Comments on: Getting started http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/07/started/ mysteries to fall in love with, romance to keep you in suspense Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:09:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Trisha Puddle http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/07/started/#comment-196 Trisha Puddle Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:00:36 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=753#comment-196 I’ve just read that link, Jordan. How weird. I hadn’t read that one before. I don’t write anything down, I just ask my character questions, then answer them inside the character’s head. The answers just come out. They crack me up sometimes. I’m glad that no one can hear me. They would think I’d lost it. I started doing this about a year ago when a writer in my critique group told me to add more emotion to my story. I didn’t know how to make it third dimensional so I asked my MC while driving. This worked so I do it all the time now. I liked the suggestion you made about writing a chapter in first person to get to know the character better. I should do that. I once revised one of my chapter books by re writing it in first person, but ended up going back to third. I did learn a lot more about my character though and it improved my writing. I hadn’t thought to go back and do it again. I will now, Thanks, Jordan, you’re full of great writing tips. Trish. I’ve just read that link, Jordan. How weird. I hadn’t read that one before. I don’t write anything down, I just ask my character questions, then answer them inside the character’s head. The answers just come out. They crack me up sometimes. I’m glad that no one can hear me. They would think I’d lost it.

I started doing this about a year ago when a writer in my critique group told me to add more emotion to my story. I didn’t know how to make it third dimensional so I asked my MC while driving. This worked so I do it all the time now.

I liked the suggestion you made about writing a chapter in first person to get to know the character better. I should do that. I once revised one of my chapter books by re writing it in first person, but ended up going back to third. I did learn a lot more about my character though and it improved my writing. I hadn’t thought to go back and do it again. I will now,

Thanks, Jordan, you’re full of great writing tips.

Trish.

]]> By: Jordan http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/07/started/#comment-195 Jordan Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:44:23 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=753#comment-195 That sounds a lot like the <a href="http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/07/characters-head/" rel="nofollow">character freewrite/interview exercise</a> we mentioned last week! That sounds a lot like the character freewrite/interview exercise we mentioned last week!

]]> By: Trisha Puddle http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/07/started/#comment-193 Trisha Puddle Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:53:19 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=753#comment-193 I just sit and write and my characters take me to places I'd never even consciously thought about. As I keep writing, more ideas develop from what I've written. When I'm driving alone, I try to get inside my character's head and talk to myself in their voice. It's surprising what comes out. It's like being possessed by a character. This probably sounds weird, but it works for me. Once I answered my mobile in my character's voice. My daughter asked who I was and where was her mother. When I spoke in my own voice, she asked me who the little brat was that answered my phone. I just laughed and said it was Molly. Try it, it really works. I also ask my MC questions before I go to sleep. When I wake, I can't wait to write down my new ideas. Trish. I just sit and write and my characters take me to places I’d never even consciously thought about. As I keep writing, more ideas develop from what I’ve written. When I’m driving alone, I try to get inside my character’s head and talk to myself in their voice. It’s surprising what comes out. It’s like being possessed by a character. This probably sounds weird, but it works for me. Once I answered my mobile in my character’s voice. My daughter asked who I was and where was her mother. When I spoke in my own voice, she asked me who the little brat was that answered my phone. I just laughed and said it was Molly.

Try it, it really works.

I also ask my MC questions before I go to sleep. When I wake, I can’t wait to write down my new ideas.

Trish.

]]> By: Jordan http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/07/started/#comment-188 Jordan Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:06:35 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=753#comment-188 Good to hear that works! That's what I'm trying to do now. Thanks, Livia! Good to hear that works! That’s what I’m trying to do now. Thanks, Livia!

]]> By: Livia http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/07/started/#comment-187 Livia Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:56:56 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=753#comment-187 I let ideas sit around in my head, and then when I finish a project, I look around and find the most developed and workable idea, and develop it. I let ideas sit around in my head, and then when I finish a project, I look around and find the most developed and workable idea, and develop it.

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