tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post3238205104142157281..comments2023-05-29T07:15:27.839-07:00Comments on Finding Kat Heckenbach: Get to know your charactersKat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-76139546483197652832009-05-05T18:45:00.000-07:002009-05-05T18:45:00.000-07:00That's exactly what it's done. I believe everythin...That's exactly what it's done. I believe everything we experience affects us in some way, and there are big events in our lives that really mold us.<br /><br />The really cool thing is, it hasn't just helped me with character development, it's given me plot ideas!Kat Heckenbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-31655666792849314552009-05-05T08:08:00.000-07:002009-05-05T08:08:00.000-07:00Great idea, Kat. I can see how this would develop ...Great idea, Kat. I can see how this would develop the characters beyond props for the main characters. Give them some real motivations behind their actions.Dayle James Arceneauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09277352334992032836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-84158555800559780692009-05-04T19:48:00.000-07:002009-05-04T19:48:00.000-07:00Well, Candy, what I did was pick an event in the c...Well, Candy, what I did was pick an event in the character's past that was very personal and important--a turning point for him or her, and I wrote it out as a short story. Maybe for your loud, obnoxious character you can write about a time during her life where she was forced to find that quiet side. Maybe a tragic time in her life, where she turned inward to deal with it. <br /><br />With the shy, quiet girl, you could write an event that makes her come out of her shell a little. Does she have a special skill, like drawing or something? I say that because when I was younger and very shy I used my art to open up to people. It was something I knew I was good at, and I'd sketch when I was around other people and too shy to speak up. It would get their attention and they would come start a conversation with me, on a topic (my art) that was comfortable for me. <br /><br />The stories I'm writing are things that happened to my characters BEFORE the events in the books. The first story is an event from the childhood of one of the adult characters. But you can write about something that happens at the same time as the book, but just has nothing to do with the plot itself. If one of your characters has a home life that makes them behave a certain way, you can write about it. Some of that you want in the book, so the reader knows why the character is how she is, but it would only be bits and pieces. You can write a short story, though, that goes into a whole day of the life of that character and really experience it with her, and it will help you to get to know her better.<br /><br />Is that helpful? If you have any more questions, please ask. I don't profess to be a characterization expert, but this has helped me immeasurably in getting to know my characters. <br /><br />KatKat Heckenbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-33079802032068410812009-05-04T17:19:00.000-07:002009-05-04T17:19:00.000-07:00Hmm...how do you do that? I'm writing a book too a...Hmm...how do you do that? I'm writing a book too and I'm tryin to develop my characters more, since they're a big part of the main plot. Do you just sort of list their characteristics? Do you have any advice for developing characters? In my book that I'm writing, Gally is this really loud, crazy, and obnoxious girl and I'm trying to find that part inside of her that is calm, quiet, and understanding. On the other hand, I have a character named Stacy who is really quiet, shy, and doesn't have a lot of self-esteem when she's around people she's not familiar with and I'd like to show that loud and crazy part of her. How do I do that? <br /><br />Well, sorry for the rant! But some advice would be nice. (: Thx so much!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com