tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post7424066907139251964..comments2024-02-21T05:25:03.233-05:00Comments on Adventures in YA Publishing: Crafting Multi-Layered CharactersMartina Boonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-19488713285657614602012-07-13T11:32:11.396-04:002012-07-13T11:32:11.396-04:00This is one of those posts I'm copying and pas...This is one of those posts I'm copying and pasting in a Word doc for reference. Great stuff here!Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-69983405464930645112012-07-09T11:34:08.913-04:002012-07-09T11:34:08.913-04:00Hi, I came to this post via Rosi Hollinbeck. Wonde...Hi, I came to this post via Rosi Hollinbeck. Wonderful share. Very useful points to consider. I always mean to go through a book and take notes, but now you have motivated me to do just that. Thanks for a good post.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-54655626964052218972012-07-06T19:48:52.387-04:002012-07-06T19:48:52.387-04:00joni, glad to have you with us! What excellent per...joni, glad to have you with us! What excellent perspective you must have since you've worked as a mentor for writers. We'd love you to chime in during the discussions. So true on "breathing life" into your characters. Through close readings for my MFA program, I've really been able to see those tiny, tiny details about characters that make up an overall impression. Thanks for the kind words on the blog. So glad you're joining us!Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-24235578652430016012012-07-06T13:02:54.534-04:002012-07-06T13:02:54.534-04:00I am a new follower to your blog and I love what I...I am a new follower to your blog and I love what I'm reading. <br />I was a mentor in a writing community for many years and I can't tell you how many times I have guided writers to flesh that character out! Give him/her life, breathe them into existence!<br />Most memorable characters that stand out to me? (too many to list) but Eleanor of Shirley Jackson's Hauntiing of Hill House! <br />How whimsical and downright zany, almost insane character she was!<br /><br />Odd Thomas is another character I love!<br /><br />I pick apart every book I read. :) It's the writer in me!<br /><br /><br />Great blog!!!jonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03401569094090026684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-228478602279494162012-06-27T18:53:18.058-04:002012-06-27T18:53:18.058-04:00JB Rowley, such a vivid example. And while I think...JB Rowley, such a vivid example. And while I think my tendency is to focus on my protagonist, I think you've hot upon an important point- your antag should be round and well-defined to make an impact, too. Thanks for your comment!Marissa Graffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120823155731859924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-12352360723314131922012-06-27T17:45:41.703-04:002012-06-27T17:45:41.703-04:00The convict in 'Great Expectations' had a ...The convict in 'Great Expectations' had a deep impact on me when I read it as a young and fanciful child. This character first appears ‘from among the graves’- an image bound to stir the imagination of a child and his words to Pip inflamed my fear: “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat.” <br />I was still young enough to believe that adults treated children with gentleness so the convict’s words to young Pip shocked me. I immediately imagined a great threatening man with an evil look. Dickens’ description that follows was almost irrelevant, although my mind seized the image of the missing leg and added that to the picture. That hair-raising character stayed in my mind year after year. JB :-)JB Rowleyhttp://jbthewriter.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-670968161275222342012-06-26T20:42:24.031-04:002012-06-26T20:42:24.031-04:00You are most welcome, Rosi! I'm getting great ...You are most welcome, Rosi! I'm getting great writing advice during my Children's Literature MFA program so I'm trying to faithfully share the knowledge. Happy writing!Marissa Graffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120823155731859924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-79297998129355726282012-06-26T19:50:23.196-04:002012-06-26T19:50:23.196-04:00This is great. Thanks for posting this. I don'...This is great. Thanks for posting this. I don't think we can think too much about developing our characters in ways that allow our readers to understand them as well as we do.Rosihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294774973863802821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-73500499429178189032012-06-26T19:15:48.120-04:002012-06-26T19:15:48.120-04:00Ha, Jenny! Kudos to you for doing close character ...Ha, Jenny! Kudos to you for doing close character analysis. It really is a great habit to have! Thanks for spreading the word :)Marissa Graffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120823155731859924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-52692897980608299812012-06-26T19:14:18.595-04:002012-06-26T19:14:18.595-04:00Erica, Martina (my blogging partner-in-crime) deve...Erica, Martina (my blogging partner-in-crime) developed those sheets and I think they're gold. Same with Angela Ackerman's emotional thesaurus and blog. I'm so glad you found the post helpful. Thanks for the sweet words about the blog, too! We love doing it :)Marissa Graffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120823155731859924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-88602846019043897662012-06-26T18:55:26.462-04:002012-06-26T18:55:26.462-04:00I must be a weirdo. I look at my favorite characte...I must be a weirdo. I look at my favorite characters like this all the time. I have to find out what it is that makes me love them or hate them so I can learn the tricks and apply what I've learned to my own writing. Thanks for the most awesome post. I pinged it on my blog as well.Jennyhttp://jennykellerford.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-57407012377102660662012-06-26T15:16:53.432-04:002012-06-26T15:16:53.432-04:00This is a great suggestion. I have put much time i...This is a great suggestion. I have put much time into developing my characters -- using your character worksheets, the Myers Briggs personalities, and Bookshelf Muse's Character Traits Thesaurus. This exercise will only add depth for a more realistic character. Thanks for all your wisdom! I truly appreciate all the time you ladies put into making this blog so great.Ericahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12242644945551602533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-85729040590734040782012-06-26T13:07:15.777-04:002012-06-26T13:07:15.777-04:00Totally agree, Natalie. I'll walk away knowing...Totally agree, Natalie. I'll walk away knowing I loved (or despised) a certain character, but I'm not always able to pinpoint what made me feel that way. It's an exercise to go through and truly search down the details, but it makes a big difference for our own writing.Marissa Graffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120823155731859924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-3507231546711937562012-06-26T12:44:30.076-04:002012-06-26T12:44:30.076-04:00Great things to consider when reading. If a book i...Great things to consider when reading. If a book is good, I tend to just read it as fast as I can to know what happened. On occasion, I have reread a book and outlined it to see what works.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-75189346988960582152012-06-26T11:33:30.673-04:002012-06-26T11:33:30.673-04:00Chihuahua Zero, isn't that an interesting way ...Chihuahua Zero, isn't that an interesting way of looking at your character? I tend to think of my characters in a bubble at times, but we can learn a lot about them from how they inspire those around them or cause someone else's mood to change. Good luck!Marissa Graffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120823155731859924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-56784830703860815022012-06-26T11:14:51.670-04:002012-06-26T11:14:51.670-04:00Hmm..."effects on other" seem to be an i...Hmm..."effects on other" seem to be an important part of both of my protagonists, so I might have to think of it a little more.chihuahuazerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677672177353350936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-88154936478047388802012-06-26T11:07:34.555-04:002012-06-26T11:07:34.555-04:00Thanks, Sheri! I'll have to hunt down the othe...Thanks, Sheri! I'll have to hunt down the other character articles for the day :) I tend to write in a more plot-driven fashion, so I think it helps to really go through and see why we love certain characters in the amazing work that's in print ;)Marissa Graffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120823155731859924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-75034730333586470512012-06-26T10:07:30.153-04:002012-06-26T10:07:30.153-04:00Today must be the day to discuss character develop...Today must be the day to discuss character development. This is the fifth article I've read this morning. Guess great minds really do think alike. ;D <br /><br />I love your last note: reading between the lines of our characters to discover their beliefs and thoughts. Great point!S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com