped on it that makes the difference!Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-30999914484429278492010-11-03T20:38:29.951-05:002010-11-03T20:38:29.951-05:00PS: I had a little obsession with Hannibal for a l...PS: I had a little obsession with Hannibal for a long time. (Uh, kinda still do) He is like the ultimate bad guy, but one you can't resist.<br /><br />The last Hannibal movie is an awful movie. The first three were killer. (total pun intended.)Jodi Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03216373059861459896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-77651177003014583442010-11-03T20:38:08.384-05:002010-11-03T20:38:08.384-05:00I'm like you: character first, though lately I...I'm like you: character first, though lately I've been starting with a setting that interests me. Then I research and trust that character to materialize.Caroline Starr Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-65053879576795798752010-11-03T20:34:02.996-05:002010-11-03T20:34:02.996-05:00I write stories characters tell me.
I always com...I write stories characters tell me. <br /><br />I always come up with the characters first. They form in my head and then hang out. Sometimes they snag a plot they like. I listen to them, because they are the story. Without great characters there is no plot--just a formula for one. :) <br /><br />I love the anit-hero. Dexter is one of my fav's. My current MC is an anti-hero and he's so fun to write. He's got a lot of potential to reach before the novel is complete. <br /><br />Thanks for the post. <br /><br />JJodi Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03216373059861459896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-7552224365443820792010-11-03T20:18:18.486-05:002010-11-03T20:18:18.486-05:00To my way of thinking, you can have a terrific plo...To my way of thinking, you can have a terrific plot but if the character is bland or someone the reader can't connect with, you have nothing.Laura Enohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09982794146667832204noreply@blogger.com