tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post3796460344982503665..comments2024-01-02T16:42:15.732-05:00Comments on Redlines and Deadlines: Building CharacterECPI Editorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00569261288668237013noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-59053602142719342432008-03-12T12:44:00.000-04:002008-03-12T12:44:00.000-04:00I had fun with the coffee thing in the novel I'm w...I had fun with the coffee thing in the novel I'm writing now. The heroine orders black coffee and a bran muffin - which tells the hero she's on a diet. He orders the day's special coffee, coco berry cream, because he's the adventurous sort who will try anything once.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-48211469473830145422008-03-11T08:44:00.000-04:002008-03-11T08:44:00.000-04:00My current heroine loves the smell of coffee but h...My current heroine loves the smell of coffee but hates the taste!<BR/><BR/>Excellent points and this all goes to the idea that backstory, while crucial to developing GMC, should be peppered in with the other details.<BR/><BR/>MargaretAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-37009452440843224102008-03-11T08:37:00.000-04:002008-03-11T08:37:00.000-04:00Characters can be wonderful things. I agree compl...Characters can be wonderful things. I agree completely that a character needs to be developed fully, even if you have no plans to divulge all their secrets (and probably shouldn't).<BR/><BR/>It's that back story that makes them consistent (or maybe consistently inconsistent). You know you're into their phyche when you can hear them in your mind or dreams.<BR/><BR/>By the way, my protagonist likes a Starbucks no-fat Caramel Macchiato, extra hot.Wilfred Bereswillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03019217952304685255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-23153096889510728212008-03-10T21:25:00.000-04:002008-03-10T21:25:00.000-04:00What I like to do is work out a character spreadsh...What I like to do is work out a character spreadsheet. Stupid stuff -- what type of car they drive, do they sing karaoke, (and what songs they like), how they take their coffee, favorite food, job, favorite drink at the bar, verses favorite drink in a restaurant. So when I'm writing a scene, I can look back and go "oh yeah, she drives a new Maxima," or "that's right, she likes lattes instead of straight coffee." <BR/><BR/>Cuz you should always know how your characters take their coffee.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18274178330113713370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-5949290999705792652008-03-10T20:41:00.000-04:002008-03-10T20:41:00.000-04:00I have a problem with creating way too much backst...I have a problem with creating way too much backstory and then leaking it into my books. I actually cut 40% out of the second draft of my current WIP because it was all backstory and not really applicable to the plot.<BR/><BR/>I'm trying to focus more on the now - instead of writing this really detailed backstory, I'm trying instead to write the most interesting thing that's happened in my protagonist's life to date AS the main story.<BR/><BR/>IanIanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14497045412007902460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-43311754705853607812008-03-10T19:45:00.000-04:002008-03-10T19:45:00.000-04:00But how can you know if they never tell you?But how can you know if they never tell you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com