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
Good advice. I hate head hopping.
ReplyDeleteI agree. There are many books I don't get beyone the first chapter when the author takes advantage of head-hopping. Keep writing, Joyce
DeleteLove 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?
ReplyDeleteApril, 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
DeleteTerrific 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).
ReplyDeleteFYI: I found your blog through LinkedIn's "Book Marketing / Do you have a blog?" group.
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
DeleteInteresting 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.
ReplyDeleteIsn'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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