Comments on: How to Tweak an 'Unlikeable’ Character

By: Eva Lefoy

Eva Lefoy — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 02:28:17 +0000

Makes perfect sense, Laura. Thank you!

By: 50at70

50at70 — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 02:18:00 +0000

Hi Laura I'm so glad this piece came when it did. I am rewriting/revising my first MS completed and rejected but so many including me loved the story I hated to just shove it under the bed. I had one of the same complaints about the Heroine. I didn't really know what they are talking about because I loved her. Someone told me to add an animal she cared for so I added a squirrel. Well it was another few words toward word count but to me it didn't do a thing. I'm ordering Save the Cat and see if I can find a way to make my character more lovable. I got most of your books this week but my daughter wanted me to ask you in what order do you need to read them? One has book one but the others are not numbered. Also the biker books, same thing which one first. I taught her to be organized and this read in order is the only place it took. I got Blue Moon but she grabbed it first said I needed to write on my NANO ms. I love her anyway. Congratulations on Blue Moon, I'll meet you in the kitchen and we can have a cyber toast, I'm having Wine what do you want? I have a fresh pot of coffee made also. Have a wonderful time enjoying the star light shining on you. Tomorrow it is time to start a new one. Jo

By: LauraDrake

LauraDrake — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 10:31:26 +0000

In reply to Orly Konig-Lopez. Or deer antlers, for that matter....

By: Orly Konig-Lopez

Orly Konig-Lopez — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:31:58 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. Thank god for critters who call you on the "TSTL" (too stupid to live) or "TBTL" (too bitchy to like) moments! :-)

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:17:38 +0000

In reply to livrancourt. Do you have Blake Snyder's Save the Cat? Seriously, it will help you in more ways than just this! Best to you.

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:16:29 +0000

In reply to Julie Glover. I remember that plot from query class, Julie! Best of luck with it! And yes, we can't see when our characters are stepping over the line to irritating - but our critters can! (thank God for them). Thanks so much for reading me, Julie!

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:14:37 +0000

In reply to wendyleslie. You're welcome, Wendy, and hanging with Margie Lawson will put you on the road to publication! Hang out with us, and we'll try to help, too!

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:13:16 +0000

In reply to tracikenworth. True that, Traci. But they do have to be less than totally irritating!

By: livrancourt

livrancourt — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:02:11 +0000

Congrats on your new release, Laura. The timing of this post is perfect, because I just got beta reader comments back on my WIP and a few of them called out one of the main characters, saying he was hard to care about. Hopefully with your advice in mind I can fix him!

By: Julie Glover

Julie Glover — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 14:20:37 +0000

I really enjoy those tough-to-love characters. Yes, I've had one of those! (Or more.) In my YA Sharing Hunter, Chloe pushes her best friend into sharing a boyfriend (Sister Wives meets Sixteen Candles!). She's also arrogant, risk-taking, outspoken, and waaaay too pretty. LOL. My critique partner really helped me nail when Chloe was truly unsympathetic. I had to do exactly what you said, and show why she behaved this way—her flaws, wounds, and fears. Now I adore her even more. Hope my readers will too someday! Fabulous tips, Laura! And I'm eager to read another Laura Drake novel—always worth my time. :)