tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post7923305960082925660..comments2024-02-12T15:15:51.364+02:00Comments on The Five Year Project: Writing Compelling CharactersMisha Gerrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-56395498862994899232010-10-01T07:07:35.572+02:002010-10-01T07:07:35.572+02:00Oh yes... as well as people who pretend to conform...Oh yes... as well as people who pretend to conform but really don't or are slowly being driven mad by the mediocrity of it... <br /><br />Muhahaha<br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-52207634628107008792010-10-01T00:07:26.596+02:002010-10-01T00:07:26.596+02:00I agree nonconformists make the most interesting c...I agree nonconformists make the most interesting characters!Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-71044609757354152982010-09-29T19:22:52.795+02:002010-09-29T19:22:52.795+02:00That's no problem Nancy, thanks for dropping b...That's no problem Nancy, thanks for dropping by. :-)<br /><br />Nicole I love that you know that House is based on Holmes. Most people never make the connection - a fact that I find quite odd... I thought to use House, but decided that it was better to stick with the original. ;-) Thanks for the comment.Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-86357159418557128392010-09-29T18:37:33.394+02:002010-09-29T18:37:33.394+02:00I love Holmes (and House who was based on him). Ve...I love Holmes (and House who was based on him). Very compelling character, what a great example!Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-40731727362674626142010-09-29T14:09:08.843+02:002010-09-29T14:09:08.843+02:00I like Sherlock too. Excellent post, I'm sorry...I like Sherlock too. Excellent post, I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner.<br />Nancy<br /><a href="http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">N. R. Williams, fantasy author</a>N. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-23465370414376931552010-09-28T19:48:57.062+02:002010-09-28T19:48:57.062+02:00I'm glad you agree with what I wrote and that ...I'm glad you agree with what I wrote and that you liked it. <br /><br />Thankd for commenting <br /><br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-6701960911399134702010-09-27T21:13:35.928+02:002010-09-27T21:13:35.928+02:00LOL, love the Holmes references!
I agree--charac...LOL, love the Holmes references! <br /><br />I agree--characters have to be interesting. That generally includes them having flaws...if they were perfect, they wouldn't make any mistakes, they'd always make the right choices, and there'd be little room for tension and conflict. No tension and conflict means no story. <br /><br />Great post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-55860706198228125002010-09-26T22:15:17.298+02:002010-09-26T22:15:17.298+02:00Thanks Quinn!
You're much better than me. I ...Thanks Quinn! <br /><br />You're much better than me. I gave up at around seventy...Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-5648098731391976032010-09-26T12:25:09.473+02:002010-09-26T12:25:09.473+02:00I love your post! I'm still trying to make my ...I love your post! I'm still trying to make my way through all of them. I agree that what makes a character compelling is interest. They need to be interesting. Also, love your advice about not trying to make your character conform to what you think they need to be. Great!Basthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12561466241112288690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-2920186575759667342010-09-25T19:59:02.483+02:002010-09-25T19:59:02.483+02:00Great post, thanks, Misha!
~that rebel, OliviaGreat post, thanks, Misha!<br /><br />~<a href="http://thatrebelwithablog.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">that rebel, Olivia</a>Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barréhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01107021392937169669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-59540749317908419632010-09-25T19:39:01.739+02:002010-09-25T19:39:01.739+02:00Haha me too, which is why I'm doing the charac...Haha me too, which is why I'm doing the character interviews. <br /><br />I've been writing my MC's like I thought they should be, instead of how they are. Eventually they all just clammed up. <br /><br />So I took my own advice and am spending today letting them talk to me one by one. (Read my newest post if you're curious about how that's going.) <br /><br />Darrion aside, it's amazing what you learn if you shut up and listen to them...<br /><br />As for boxing up and putting on a shelf, Darrion is challenging me to just try... ;-) <br /><br />Thanks for dropping by :-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-69052071250371185102010-09-25T19:28:28.544+02:002010-09-25T19:28:28.544+02:00"Don't force them to conform to what you ..."Don't force them to conform to what you think they should be, for they are who they are."<br /><br />AMEN!<br /><br />Whenever I try to do this with my characters they stop talking to me. When I let them be who they are they show me the loveliest stories I cannot imagine on my own. A good character is someone you can't box up and put on a shelf (although we are all trying, aren't we?) :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-86211901488769984592010-09-25T17:37:09.753+02:002010-09-25T17:37:09.753+02:00I totally agree. Even the best plot can be deraile...I totally agree. Even the best plot can be derailed by a flat character. <br /><br />And it's so disappointing if that happens...Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-82795703078958202672010-09-25T11:28:13.064+02:002010-09-25T11:28:13.064+02:00Great post, Misha. There's nothing worse than ...Great post, Misha. There's nothing worse than a flat character!Jessica Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10889900730906728317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-54250542586804213612010-09-25T11:01:44.256+02:002010-09-25T11:01:44.256+02:00Serena I always love characters with flaws - as lo...Serena I always love characters with flaws - as long as the flaws aren't over used. Then the character just becomes two dimentional again. Do you find that too? <br /><br />Kelly me too. Dr. Gregory House springs to mind as well as Lincoln Rhyme. Both full of nonsense. Both really caring about helping others. Both really good at doing it...<br /><br />Melissa I LOVE villains! They always get the best one liners. That's why one of my protagonists is borderline villainous... But by far my favourite. Unfortunately the fiend knows it ;-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-83578120312325295882010-09-25T06:08:33.623+02:002010-09-25T06:08:33.623+02:00I agree.
I tend to love the villains the most. B...I agree. <br /><br />I tend to love the villains the most. But that's just me.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-49452046503166471772010-09-25T01:38:11.217+02:002010-09-25T01:38:11.217+02:00I completely agree! Some of my favorite character...I completely agree! Some of my favorite characters are the least likable. Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-81158220945834109262010-09-25T00:35:48.692+02:002010-09-25T00:35:48.692+02:00yep interesting is good, human errors, flaws and p...yep interesting is good, human errors, flaws and poor judgments is what makes a character in a book a real live human that stomps around yor brain long after you finish the book. <br />Take a look at johnny depps character in From hell, a drug additd, great detective and is still able to be a good person trying to protect the woman he falls in love with and her friends <br />have a great weekend xSerenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09099930176816199481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-86427983574638876182010-09-24T23:02:54.329+02:002010-09-24T23:02:54.329+02:00I just love those characters that you are still th...I just love those characters that you are still thinking about months after you've finished the book. Holmes is an excellent example!Michelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-16923181227827970052010-09-24T22:09:59.904+02:002010-09-24T22:09:59.904+02:00Excellent!Excellent!Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-20217280696178631352010-09-24T22:09:09.956+02:002010-09-24T22:09:09.956+02:00Evening all.
Thanks so much for reading this and...Evening all. <br /><br />Thanks so much for reading this and showing your support. <br /><br />I'm really glad you all liked what I had to say.<br /><br />Lots of love,<br />Mish :-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-63122505672756674052010-09-24T21:30:51.129+02:002010-09-24T21:30:51.129+02:00Sherlock Holmes was a perfect way to illustrate co...Sherlock Holmes was a perfect way to illustrate compelling characters - I love it! Great post. :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-23817040894976698082010-09-24T21:28:57.498+02:002010-09-24T21:28:57.498+02:00Aha! Holmes is Holmes, and that's why we read....Aha! Holmes is Holmes, and that's why we read. He grabs on and doesn't let go. The best characters are themselves and they inspire us to love them.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-11387198752478581302010-09-24T19:50:12.439+02:002010-09-24T19:50:12.439+02:00Interesting is good! (And I like Sherlock Holmes.)...Interesting is good! (And I like Sherlock Holmes.) A character who is sharp and good at what he does is appealing to me. Obviously he's not perfect, though - if he was, those stories would be really, really short!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-43373931683558876382010-09-24T17:23:28.983+02:002010-09-24T17:23:28.983+02:00If you didn't have someone to cheer for then I...If you didn't have someone to cheer for then I think it would be hard to read a book, that's probably why I don't read a lot of non-fiction.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685341739870191402noreply@blogger.com