How to bring your characters to life

June 15, 2011

I’m blogging at Laugh, Love, Write today on the subject of Captivating Characters vs Cardboard Cutouts.

I always cringe a little when I read my ‘writing tips’ as it sounds far too much like I know what I’m doing! Every writer works differently so please do come over and make a comment and tell me how you develop characters.

There’s a great post by Matt Dunn too, on writing emotion – from a guy’s perspective.

However, writing the post did make me take another long hard look at my current wip – which is always a good thing. I’m half way through the edit and I know I could still raise the stakes for the heroine. Hmm. Something to think about… but it might have to wait until Saturday when I’m meeting with The Coffee Crew and a group of other booklovers in Birmingham. I can bounce some ideas off Nell and Liz.

Comments

1. On June 15th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
   agenoria Says:
   

   I’m not a writer, so I thought I’d comment here.

   A while back I borrowed a book from the library, a murder mystery, because of where it was set in England. However, I don’t want to read any more of the series on two counts. First I didn’t find the main character very likeable, and she wasn’t a villain. Secondly, her behaviour wasn’t consistent and I got confused.

   So I think you can give your characters all sorts of weird foibles, but can they be *consistent* foibles? Unfortunately, like cleaning, it’s the sort of thing readers won’t notice unless it’s not done properly.

   I found Newland Archer in Edith Wharton’s “The Age of Innocence” hard to like too, but after a comment on a forum that the book was worth pursuing I finished the book, and agreed with the comment. But it is hard to read a book when you can’t connect with the characters at all. (I know you can’t please everyone all the time!)

   Birmingham is a good place for serious literary discussion 😉

2. On June 16th, 2011 at 4:30 am
   Rachel Lyndhurst Says:
   

   It’s a great post, Phillipa. I left a comment yesterday (and on Matt Dunn’s), but they don’t seem to have updated it. ;0)

3. On June 16th, 2011 at 4:46 am
   Phillipa Says:
   

   Rachel – thankd. I left comments on both too, but can’t see them. If they’re not updated later, I’ll ask them to because I’d like to see other writers’ ideas.

   Agenoria – see you on Saturday. Nell and Liz are coming – can’t wait to meet up with everyone for what is always a fun and interesting day out!

4. On June 16th, 2011 at 4:48 am
   Phillipa Says:
   

   I’d just add, Agenoria, that in commercial romantic fiction, your main characters *do* have to be people you really like as a reader. That suits me – I find it quite hard to write ‘villains’ because I’d rather redeem someone.