tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post7907958819775268895..comments2024-03-28T05:13:12.886-04:00Comments on QueryTracker Blog: Character Development with a Theatrical ApproachPatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771807777617244491noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-28247591382991400662009-08-26T10:13:25.852-04:002009-08-26T10:13:25.852-04:00In developing my characters, one of the most helpf...In developing my characters, one of the most helpful TV programs for me has been Inside the Actors Studio with James Lipset. I have often used many of techniques interviewed actors have described on this program to "get into" my fictional characters.Judith Mercadohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13739476600999112092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-54883794367034188902009-08-19T21:36:36.185-04:002009-08-19T21:36:36.185-04:00I pull as much as I can from real life episodes - ...I pull as much as I can from real life episodes - sex in the park, talking to God on LSD, cutting my wrists in a moment of depression. Um...wait TMI. The intense ups and downs are the ones that stand out for me. And as far as the characters, I've done everything from picking a Hollywood actor/actress so I can picture them to choosing a soundtrack to listen to (Radiohead's IN RAINBOWS was a recent one, or old Cure for a dark story I wrote). Great article, really makes you think.<br /><br />Peace,<br />Richard <br />neo-noir fiction<br />www.whatdoesnotkillme.wordpress.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-18759944441996288722009-08-19T13:57:15.033-04:002009-08-19T13:57:15.033-04:00Cool! I've been doing this and didn't real...Cool! I've been doing this and didn't realize it. I also visualize my characters acting out the scene before I write it down. Maybe my high school drama class paid off after all. ;D<br /><br />Great post, Mary.Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-69992861978718118162009-08-19T02:05:02.962-04:002009-08-19T02:05:02.962-04:00I also 'act out' my scenes. Mostly I visua...I also 'act out' my scenes. Mostly I visualize it as a play (or movie) in my head, but I often say the dialogue out loud to make sure it works. I can also get my family to help me play out the physical stuff. I'm so glad to hear this is a good way to do things. <br /><br />I also carry around a notebook and write down any info about something I'm experiencing so I can somehow relate it to my characters. My family will even prompt me to write it down when I'm going on about something that has happened to me. I'm not sure if they are trying to help or just shut me up!<br /><br />I also love how you point out to use all of your senses to describe the scene!<br />Thanks for the great post, Mary.Alyssa Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05619379952262450970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-61603129371832722862009-08-18T21:19:19.592-04:002009-08-18T21:19:19.592-04:00I love this post! I act out my scenes before I wr...I love this post! I act out my scenes before I write them, to get into the character's thoughts and feelings and body language and all the little details that just the written words would fall flat with. Of course I have to be alone in the house or in the car or something, or people look at me strangely... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-7892375000673029872009-08-18T16:05:49.335-04:002009-08-18T16:05:49.335-04:00I like this. Thank you Mary. It validates what I t...I like this. Thank you Mary. It validates what I try to do with my character development. I've been able to do this with both the protag as well as the antag.Paul W. West, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09220698627730601499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-59320229276551544202009-08-18T11:28:39.932-04:002009-08-18T11:28:39.932-04:00Fabulous post!!! I have a friend who does theater...Fabulous post!!! I have a friend who does theater, and we've had some great discussions on character development. It's amazing how much cross-over there is between theater and fiction. <br /><br />I use the same method for developing my characters, though I didn't know the name for it. :) It's so natural, though, and makes the character's experience that much more tangible. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing!!Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-66610218125781066422009-08-17T22:57:45.070-04:002009-08-17T22:57:45.070-04:00Okay, all I could focus on was the fact that you w...Okay, all I could focus on was the fact that you were able to save those fish while bleeding yourself. That demonstrates amazing thinking under pressure - my sister is a nurse practitioner and reacts like that. I just scream like a girl (I can say that because I am a girl) whenever I see blood. Great post - I studied that method in college many moons ago. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-87374889406039499712009-08-17T13:51:17.365-04:002009-08-17T13:51:17.365-04:00It occurred to me a long time ago that my writer i...It occurred to me a long time ago that my writer instincts and my actor instincts were related, as both deal with becoming someone else, but I never articulated it this well. Good post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-71255013669164175582009-08-17T11:10:03.269-04:002009-08-17T11:10:03.269-04:00Quite an interesting post. I spent a lot of high ...Quite an interesting post. I spent a lot of high school working in the theater club, and I like to apply what I learned there to my writing.<br /><br />I guess the only problem I see with the Method Acting approach is what one director once pointed about when asked if he used it: "Unless you've slept with your mother, killed your father, and gouged out your own eyes, then I guess it means you can't play Oedipus."<br /><br />But I think what you said about finding related experiences in your past is a useful variation on exact memory recall. And I am glad you've never been pushed through a glass door.Kelsey (Dominique) Ridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10646757546422013401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-59586925362072653012009-08-17T11:05:09.478-04:002009-08-17T11:05:09.478-04:00I use method acting all the time to flesh out my c...I use method acting all the time to flesh out my characters. There are seriously times when my husband comes home and wants to know why I'm lying at an odd angle on the floor or jumping around like a maniac, and I just tell him "research."Tara McClendonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246124060126729229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-17110849793969025232009-08-17T10:48:35.459-04:002009-08-17T10:48:35.459-04:00I use the theatrical approach that Mary talked abo...I use the theatrical approach that Mary talked about. In addition, I find myself going through daily life experiences like a spliting headache or consuming anger and frustration, etc. I'll be in the middle of it, and think, hey I can use this. Suddenly I find myself with a pen in hand writing down everything I am currently going through.AJ Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05621407835823475327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-13877114821863214132009-08-17T10:44:53.956-04:002009-08-17T10:44:53.956-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.AJ Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05621407835823475327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-45712955423063035472009-08-17T10:22:10.499-04:002009-08-17T10:22:10.499-04:00Excellent post, Mary! I loved your theater babble ...Excellent post, Mary! I loved your theater babble because I can relate to it and easily apply it to my writing. Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08616276555920544920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454222325290313520.post-75825232192477418262009-08-17T09:57:55.287-04:002009-08-17T09:57:55.287-04:00A lot of my characters are somewhat based on real ...A lot of my characters are somewhat based on real people. Folks I know, relatives, and even people I don't like…at all.<br /> <br />Sometimes I use characters from novels and biographies I've read, movies etc, as a basis for a character. It's funny how scenes from a novel will keep forcing their way into my thoughts to keep my character in line! But as you say, we must try to make it believable, and consistent. And if we can't we must research, and study people and characters ways and mannerisms.<br /><br />I do, like you, put myself in my characters, whomever I'm writing through at the moment, that's me. And that's when it helps to have personal experiences to draw on to make the character feel real, and memorable.<br /><br />Great Post, Mary.<br /><br />Gitty Up - DutchDutch Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03573659544816648399noreply@blogger.com