in personality from all the other characters you have developed, or from yourself?
This month's topic took a bit of reflection on my part.
It seems each one of my characters is different in personality, goals, dreams, and motivation. Of course, if it is a romance story/novel the plot-line and the characters are focused on love and romance; a mystery focuses on the mystery and a search for clues; fantasy, the norms of this other-world. However, I visualize each of my characters in his or her own right. Therefore, each is different from any characters who have come before, or will come after.
While none of my characters are me. The way I look at the world, my sense of humor, likes and dislikes are often part of a character's world.
I dislike turnips, vegan 'meat', the color orange, turtle-neck clothing, and wedged shoes. It is doubtful any of my characters will wearing an orange turtle-neck sweater, pants, wedged shoes at an event while holding a plate filled with a vegan hamburger sliders and turnip-fries.
In my current release is part of the box-set: LAST CHANCE BEACH, Summer's End.
In"Paradise Perfume" my heroine, Tempest Javid, owns a Perfumery and is a fragrance consultant. I have a background in perfuming and my skills are her skills (and more highly developed than my own). Tempest's personality and goals are hers and hers alone.
I find the characters unfold as my story develops.
This wasn't always the case.
Until recently, I wrote very detailed plot-lines, character sketches, etc. For my story, "Paradise Perfume" I have a very basic plot line: the simple W method and only physical details and notes about my characters.
I just sat at my computer and wrote. Dialogue popped into my head (which is the usual for me), but the plot-line just unfolded.
I go back the next day, write, and find I thought of details to go back and add in: a bracelet to be worn, her favorite fragrance,
his past history, etc. I guess I'm officially a 'panster' now. I'm writing by the seat of my pants without a net to catch me!
Link to LAST CHANCE BEACH, Summer's End.
only 99cents on preorder!
My next release: Gumbo Ya Ya--an anthology for women who like Cajun romance, is an August release @ BWL publishing Inc.
Marrying of Murphy, is a fun, fast-paced story, Love Potion # 9, (Persia Richmond is a perfumer who may have/ or may not have developed a Love Potion). So one again, my perfuming skills are are a part of the plot-line! A Slice of Scandal, a mini-TV cooking show murder/mystery, and The Pirate Ghost, a time-travel love story.
Publisher's Website/ Gumbo Ya Ya
See what these talented writers have to say about character development!
Connie
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1Y4
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com
Hi Connie, Join the band of pantsers and welcome. You say some of your skills filter in and I think that may go back to the beginners' mantra - 'Write what you know'. It's material we fell comfortable with that lets us research and manipulate material we know little about because it's always a sure foundation. Anne
ReplyDeleteAhoy to another pantser! My writing style includes creating the characters, and even writing detailed dossiers on the main ones, then stick them into the inciting incident and watch where they go. Writing a mystery has been a challenge because I need at least some basic plot ideas to drop the herrings along the way along with real clues so my reader won't toss the book aside with a comment about too much coincidence. But I do agree with you that often the things we dislike never quite make it into any of our characters, even the ones we mean as villains. Hard to gin up a "Like" for something we detest!
ReplyDeleteGood post Connie. I've decided I'm a combination plotter/pantser. I think and plan along time for each story, but once started, everything just flows.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and how you've become a pantser. It sounds like it's working out well.
ReplyDelete"It is doubtful any of my characters will wearing an orange turtle-neck sweater, pants, wedged shoes at an event while holding a plate filled with a vegan hamburger sliders and turnip-fries." LOL! Yes, things we really dislike would make us not enjoy being that character for long. I find it hard to understand bigots, so the only ones who show up in my books are villains or unimportant side characters. Just a personal peeve, I guess. Interesting blog.
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