tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post1034408926798704883..comments2024-01-06T11:53:26.231+00:00Comments on Qwerty Queen: Character ProblemQueeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988379866736219329noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-90102696870429607162010-08-23T06:39:23.189+01:002010-08-23T06:39:23.189+01:00Helen, I'm getting there...
Pat, you may be r...Helen, I'm getting there...<br /><br />Pat, you may be right, but I'm doing my best to keep him under control.<br /><br />CB, I've heard of that technique, but it's the 'fixing the inevitable plot errors' part that puts me off - I'd prefer to do something more difficult at this stage and save myself hassle later on. But I will keep it in mind, and thanks for spelling it out so clearly, because I understand it better now.Queeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06988379866736219329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-77252269647784765062010-08-20T12:03:54.472+01:002010-08-20T12:03:54.472+01:00Viewpoint slippage for a book with multiple chapte...Viewpoint slippage for a book with multiple chapter/viewpoints? Been there, done that. But, I have a remedy.<br /><br />Are you writing the chapters is chronological order, or perhaps a random, what-I-feel-like-at-the-time order? Why not do what I do and write in <i>streams</i>. For example, in your book there would be three streams, one for each character viewpoint. All you have to do is focus your writing for (say) a couple of weeks on one stream only, switch and repeat.<br /><br />In other words you write for a fortnight with only one character viewpoint, so there's less chance of slipping. The next fortnight you can switch and focus on another stream. And so on until you have the components you need, then it's just a matter of assembling them into the chapter order you want.<br /><br />Then the real fun begins: fixing the inevitable plot errors from writing things out of order...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-31427596476716112532010-08-20T10:10:20.459+01:002010-08-20T10:10:20.459+01:00'He is entirely mine to do with as I please. I...'He is entirely mine to do with as I please. I can write him out of the book, kill him off as horribly as I like, torture, maim and mutilate him if I want to'<br />I wonder if that is entirely true? So many writers aver their characters take over and are in charge of their destiny. He's already shown he's not entirely under your thumb. Interesting.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-3074092895663722222010-08-19T21:27:18.310+01:002010-08-19T21:27:18.310+01:00Now you've nailed what you're not happy wi...Now you've nailed what you're not happy with you'll sort it easily.HelenMWaltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16182100572365505905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-7692551642964084132010-08-19T15:55:16.360+01:002010-08-19T15:55:16.360+01:00SpiralSkies, I never thought of reading my charact...SpiralSkies, I never thought of reading my characters' horoscopes - genius!<br /><br />Talli, I bet I'll do that too (and thank you)<br /><br />Lane, I know, they proper get above themselves, don't they?<br /><br />BM, wouldn't it be great if we could rewrite real life sometimes?Queeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06988379866736219329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-89968377245257652942010-08-19T15:29:51.550+01:002010-08-19T15:29:51.550+01:00Hi Queenie
Ha! If only it were that easy in real ...Hi Queenie<br /><br />Ha! If only it were that easy in real life. I have a 17 year old - I'd re-write him and his attitude completely!<br /><br />And I SO know what you mean about writer madness. <br /><br />warm wishesBluestocking Mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01502764742097142372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-62054714875937951312010-08-19T13:35:46.192+01:002010-08-19T13:35:46.192+01:00I'm glad you've put him back in his place....I'm glad you've put him back in his place. Honestly, give these characters an inch and they'll take a mile. Or even a POV:-)Lane Mathiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08147122748453850264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-33344432788653619302010-08-19T09:49:35.558+01:002010-08-19T09:49:35.558+01:00Way to make your characters behave! Go Queenie!
I...Way to make your characters behave! Go Queenie!<br /><br />I usually add in a lot more bits to the character as I go through the second draft. <br /><br />PS - Love your song on my blog post yesterday!Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-47915410667850212342010-08-19T08:29:34.210+01:002010-08-19T08:29:34.210+01:00Oddly enough, I sort of like it when the character...Oddly enough, I sort of like it when the characters think they know better than we do - it gives them an extra dimension that makes them seem more real?<br /><br />Am a massive freewriting fan and even read my character's horoscopes if I'm desperate!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781237143187343971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-54749912352288963742010-08-19T07:21:19.238+01:002010-08-19T07:21:19.238+01:00Hello, Helen! Glad I made you laugh. I recommend...Hello, Helen! Glad I made you laugh. I recommend freewriting, and Nicola's character questionnaire - I find it more useful than the kind which asks for your character's star sign and inside leg measurement.<br /><br />Carol, I think you've picked up a lot from hanging out with us writer types, because your last sentence is spot on.<br /><br />Debs, I know, mine do too, but we must discipline them!!!Queeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06988379866736219329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-49071801903132230172010-08-18T15:54:01.356+01:002010-08-18T15:54:01.356+01:00Good for you for taking charge and making him do w...Good for you for taking charge and making him do what you want. <br /><br />That said, I know what you mean, my characters do tend to tell me what they want and go off in all sorts of directions I hadn't been planning to go on.Deborah Carr (Debs)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03223653554549707595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-67965969789510966622010-08-18T10:33:04.497+01:002010-08-18T10:33:04.497+01:00Not being a writerly person I have no words of wis...Not being a writerly person I have no words of wisdom (Ha, actually I never have any words of wisdom about anything!) but I'm sure you will get there with your character. It's a first draft...it can be changed so don't get too hung up about it!<br /><br />C xCarolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12327016337976942530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461550018707850575.post-92232679430746880662010-08-18T09:56:02.482+01:002010-08-18T09:56:02.482+01:00Hello. I liked your bit about him being a slippery...Hello. I liked your bit about him being a slippery character and that's why he slipped out of his POV. Made me laugh. <br /><br />The writer madness i can identify with. I can do what I like with my characters, it's up to me. But at the moment I feel they're a bit blah. Maybe I should look at doing freewriting and a character questionnaire.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13315275929031953790noreply@blogger.com