Comments on: Creating characters http://jordanmccollum.com/2010/06/creating-characters/ mysteries to fall in love with, romance to keep you in suspense Tue, 22 May 2012 21:38:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carol Benedict http://jordanmccollum.com/2010/06/creating-characters/#comment-3704 Carol Benedict Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:45:12 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=2724#comment-3704 I have a general idea about the main characters when I start my rough draft, but don't build a character sketch until I've written a few thousand words of the story. By that time I generally have the basics of the plot figured out and can adjust my characters to fit the needs of the story. It's hardest for me to figure out the antagonist in my stories as I really want to like everyone, and I'm not good at making likeable villains. Or maybe it's that I'm not good at making likeable characters villains. I have a general idea about the main characters when I start my rough draft, but don’t build a character sketch until I’ve written a few thousand words of the story. By that time I generally have the basics of the plot figured out and can adjust my characters to fit the needs of the story. It’s hardest for me to figure out the antagonist in my stories as I really want to like everyone, and I’m not good at making likeable villains. Or maybe it’s that I’m not good at making likeable characters villains.

]]> By: Carol J. Garvin http://jordanmccollum.com/2010/06/creating-characters/#comment-3694 Carol J. Garvin Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:38:41 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=2724#comment-3694 My stories usually begin with an image... a mental picture of somebody doing something. The image keeps returning and I beginning questioning who this person is and what is he or she doing, and why. When I finally start writing I really don't know my MC very well. It's a learning process along the way. During the first revision I have to reassess how he or she is acting and reacting and whether the actions are consistent with the personality that's now familiar. It sounds much like your process. My stories usually begin with an image… a mental picture of somebody doing something. The image keeps returning and I beginning questioning who this person is and what is he or she doing, and why. When I finally start writing I really don’t know my MC very well. It’s a learning process along the way. During the first revision I have to reassess how he or she is acting and reacting and whether the actions are consistent with the personality that’s now familiar. It sounds much like your process.

]]> By: Iapetus999 http://jordanmccollum.com/2010/06/creating-characters/#comment-3692 Iapetus999 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:53:56 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=2724#comment-3692 Hey, welcome back! Maternity leave over already? ;) You might want to consider drafting a few "throwaway" scenes with your character to get to know them. The thing is, though, that I never really understand my character until the end of the book, because their true character is revealed in the end, when they have to make the final choice. Then I find out what's most important to them. Hey, welcome back! Maternity leave over already? ;)

You might want to consider drafting a few “throwaway” scenes with your character to get to know them.
The thing is, though, that I never really understand my character until the end of the book, because their true character is revealed in the end, when they have to make the final choice. Then I find out what’s most important to them.

]]> By: Don Carey http://jordanmccollum.com/2010/06/creating-characters/#comment-3691 Don Carey Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:09:11 +0000 http://jordanmccollum.com/?p=2724#comment-3691 All I have to do is load the dishwasher or mow the lawn, and my characters tell me everything about themselves. The only way to shut them up is to sit in front of the computer with a blank Word document on the screen. All I have to do is load the dishwasher or mow the lawn, and my characters tell me everything about themselves. The only way to shut them up is to sit in front of the computer with a blank Word document on the screen.

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