Comments on: How To Create a Fascinating Cast of Characters https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/ A Blog On Writing Sun, 12 Jan 2025 06:20:52 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 By: angelaackerman1 https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139918 Mon, 25 Feb 2019 09:40:51 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139918 In reply to Wendy Leslie.

I am so glad that you're finding the Character Builder helpful, Wendy! As a former pantser, I like the fact that it works for people who plan upfront and those who plan as they go. For pantsers, all the details that a writer learns about their character as they write can be added to the profile, and once the discovery draft is complete, all the information is there so that in subsequent revision, all those details can be woven in from the start and built up on throughout the story.

Happy writing (& character planning!)

]]> By: Wendy Leslie https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139917 Mon, 25 Feb 2019 02:30:34 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139917 In reply to Angela.

Thanks Angela and you must come again. The Character Builder looks great. No, IS great! Just slotted one of my rough stories in and some almost hidden aspects, veritable gems I'd almost forgotten about, are peeking through again.
I love that there is somewhere to put Backstory, add to it, twist it a bit, and it stays there - but (pantser) it affects where the story goes - and is much easier to refer to than a box full of handwritten notes in no particular order.
Wendy

]]> By: Angela https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139902 Sat, 23 Feb 2019 15:24:13 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139902 In reply to Wendy Leslie.

Hi Wendy! I loved Australia and it was so wonderful to meet everyone back in 2015–I would love to come back again. I miss you guys!

I know I used to pants much more than I plotted, and it meant writing a lot of drafts to really get to the “meat snd potatoes” of writing character actions that came from a deep well of past experiences that made them who they are. Once I started exploring who my character’s were in advance, everything changed. I think that is one think I love about this tool—I can explore the character on a deeper level to understand their backstory and how it impacts motivation, and still leave room for plotting the story if I want to pants some of what will happen.

Knowing why your character behaves as they do and how their past impacts their present and the goals they are motivated to reach...this is the key to a compelling story. It’s like having the master ledgend to a map that only you can see and read 🙂

]]> By: Angela https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139901 Sat, 23 Feb 2019 15:16:24 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139901 In reply to Harvey Stanbrough.

Discovery drafts can be a powerful way to get to know your character, so if this process wirks for you, keep at it. 🙂

]]> By: Angela https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139900 Sat, 23 Feb 2019 15:15:01 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139900 In reply to Barb Heintz.

Oh please do—I’d be honored!

]]> By: Wendy Leslie https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139897 Sat, 23 Feb 2019 07:35:10 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139897 Hi Angela,
It was great to meet up with you in Adelaide, a couple of years back, and thanks for the opportunity.
I find my additional notes (pantser) as I career down my unknown but compelling path, end up being the block where I screech to a halt - so much to go through - again, work out where best it might fit - again, etc etc...
I'm keen to look at your Character Builder - it might just be what I need.
Cheers, Wendy

]]> By: Barb Heintz https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139857 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 14:12:05 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139857 Hi Angela, Can I have your permission to repost this in our writer's group?

]]> By: Harvey Stanbrough https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139853 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 10:52:44 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139853 I guess I'm fortunate. I trust my characters. After all, it's their story, not mine. I just write the story and let the characters reveal who they are as it unfolds. Thus far it's worked through 40 novels and almost 200 short stories. Different strokes, I guess.

]]> By: How To Create a Fascinating Cast of Characters – From the Writers in the Storm Blog | Author Don Massenzio https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139852 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 10:33:02 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139852 […] Read the rest of this post HERE. […]

]]> By: angelaackerman1 https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/02/how-to-create-a-fascinating-cast-of-characters/#comment-139851 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 06:02:41 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=36560#comment-139851 In reply to Julie Glover.

Thank you, Julie! And a double thank you for beta testing this tool! YOu helped us work out a lot of kinks and we sure appreciate it!

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