Good Lord. I blogged about character vs. plot (a false dichotomy, but one with real effects on us) and, um, stuff - it's not one of my better organized posts, but there's a reason for that - today, too. Something floating on the latest front coming down the middle of the country?
Don't worry - your plot will generate the characters you need, and there's all kinds of tried and true tricks for getting to know them better to choose from. Mostly it comes down to who they have to be in order to fulfill their roles in the plot. You're getting at them through the plot and there's nothing wrong with that.
Your friend's problem can almost always be solved by asking one of two questions, depending on the genre.
What does this character want more than anything and why doesn't she have it? Or: What's the worst possible thing I could do to this character?
If she doesn't have the answers, this character needs to be thrown back into the pool to grow up some more, and a new one fished for.
>and there's all kinds of tried and true tricks for getting to know them >better to choose from. Mostly it comes down to who they have to be in order >to fulfill their roles in the plot. You're getting at them through the plot >and there's nothing wrong with that.
That's absolutely true! And I know quite a bit about my characters already...they just aren't living/breathing yet. They lack voice. But I'll find it.
>Your friend's problem can almost always be solved by asking one of two >questions, depending on the genre. What does this character want more >than anything and why doesn't she have it? Or: What's the worst possible >thing I could do to this character?
And that's exactly what I told her yesterday! I think she already knew it. None of the scenarios we came up with seemed to interest her much. But she'll find the right character AND the right story...she just needs to give it time.
Now, off to check out YOUR blog post on character/plot! :)
It's the same with me and my critique partner--he's an amazing plotter, and for me, the actual writing (not to mention the actual typing!) is much easier. I can't wait till we work on a project together, combining those strengths!
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Don't worry - your plot will generate the characters you need, and there's all kinds of tried and true tricks for getting to know them better to choose from. Mostly it comes down to who they have to be in order to fulfill their roles in the plot. You're getting at them through the plot and there's nothing wrong with that.
Your friend's problem can almost always be solved by asking one of two questions, depending on the genre.
What does this character want more than anything and why doesn't she have it?
Or:
What's the worst possible thing I could do to this character?
If she doesn't have the answers, this character needs to be thrown back into the pool to grow up some more, and a new one fished for.
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That's absolutely true! And I know quite a bit about my characters already...they just aren't living/breathing yet. They lack voice. But I'll find it.
>Your friend's problem can almost always be solved by asking one of two >questions, depending on the genre. What does this character want more >than anything and why doesn't she have it? Or: What's the worst possible >thing I could do to this character?
And that's exactly what I told her yesterday! I think she already knew it. None of the scenarios we came up with seemed to interest her much. But she'll find the right character AND the right story...she just needs to give it time.
Now, off to check out YOUR blog post on character/plot! :)
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