Comments on: Creative Writing - Characterisation http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/ the business and craft of writing Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:01:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Fiona http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-2939 Fiona Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:17:23 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-2939 It's always good to know your strengths and weaknesses and to have a realistic view of your writing. However, don't give up on the idea of writing a novel completely. As you say, short stories are an excellent place to practice. Good luck and keep on writing. It’s always good to know your strengths and weaknesses and to have a realistic view of your writing. However, don’t give up on the idea of writing a novel completely. As you say, short stories are an excellent place to practice. Good luck and keep on writing.

]]> By: JEAN LOCKHEAD http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-2938 JEAN LOCKHEAD Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:34:49 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-2938 I have learned a lot from the lesson on characterisation. I hsve written an unpublished novel called "99 Red Balloons" and I feel I was lacking in narrative and too heavy on characterisation and I think that I am too muchof a beginner to write in that style. I'm going to keep it and perhaps in the futurwe when I become more experience I can re-direct the material.I think that I ill practice on short stories. I have learned a lot from the lesson on characterisation. I hsve written an unpublished novel called “99 Red Balloons” and I feel I was lacking in narrative and too heavy on characterisation and I think that I am too muchof a beginner to write in that style. I’m going to keep it and perhaps in the futurwe when I become more experience I can re-direct the material.I think that I ill practice on short stories.

]]> By: TJ Pearson http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-2098 TJ Pearson Tue, 27 May 2008 02:52:35 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-2098 This is the best but hardest lesson for me. I could go on forever about a character but then it seems like I end up telling the story while I am creating a character, and I tend to make each character too important as I am working on their description they become a main person. Thanks for the help! This is the best but hardest lesson for me. I could go on forever about a character but then it seems like I end up telling the story while I am creating a character, and I tend to make each character too important as I am working on their description they become a main person. Thanks for the help!

]]> By: BletImpesee http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-843 BletImpesee Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:08:08 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-843 I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well. But it was interesting! Look for some my links: I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well. But it was interesting! Look for some my links:

]]> By: Creative Writing - poetry at The Crafty Writer http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-536 Creative Writing - poetry at The Crafty Writer Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:35:12 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-536 [...] this course have focused on fiction, though much of the advice is also relevant to poetry. In the fifth session, Fiona asked whether you start stories off with character, plot or message. For poets, a question [...] [...] this course have focused on fiction, though much of the advice is also relevant to poetry. In the fifth session, Fiona asked whether you start stories off with character, plot or message. For poets, a question [...]

]]> By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-293 Fiona Veitch Smith Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:44:39 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-293 Hi Sue, that happened to me in a play once. The original concept (the image of a quilt) ended up being a peripheral element rather than the central focus. In fact, the play could have got along quite happily without it! That was a result of allowing characters a bit of free reign too. Good luck with the novel. Hi Sue, that happened to me in a play once. The original concept (the image of a quilt) ended up being a peripheral element rather than the central focus. In fact, the play could have got along quite happily without it! That was a result of allowing characters a bit of free reign too. Good luck with the novel.

]]> By: Soobdoo http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-292 Soobdoo Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:51:53 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-292 Hi Fiona, This weeks session really made me think hard about my novel in progress. Initially I had a vague idea that the appearance of unknown siblings might cause a lot of friction and could even result in murder. I started then to think about the characters and have found that the starting idea has all but vanished from the storyline. I have worked through the exercises but I am still thinking about the questions this session raised for me. Thanks Fiona Hi Fiona,
This weeks session really made me think hard about my novel in progress.
Initially I had a vague idea that the appearance of unknown siblings might cause a lot of friction and could even result in murder.
I started then to think about the characters and have found that the starting idea has all but vanished from the storyline.
I have worked through the exercises but I am still thinking about the questions this session raised for me.
Thanks Fiona

]]> By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-282 Fiona Veitch Smith Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:36:39 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-282 Forgot to say, GB, that you might consider fictionalising some parts of her life that you're not aware of. You could be very up front about it, and say something along the lines of: I always wanted to know what happened to Grandma during these years, but I never did. But I could always imagine, and this is what might have happened ... As long as you are true to the character of your grandma as you know it, it might be quite a clever device. Make sure of course that the readers know this is your imagined bit rather than actual facts. Sue Woolfe in Leaning Towards Infinity did something like that. OK, it's all fiction, but it's written as a memoir of a granddaughter writing her mother's and grandma's stories and 'filling in' the bits she's unsure of. Forgot to say, GB, that you might consider fictionalising some parts of her life that you’re not aware of. You could be very up front about it, and say something along the lines of: I always wanted to know what happened to Grandma during these years, but I never did. But I could always imagine, and this is what might have happened … As long as you are true to the character of your grandma as you know it, it might be quite a clever device. Make sure of course that the readers know this is your imagined bit rather than actual facts. Sue Woolfe in Leaning Towards Infinity did something like that. OK, it’s all fiction, but it’s written as a memoir of a granddaughter writing her mother’s and grandma’s stories and ‘filling in’ the bits she’s unsure of.

]]> By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-280 Fiona Veitch Smith Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:41:30 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-280 Hi Writing GB, You should probably drop by at my post on non-fiction autobiography. I look at family history there, though not strictly memoir. http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/26/non-fiction-writing-autobiography-and-writing-from-life/ Similar principles though. You've got a real life 'character' and you still have to tell a story. I've made some recommendations for some useful books that might help you. Grandmas are amazing gifts to us. Mine died last year, a week before her 101st birthday. And what a life she had! Hi Writing GB,

You should probably drop by at my post on non-fiction autobiography. I look at family history there, though not strictly memoir.
http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/26/non-fiction-writing-autobiography-and-writing-from-life/
Similar principles though. You’ve got a real life ‘character’ and you still have to tell a story. I’ve made some recommendations for some useful books that might help you. Grandmas are amazing gifts to us. Mine died last year, a week before her 101st birthday. And what a life she had!

]]> By: writinggb http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-279 writinggb Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:38:46 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/31/creative-writing-characterisation/#comment-279 I've been thinking about plot and character in terms of my grandmother's memoir (which I am currently revising/rewriting). In some ways the book is plot driven -- and it's a good story, lots of drama and well-connected to themes that readers will find meaningful. But I keep wanting to make character a bigger part. Problem is that it's not MY life. I am writing Grandma's life, and though I knew her very well in her later years, I did not know her when she was a teen. I did not know her parents. Etcetera. And since I am not writing fiction, it's not possible for me to make things up. . . . Maybe imagine what an event was like that I DO know happened, but that's not the same as being able to fabricate. Anyway, thanks for the post on character and plot. I'll have to think more about what you've said. I’ve been thinking about plot and character in terms of my grandmother’s memoir (which I am currently revising/rewriting). In some ways the book is plot driven — and it’s a good story, lots of drama and well-connected to themes that readers will find meaningful. But I keep wanting to make character a bigger part. Problem is that it’s not MY life. I am writing Grandma’s life, and though I knew her very well in her later years, I did not know her when she was a teen. I did not know her parents. Etcetera.

And since I am not writing fiction, it’s not possible for me to make things up. . . . Maybe imagine what an event was like that I DO know happened, but that’s not the same as being able to fabricate.

Anyway, thanks for the post on character and plot. I’ll have to think more about what you’ve said.

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