tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post3686620797402636053..comments2024-03-18T01:49:03.153-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Creating Compelling CharactersDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71073322842058993472010-09-30T13:59:31.125-06:002010-09-30T13:59:31.125-06:00Great practical suggestions for writing characters...Great practical suggestions for writing characters with more dimensions than two.<br />Thank you.Megan Frances Abrahamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02259684930983493989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76116247917428780592010-09-28T13:22:56.935-06:002010-09-28T13:22:56.935-06:00Excellent tips! And wild - this was posted a whole...Excellent tips! And wild - this was posted a whole week before the Creating Compelling Characters blogfest.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2709520929854290842010-09-27T16:40:40.652-06:002010-09-27T16:40:40.652-06:00Thanks so much for this. It's been 15 + years ...Thanks so much for this. It's been 15 + years since I began my last WIP. (I'm a slow writer/learner.) I've forgotten just how hard this part of the process was. I'd begun to feel like I couldn't do it again, but these tips are so helpful!Victoria Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14012092208934951963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30090253752250171222010-09-25T14:13:59.421-06:002010-09-25T14:13:59.421-06:00Thanks, Jen and Angela! And thanks to Stina for po...Thanks, Jen and Angela! And thanks to Stina for posting a link to this. Much appreciated. I hope my article helped in the blogging experiment, Jen.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37614960452349399392010-09-24T07:45:31.544-06:002010-09-24T07:45:31.544-06:00*hugs this post*
Thanks so much for this--a very,...*hugs this post*<br /><br />Thanks so much for this--a very, very helpful checklist. <br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69843969466570665632010-09-24T06:12:37.675-06:002010-09-24T06:12:37.675-06:00How found your blog thanks to Stina for posting a ...How found your blog thanks to Stina for posting a fabulous link about you and compelling characters. It's so funny that you posted on this considering today over 160 people are participating in a blogging experiment all about compelling characters to see if others thoughts are truly different!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59141570385463984712010-09-21T12:55:13.967-06:002010-09-21T12:55:13.967-06:00Thanks, Emily. I think the point-form helps reader...Thanks, Emily. I think the point-form helps readers find the information they want, and also to easily check back later to re-read certain points. <br />And I think it's important to credit my sources, not only to avoid plagiarism, but also so readers don't think these are just my opinions - they're backed up /inspired by movers and shakers in the field!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-18392354343686521292010-09-20T22:17:55.044-06:002010-09-20T22:17:55.044-06:00Thanks Jodie.
I'll be sure to re-visit a few o...Thanks Jodie.<br />I'll be sure to re-visit a few of my short stories to assess the GRIT, WIT and IT in the main characters.<br />Great advice. I like you're point- form format and the fact that you're not afraid to quote others who have good advice.Emily Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91440516443697236112010-09-19T17:21:32.380-06:002010-09-19T17:21:32.380-06:00Thanks, Carina, Gail, Anonymous, Paparazzi and Del...Thanks, Carina, Gail, Anonymous, Paparazzi and Della for checking in to Blood-Red Pencil on your Sunday and reading our articles. Glad you found this info helpful! I hope to someday be reading about your compelling characters!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9058592526035792752010-09-19T16:49:59.276-06:002010-09-19T16:49:59.276-06:00Lots of great hints and guidelines for 'creati...Lots of great hints and guidelines for 'creating compelling characters' here.Della Barrettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-216365667902773252010-09-19T16:26:55.965-06:002010-09-19T16:26:55.965-06:00Hi Jodie:
Thanks for sharing this useful article....Hi Jodie:<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this useful article. I've used it with my writing students and my clients for whom I edit. They have all improved their writing through using your suggestions.<br /><br />Regards<br />GailGail Lennonhttp://www.gleditingandcopywriting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74554483955679590362010-09-19T15:46:01.869-06:002010-09-19T15:46:01.869-06:00Great blog topic and information, Jodie.
I was hap...Great blog topic and information, Jodie.<br />I was happy to see a check list of possible things to look for in my protagonist. <br />I'll certainly be returning to this blog. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-4456279369604671782010-09-19T13:25:02.212-06:002010-09-19T13:25:02.212-06:00Great article! Very useful for the aspiring writer...Great article! Very useful for the aspiring writer!<br /><br />CarinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43782480362523428582010-09-18T20:31:10.299-06:002010-09-18T20:31:10.299-06:00Character is probably the most important element o...Character is probably the most important element of a story. It affects every other aspect: plot, action, theme, conflict, etc. Create a character the reader can identify with, and you're on the right track.<br />http://www.heidimthomas.comHeidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67627988197277141962010-09-17T19:30:36.693-06:002010-09-17T19:30:36.693-06:00Thanks for all your great comments! And my apologi...Thanks for all your great comments! And my apologies for not responding sooner. I actually didn't realize my post appeared today until about an hour ago. Sorry about that!<br />Yes, there's so much to say about creating compelling characters, and characters are so critical to the success of a novel, so we'll definitely have to revisit this topic again.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13459545443987303962010-09-17T15:20:28.548-06:002010-09-17T15:20:28.548-06:00Great tips, but an awful lot to absorb in one read...Great tips, but an awful lot to absorb in one read through. This is one to save off to refer to again and again.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91943428145844110482010-09-17T14:59:46.120-06:002010-09-17T14:59:46.120-06:00It's not always easy to get the right combinat...It's not always easy to get the right combination together <br />to make your main character likeable. Thanks for the tips.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://morganmandel.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37033837003778371822010-09-17T13:26:51.248-06:002010-09-17T13:26:51.248-06:00Great advice. The characters are so important to t...Great advice. The characters are so important to the story. Not only do they have to carry the story, they sometimes have to carry a series. Will your readers want to stay with them through 400 pages? Through 5 books?Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-60070386539090974692010-09-17T11:03:55.206-06:002010-09-17T11:03:55.206-06:00Fantastic useful post- thanks!Fantastic useful post- thanks!Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84047057378394007842010-09-17T10:55:21.022-06:002010-09-17T10:55:21.022-06:00WOW! You really nailed it, Jodie. Great characteri...WOW! You really nailed it, Jodie. Great characterization is so vital to a story if we want to hook our readers and keep them turning pages. Fiction, in particular, demands reader identification and participation. <br /><br />Remember sitting in a movie theatre and bursting into applause when the hero entered the scene to save the day? Or booing the apparent victory of the villain? Characterization is a version of the same processes that inspired those responses. The main difference is that we writers must create the scene and build the characters so vividly in the minds of our readers that they cheer, gasp, boo, laugh, cry——do all things we do in the theatre because our story is playing clearly on the silver screen in their minds. The secret to making this happen? Strong characterization.<br /><br />The information in this great "how-to" post is a keeper. Thank you, Jodie, for sharing.Linda Lanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-711726804610271102010-09-17T09:48:07.834-06:002010-09-17T09:48:07.834-06:00Wonderful advice. A great character can carry a we...Wonderful advice. A great character can carry a weak plot, but very few plots are strong enough to carry a lousy character.<br /><br />Terry<br /><a href="http://terryodell.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br /><a href="http://www.terryodell.com" rel="nofollow">Romance with a Twist--of Mystery</a>Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68522487584968154952010-09-17T09:32:07.431-06:002010-09-17T09:32:07.431-06:00I just blogged about how I made these mistakes reg...I just blogged about how I made these mistakes regarding my own stories! I look forward to correcting my mistakes with this excellent advice.<br /><br />Marc Vun Kannon<br />http://authorguy.wordpress.comAuthor Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18316825723835547403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-5502907488550882892010-09-17T07:22:49.121-06:002010-09-17T07:22:49.121-06:00Peyton Place! I want to change that to Knots Land...Peyton Place! I want to change that to Knots Landing! But that's just me. Thanks for the refresher as my characters come together!<br /><br />Alex<br /><a href="http://www.breakfasteveryhour.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Breakfast Every Hour</a>Alex Onghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17338429566010013769noreply@blogger.com