Saturday, August 11, 2012

LISTEN WHEN YOUR CHARACTER SPEAKS



I’ve attended seminars, enjoyed conferences and have personally given workshops on many aspects of writing. I lead both a Critique group and a Creative Writing class. I mention this because I'm aware of the importance of character development, and plotting my romantic suspense novels. There are many hard and fast rules for writing. Don’t head hop. Stay in the character’s POV. Make your dialog real and keep your plots solid and believeable.



Would someone please tell that to my character? I’m presently writing, ROBYN, the fourth of the Rexford Series. Robyn is perky, cheerful, a character with personal problems but the first to help her friends when they’re in trouble. I’ve done a complete character analysis on Robyn. I know how she thinks, her weaknesses and faults, her joy of life. I also know her disappointments. Pretty easy character to write about....so, what happened?



Robyn is bulking at the stereotype. She snarls and tells me she’s changing, developing a backbone. Wait a minute. That’s not how I pictured her. Okay, she hasn’t altered her physical looks. She’s still petite with short blonde hair and a sunny smile, but now she’s making snap decisions and taking charge of her life.



This often happens when I write fiction. My characters take over. They talk to me and let me know they have a mind of their own and I had better listen. Unfortunately, they also disrupt my sleep at night and demand my attention. I’ve learned to keep a tape recorder next to my bed to keep a record of their midnight ranting. In the morning, I’m always surprised by the suggestions.



Listen to your characters. Get the feeling of what makes them tick. Never say never when it comes to their growth and you’ll end up with a well-rounded character who will develop your manuscript into a great reading experience.



Keep writing, Joyce Brennan











   


8 comments:

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    1. I agree. There are many books I don't get beyone the first chapter when the author takes advantage of head-hopping. Keep writing, Joyce

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  2. Love your advise post, hon. I completely agree with the advise within it that you gave. You've given workshops on writing? Wish I had known that and had attended those workshops. :) Do you still give those workshops?

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    1. April, I've confined my workshops to the different writing groups I attend. Writing for a publisher takes up most of my time now...I'm not complaining, just explaining. Feel free to contact me at any time for a little brainstorming. Keep writing, Joyce

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  3. Terrific post. It's amazing how our characters become our friends, isn't it? But sometimes they don't act like friends should, and they get cranky! A character in my WIP kept telling me that she wasn't as brazen as I thought she was -- and she was right! Now that I've listened to her, I like her better (and she seems happier too).
    FYI: I found your blog through LinkedIn's "Book Marketing / Do you have a blog?" group.

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    1. Sandy, I don't have a blog group, but I attempt to post something here once a month. I've learned not to rein-in my characters, but allow them to develop their own personalities. Funny, how that works, isn't it. We're both happier. Keep writing, Joyce

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  4. Interesting post. Characters are so feisty at times! I had a few banging my brain, and had to drop one wip to attend to them. Now they are happy to have been moved into novel three space and are no longer fourth.

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    1. Isn't that the truth? I've had a minor character all but demand a book of her own. Now I'm writing, ROBYN, the fourth of the Rexford series, due to come out later this year. Keep writing, Joyce

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