Every once in a while I wonder who reads this blog. I see my list of followers and recognize most because I read their blogs too. But I'm curious. Who are you? Are you a writer? What are you working on? A reader? What do you like to read? What's your favorite color? Do you like dogs? Cats? Magnolias?
I'm full of questions, aren't I? Oops, there's another one.
I'm having to do this now with the characters of the new book I'm working on. I've been writing it for a bit, but it has come to my attention that I don't really have a clue about my female lead. This happens to me all the time. I don't have much of an issue with the guys funnily enough. But those girls aren't quite so forthcoming.
So I have to sit back and start over. Play twenty questions. Who are you and where are you going?
This is the most frustrating stage of writing to me, because I just want to write. I'm getting a little antsy that I still haven't completed another book, nothing has sold and I'm going to get an email from my agent one day telling me to go sit on the bench. Permanently. An irrational fear perhaps, but a fear just the same.
But a book just doesn't materialize overnight. Neither does personality.
Sure, we are born with certain traits that we can't escape, but I'm pretty sure I can safely say that I am not the same person at 44 that I was at 16. And Praise God for that.
If you are a writer, how do you develop your characters? How do they tell you their stories? Do you have it all planned out before you start your book or does it happen along the way?
Let's chat!
3 comments:
I know what you mean about having trouble with the female lead. I feel like my hero is all figured out. He knows what he wants, he knows how he's going to get it and he's been very forthcoming with both those topics. My heroine, however, is still discovering who she really is and I've only seemed to wriggle her past out of her. She's passionate about creating her own identity but I'm still discovering what that looks like.
Sounds like we have a common problem - my heroines are harder to flesh out as well. Sometimes it takes me a long time to really get to know my leading lady.
I do as you've done in your post - ask twenty questions. Lead off into more questions depending on the answers. And keep pounding at it until I know enough to write.
I used to wait and just let things unfold, but now I'm insisting on knowing the MC's before I start writing. Makes for less mistakes later. :-)
As for me, I am a writer, working on a rewrite and a revision. I'm also a reader...with very eclectic tastes. My fave. color is green, I love dogs, and magnolias are beautiful, but it's too cold to grow them here. LOL
I wonder why those females are so elusive?? LOL! I am not sure you can ever know your characters inside and out and up and down until you've written and re-written a book several times over! It is tough, but eventually will be worth it!
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