tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post532981522652016054..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: On Letting Your Characters GoGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-81686520447320762032013-12-13T09:42:55.817-08:002013-12-13T09:42:55.817-08:00It's something I've come to terms with thr...It's something I've come to terms with through tabletop role playing games, actually. The character I lay down on paper and kind of have in my head but haven't played yet? Well, she might not be the same person I think she is, until she starts walking and talking. It's interesting, and something I would never have known without gaming.Jen Donohuehttp://authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47995612063324807922013-12-13T09:29:06.036-08:002013-12-13T09:29:06.036-08:00Then it especially makes sense for you. :)Then it especially makes sense for you. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-1294139225220550892013-12-13T09:28:46.084-08:002013-12-13T09:28:46.084-08:00That's such a great distinction! You're to...That's such a great distinction! You're totally right—creating a character is an entirely different experience than watching them in action.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-56375897574554785682013-12-13T09:28:07.551-08:002013-12-13T09:28:07.551-08:00The subconscious is a pretty amazing thing. Someth...The subconscious is a pretty amazing thing. Something I love about writing (and that non-writers often don't understand) is that a lot of the story and characters happens differently than I originally imagined, or even better than I'd hoped. We really <i>don't</i> (usually) plan absolutely everything—our subconscious takes over and makes its own changes along the way.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-68431839255892940552013-12-13T09:25:58.129-08:002013-12-13T09:25:58.129-08:00Happy to help, Shay! ^_^ Part of the reason I real...Happy to help, Shay! ^_^ Part of the reason I really enjoy revising so much is because of that fleshing out—you start out excited with a skeleton, then really get to know your story and your characters while revising.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17107606332683560392013-12-12T11:55:02.990-08:002013-12-12T11:55:02.990-08:00Yes, this is very much how I discover my character...Yes, this is very much how I discover my characters as well. Then again, I'm a pantser through and through. :)Jami Goldhttp://jamigold.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-28778803860736491132013-12-11T18:25:08.055-08:002013-12-11T18:25:08.055-08:00There are definitely certain things I learn as I g...There are definitely certain things I learn as I go. I start with a name, or a specific scenario in mind, and then I let the fingers walk and the brain disconnect to see how they got there. It's one thing to "create a character", it's another thing to see how that character behaves in a given situation.Jen Donohuehttp://authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-36695917794661527002013-12-11T16:48:16.473-08:002013-12-11T16:48:16.473-08:00That's exactly what I do. I create them with a...That's exactly what I do. I create them with a purpose or an archetype but I just start writing and their personality always comes out subconsciously in me. It helps that I often subvert cliches and archetypes in all my stories so I always know what direction to take them (the opposite of the usual!) but I'm always surprised that often from their moment of creation I usually have a voice for them. They have something distinctive, usually in their manner of speaking. It surprises me all the time but I just go with it.<br /><br />I'm particularly proud of my sewer mutants who came out sounding like 19th century gentlemen Shame I'll probably never publish that novel...RoweMatthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-70916156448403999152013-12-11T09:38:11.799-08:002013-12-11T09:38:11.799-08:00I'm very similar. I start with something very ...I'm very similar. I start with something very loose then by the middle of my WIP (and usually three drafts in), all of a sudden I'm getting to know my MC and they're fleshed out all over the place.<br /><br /><br />You've given me another blog post idea. <br /><br /><br />What would I do without you Ava?Shay Deehttp://www.bluebicblog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-22657181607457731092013-12-11T08:58:39.974-08:002013-12-11T08:58:39.974-08:00Wow! That's so detailed and interesting! Sound...Wow! That's so detailed and interesting! Sounds like you really know your characters very well long before you start writing. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-28786088771780721912013-12-11T08:58:24.587-08:002013-12-11T08:58:24.587-08:00Same here. I outline the plot events beforehand, a...Same here. I outline the plot events beforehand, and they usually stay the same, but I always leave room for my characters to run the show! :)Emma Adamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-65112458478912366382013-12-11T07:35:12.462-08:002013-12-11T07:35:12.462-08:00I used to be very plot focused but for my current ...I used to be very plot focused but for my current WIP I have done a lot with my characters. First I have a general description of each character which includes what they look like, strongest character traits, role in story, relation to MC, weapons (if any), interests, and for my MC and a couple others handwriting (there are many letters exchanged in my book). Then for each character I do a voice journal. In other words I sit down at my computer or typewriter and pretend I am them. I let my fingers take over as I type out anything s/he tells me to. Sometimes it is lots of backstory to help me understand them and other times it is just them ranting. I always get into their voice after that. Sometimes if the voice journal reveals some interesting stories I write a short story. Am I ADHD...maybe but it is great fun and I always have a deeper connection with the character when I do this.Laurennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-13970811394164030602013-12-11T07:05:10.146-08:002013-12-11T07:05:10.146-08:00Agreed! I like to outline in advance, but even tha...Agreed! I like to outline in advance, but even that's been known to change due to character whims and unexpectedness from them. And I'm totally fine with that, because most times, their plan was better than mine anyway. ^_^Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-53106928076698810862013-12-11T07:04:11.842-08:002013-12-11T07:04:11.842-08:00Your process sounds very similar to mine! Or my cu...Your process sounds very similar to mine! Or my current process, at least. I've found that it's a lot easier to hone and tweak an existing personality than it is to try to plan one in advance. No use in trying to force our characters into a personality plan that no longer fits them. :) <br /><br /><br />Also, I can see why the title may have conjured up those thoughts, but that's definitely not what I meant! *clings to characters*Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-76166327372517582412013-12-11T05:51:30.919-08:002013-12-11T05:51:30.919-08:00I definitely do more planning plot-wise than I do ...I definitely do more planning plot-wise than I do with characters. I try to write down each main character's goal/motivation/conflict and a 1-paragraph description of their storyline, but that often changes completely once I start writing. Sometimes new characters even appear as I'm mid-draft, and it's often only when revising that I discover surprising things and new dimensions to my characters that would never have occurred to me during the planning stage! I think that's why I'm not a total planner - I have to give my characters some leeway. :)Emma Adamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-66925832733015997972013-12-11T05:39:35.997-08:002013-12-11T05:39:35.997-08:00While I have a rough outline for my plot, when it ...While I have a rough outline for my plot, when it comes to characters, I am a complete and total pantser. They write themselves. I listen in on their conversations. They live their own lives. They suprise me. It's only when I have a complete draft that I take control to adjust aspects of their personality, make them more active, etc. Maybe more control earlier would reduce other problems later. Hmm...something to think about.<br /><br /><br />Also, when I read the title of the post, I thought it was letting go of the characters, giving them up. I clutched mine to my chest and hissed, "NEVER." ;-)Laura Rueckertnoreply@blogger.com