Comments on: Writing In Character – You Have to Be There

By: David_N_Wilson

David_N_Wilson — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:30:39 +0000

That\\'s pretty much what I do, except I don\\'t always share it in person, pretty often it\\'s through some character who knows something that I find interesting and has a perfect moment to share it. I never seem to be able to forget the trivia.

By: AravisGirl

AravisGirl — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:51:18 +0000

I am one of those people who Love random bits of information like that. It's filed in my mind & I'll probably be sharing it later. :D

Ditto on the character-driven part

By: Mari

Mari — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:44:18 +0000

Now you know for sure. :)

By: David_N_Wilson

David_N_Wilson — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:41:27 +0000

I always knew you were driven

By: Mari

Mari — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:08:37 +0000

I'm a totally character driven writer.

By: David_N_Wilson

David_N_Wilson — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:55:16 +0000

For me it\\'s the realism involved. With a well-done character, you can relate to how he reacts to things. In a plot driven story – particularly the mysteries you mention – you often end up in a big loop of going to this character to question them, going to the next, coming back when you learn the next twist and talking to them all again…this is difficult to make realistic…and even more difficult to make interesting.

By: Bobby Revell

Bobby Revell — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:45:13 +0000

Yeah, I see plot driven and character driven stories in a similar way. One genre of writing I often get bored with is the complex plot driven mystery. It seems like no matter how surprising the twists or unpredictable the ending is, I often wish I hadn't read it. Really, to me, an over-complicated nuance riddled plot is a cliche in most cases. A look inside the lives and minds of people is always more powerful and profound. I like stories where a major "change" in a character is central to the story.

By: David_N_Wilson

David_N_Wilson — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:32:43 +0000

I think as you come to know characters, you tend to realize things about them you didn\\'t at the start…sometimes it means you hit that \\"D\\'oh!\\"

By: David_N_Wilson

David_N_Wilson — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:31:57 +0000

I\\'ve read things that were plot driven that I didn\\'t hate, but I tend to remember the characters, and things they say and do, rather than the overall plot…Sometimes their mannerisms get incorporated into my everyday life (lol) For instance, after reading the Dark Tower series I kept going around saying \\"I cry your pardon, gunslinger\\" to people…not sure why I mention this. Lately I\\'ve done it to myself. I keep saying \\"Whoof!\\" and laughing…just because of the characters in Redneck Dragon

By: Gerryann

Gerryann — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:10:19 +0000

Good post. People drive the plot otherwise you only have a story and as a writer and reader both; I tend to get bored with a book that is not people driven. The people make the plot the plot doesn't make the people. Just my own opinion.

The naval orange thing? Isn't in the least bit surprising. I would like to know if that tree still stands and how today's naval oranges compare to that particular tree.