tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post4248548254692887325..comments2024-03-28T05:13:12.886-04:00Comments on QueryTracker Blog: Creating Your Main CharacterPatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771807777617244491noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-43214128205590302222010-09-10T10:26:56.258-04:002010-09-10T10:26:56.258-04:00I disagree only with the necessity of a physical d...I disagree only with the necessity of a physical description. I almost never provide an explicit description of my characters, unless they are unusual in some way that matters. I talked about this in my blog post http://authorguy.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/does-size-matter/Author Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18316825723835547403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-56766451258133892022010-09-10T07:35:45.669-04:002010-09-10T07:35:45.669-04:00Silke:
You are so right; a villian must be develo...Silke:<br /><br />You are so right; a villian must be developed carefully. He/she, too, must be a believeable human being.<br /><br />However, sometimes I think writers can get "villian-happy" - that is to say, more evil than is necessary. You don't want them to ring untrue, or to take over the plot.<br /><br />Another point is that the villian must have a reason for "being", other than simple shock value.<br /><br />Thanks for pointing that out!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04467591840338329224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-72475215656415930682010-09-10T05:01:24.372-04:002010-09-10T05:01:24.372-04:00As long as you don't forget to do the same thi...As long as you don't forget to do the same things with the VILLAIN, it's all good.<br />There is nothing worse than a book where you have wonderful main characters - and a cardboard cutout as a villain, because the author didn't bother developing him/her.<br />All the qualities and flaws you put into your hero/heroine, need to be there in the villain. He also has to make sense and be identifiable, not just the goody goody people.<br />You need to know what makes your villain tick, probably more than you need to know the same about your main characters!Silkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386721560600347930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-45957869114158114062010-09-09T21:30:38.393-04:002010-09-09T21:30:38.393-04:00Wonderful post, Cynthia. Thank you. I have worked ...Wonderful post, Cynthia. Thank you. I have worked really hard to make sure my character has been portrayed with all the things you have mentioned. Writing in first person is especially tricky in terms of getting descriptions of what a character looks like without being cliche (seeing oneself in the mirror or window reflection and describing it). I think I have managed to describe her in very subtle, seamless way. It was tricky, but I was able to find places here and there throughout the story to sneak it in. The challenge was actually quite enjoyable.Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03696084321447737813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-29657618772193015352010-09-09T01:15:56.667-04:002010-09-09T01:15:56.667-04:00This is a superb post. I am having trouble with my...This is a superb post. I am having trouble with my main character - he doesn't seem to do much...and although he changes quite drastically he's very unattractive in the beginning.<br /><br />And I agree. Katniss Everdeen is one of my most favourite characters of all time and it is SO TRUE when the goal of making a good character is to make others CARE for them. I really cared about Katniss and her survival and her relationship with Prim.<br /><br />Once again, excellent post!Char.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03157830649599433484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-37268531697465277442010-09-09T00:15:56.211-04:002010-09-09T00:15:56.211-04:00Excellent points in your list, Cynthia! Good luck ...Excellent points in your list, Cynthia! Good luck in the query trenches. :)Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-58719352497325408212010-09-08T22:52:46.517-04:002010-09-08T22:52:46.517-04:00Sigh, I wish I looked like a hot sterotype charact...Sigh, I wish I looked like a hot sterotype character. :)<br /><br />Love the picture of Katniss!Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-69808012680874138862010-09-08T22:00:30.110-04:002010-09-08T22:00:30.110-04:00Thanks everyone for your kind and insightful comme...Thanks everyone for your kind and insightful comments!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04467591840338329224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-74674696366605503532010-09-08T21:25:13.791-04:002010-09-08T21:25:13.791-04:00'If the plot is the brains, the main character...'If the plot is the brains, the main character is the heart.'<br /><br />I think that is the best quote on novels that I've read this month and I've been reading a lot of blogs!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00456068019298922261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-82732189641738439322010-09-08T16:48:44.802-04:002010-09-08T16:48:44.802-04:00This is a wonderful way to explain the importance ...This is a wonderful way to explain the importance of a believable, sympathetic MC!<br /><br />Great post, Cynthia!Tere Kirklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-12993539976506886522010-09-08T14:34:46.905-04:002010-09-08T14:34:46.905-04:00Great post! I really like the point that for the c...Great post! I really like the point that for the character and the story to work, the reader has to care. Not like, but care. So very true! And great pointers on how to achieve that!Danyelle L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10366276085080565870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-22154935592249964082010-09-08T13:43:43.647-04:002010-09-08T13:43:43.647-04:00So much to think about. Thanks for the post!So much to think about. Thanks for the post!Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-3207726952855964992010-09-08T12:05:48.163-04:002010-09-08T12:05:48.163-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Abby Minardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963640263845561309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-62673115439614722712010-09-08T12:05:47.275-04:002010-09-08T12:05:47.275-04:00This is a great list! One of my favorite authors,...This is a great list! One of my favorite authors, Sharon Shinn creates characters that I want to be best friend's with. I think that is what makes her books so good for me, is the beautiful charactarization.<br /> <br />Hopefully my main character can come across the way I want her too. She's terribly shy, with looks that are different from the norm, but she's a great fighter and grows in confindence in herself as the book goes on. <br /><br />Thanks for the post- that was very helpful!Abby Minardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963640263845561309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-1298067166292167862010-09-08T10:45:26.705-04:002010-09-08T10:45:26.705-04:00Great post, Cynthia! I'm doing a character de...Great post, Cynthia! I'm doing a character development exercise for one of my secondary characters right now. Your post is timely for me. Thanks!Mary Lindsey / Marissa Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03593619747956026747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-71158828693077797502010-09-08T10:10:31.777-04:002010-09-08T10:10:31.777-04:00My main character is the only one I have gone to g...My main character is the only one I have gone to great lengths to describe. Though not all at once. It's not like a police report lol. However, he is very good looking, that is part of his appeal and the reason the ladies fancy him. He is also a rockstar so appearances in this case mattered to me and I could not leave his appearance "vague" Great post. Good luck with your novel. I will be querying mine, hopefully in October.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com