tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post6324754188030370511..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: In the Flesh: Fleshing Out Flat CharactersJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-50937424209288003732016-06-10T22:22:18.797-04:002016-06-10T22:22:18.797-04:00I often flesh out my characters after plotting a f...I often flesh out my characters after plotting a few scenes or chapters to see how the story will progress. Is this all right?Junhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13837217465256447638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-10419473085705990852016-06-10T12:05:25.055-04:002016-06-10T12:05:25.055-04:00Indeed! I just went back to my new project and fle...Indeed! I just went back to my new project and fleshed out the characters quite a bit. One of them has since done something that surprised me since I now know what she's really like, and the plot possibilities have expanded too! Good post!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06008821140074405571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-85505879188697746162011-04-20T12:49:44.610-04:002011-04-20T12:49:44.610-04:00Susan: Thanks for stopping by!Susan: Thanks for stopping by!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48954538747952539142011-04-19T16:12:11.534-04:002011-04-19T16:12:11.534-04:00Just swung over here from the A-Z blogfest, and re...Just swung over here from the A-Z blogfest, and read your post about fleshing out the characters. Made me think, question myself. Loved it.Susan Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834094675218254410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52215061903723182972011-03-04T07:56:11.106-05:002011-03-04T07:56:11.106-05:00Heather: Thanks! Always happy to help.Heather: Thanks! Always happy to help.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20391621018752448432011-03-03T15:30:59.732-05:002011-03-03T15:30:59.732-05:00Awesome post, Janet. You've put together a gre...Awesome post, Janet. You've put together a great checklist to keep us on the right track when developing our characters. I'm about to start the editing process and this is incredibly helpful. :)Heather Webbhttp://www.heatherwebb.net/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-23987770518332219242011-03-03T08:49:04.469-05:002011-03-03T08:49:04.469-05:00Michelle: They might indeed. I hear writers talk a...Michelle: They might indeed. I hear writers talk about that happening all the time.<br /><br />Julie: Most welcome! Hope it helps.<br /><br />Terry: "Strong characters can carry a weak plot, but weak characters can't do anything to help even the best story." Truer words never spoken. I wish I'd said that, LOL. <br /><br />Natalie: It's so easy to forget about them, but they're just as important. <br /><br />Eeleenlee: This works for a lot of folks (and I just had a link to a great questionnaire the other day) but not everyone. I'm not an interview writer at all. If I don't have story context I have no clue what they'd say.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26081059559132030972011-03-03T07:12:55.219-05:002011-03-03T07:12:55.219-05:00One of the best ways to know your characters is to...One of the best ways to know your characters is to interview them. just asking them mundane questions will help provide an insight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26311241744535022552011-03-02T14:19:15.288-05:002011-03-02T14:19:15.288-05:00Great list of questions to ask yourself about your...Great list of questions to ask yourself about your characters. Like you say, it's important to know the secondary characters and their backstory to avoid them being cardboard. I'll be referring to this. Thanks.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84851481564088217142011-03-02T10:39:57.795-05:002011-03-02T10:39:57.795-05:00For me, a book is ALL about the characters. Strong...For me, a book is ALL about the characters. Strong characters can carry a weak plot, but weak characters can't do anything to help even the best story. I love the discovery process, which for me, tends to happen as I write. Give me a character interview sheet before I've written a few chapters and I'll run screaming for the hills.<br /><br />Terry<br /><a href="http://terryodell.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br /><a href="http://www.terryodell.com" rel="nofollow">Romance with a Twist--of Mystery</a>Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20258249642420480172011-03-02T10:27:34.023-05:002011-03-02T10:27:34.023-05:00What a great post! I've just started a new sto...What a great post! I've just started a new story and am working on getting the characters set up, and these points are so helpful. I'm saving this and will be reviewing it many times, I'm sure. Great food for thought, thanks!Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-62864585204631125702009-08-02T00:57:23.376-04:002009-08-02T00:57:23.376-04:00Very true. Maybe they'll turn into MC's fo...Very true. Maybe they'll turn into MC's for another book! :)Michellehttp://yahighway.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-58678828149685075352009-08-01T08:36:12.639-04:002009-08-01T08:36:12.639-04:00You can always write it and take it out, or write ...You can always write it and take it out, or write it in another file. Sometimes just having it written out satisfied that need to "write it" and you can keep it out of the story.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-82790150064982618732009-07-30T09:23:00.600-04:002009-07-30T09:23:00.600-04:00Great post! Getting to know characters is probably...Great post! Getting to know characters is probably my favorite part of the writing process. I think a big problem for me is trying to cram too much of their backstory into the story (especially the supporting characters). Sometimes I need to just accept that it's not relevant and move on!Michellehttp://yahighway.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com