tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post7799400562493112520..comments2023-06-10T22:42:19.087+10:00Comments on Australasian Christian Writers: Character, Character, Character!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-9277275952406864132014-07-25T13:59:52.190+10:002014-07-25T13:59:52.190+10:00It was a fascinating experience, Narelle! I wonder...It was a fascinating experience, Narelle! I wonder if I'll ever see it again. Hope so, in a strange kind of way :)<br /><br />Must say I'm keen to attend more workshops on creating characters. It's the key to good writing in my mind.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-45616287547582687862014-07-25T11:02:21.023+10:002014-07-25T11:02:21.023+10:00Andrea, fascinating post! Readers want to connect ...Andrea, fascinating post! Readers want to connect with the characters, irrespective of the genre. Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-77860892864815854842014-07-24T16:42:51.649+10:002014-07-24T16:42:51.649+10:00While I prefer contemporary settings, I'll rea...While I prefer contemporary settings, I'll read pretty much anything, as long as the characters grab me. As you say, the 'human' journey is what connects us and can make us feel like we're in the midst of it along with our characters, when it's done right. Sigh. I love a good book! Thanks for stopping by, E.E. Carter :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-44110779007302395132014-07-24T08:35:29.394+10:002014-07-24T08:35:29.394+10:00That's a wonderful reminder to create characte...That's a wonderful reminder to create characters who are vivid and real. <br /><br />You're right Andrea - it doesn't matter if they're contemporary characters, lived 100 years ago or 1000 years ago. <br /><br />The commonality of the human experience through emotion - we live, love, laugh, cry the same as we always did from the beginning of time means that we should always bring our readers along on the 'human' journey with us regardless of how strange or foreign the setting us.<br /><br />Thank you very much for such a great post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523173479220692313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-42088544594881193772014-07-23T20:54:10.644+10:002014-07-23T20:54:10.644+10:00I think it's a good sign when characters hi-ja...I think it's a good sign when characters hi-jack your carefully planned story and make it their own. Character invasion is a good name for it, Ellie! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-60672624121114566192014-07-23T20:22:49.080+10:002014-07-23T20:22:49.080+10:00I'd have to agree that without compelling char...I'd have to agree that without compelling characters, there's no real story to tell. I may get plot ideas, and file them away for future reference, but that doesn't compel me to want to write about it. However, when a character invades my thoughts, that's when the story comes to life. And all on its own, I would almost swear. Ellie Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393024199581905099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-34360109111410526582014-07-23T19:00:20.854+10:002014-07-23T19:00:20.854+10:00No character, no audience, I'm thinking. Thank...No character, no audience, I'm thinking. Thanks for stopping by, Lynne :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-79257613928829209022014-07-23T18:43:27.233+10:002014-07-23T18:43:27.233+10:00Couldn't agree more, Andrea. I'm a charact...Couldn't agree more, Andrea. I'm a character-driven reader and am (I hope) in my writing as well. Lynne Stringerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03482326578634252234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-72299756230906398442014-07-23T16:01:14.686+10:002014-07-23T16:01:14.686+10:00I must say, Rita, the five of us 'older' g...I must say, Rita, the five of us 'older' girls were torn between laughing and shaking our heads the whole time. Another funny thing was the expression on the face of the male cleaner. He couldn't do his job because no one was leaving and he just stood there, leaning on his broom/sweeper/thingy with this incredulous look on his face. It was priceless!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-16067771974895301742014-07-23T15:57:10.672+10:002014-07-23T15:57:10.672+10:00Lol, Paula. Fair question. No, I didn't need t...Lol, Paula. Fair question. No, I didn't need the tissues because being gobsmacked totally overrode any other emotion! I have every intention of watching it again at home when it comes out on DVD and having a good cry then. I felt kind of robbed, to be honest. I think I'm a bit like Dale, going by her comments above ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-20041437987118461022014-07-23T15:52:06.221+10:002014-07-23T15:52:06.221+10:00I've still to read it Amanda but I'm going...I've still to read it Amanda but I'm going to for sure. I'll be studying it at the same time, I suspect. I really want to know how he did it! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-64561436965776289872014-07-23T15:50:17.465+10:002014-07-23T15:50:17.465+10:00Lol, I wanted to smack Nate a few times myself but...Lol, I wanted to smack Nate a few times myself but he let me sort him out in the end :) Very glad to hear you had an emotional connection - no matter what kind!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-44658063644294095432014-07-23T15:45:11.208+10:002014-07-23T15:45:11.208+10:00Thanks Dale. I love it when I'm drawn in to a ...Thanks Dale. I love it when I'm drawn in to a book or movie. Then I re-read or re-watch, more than once. I'll be watching this one again - under quieter circumstances though :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-81661536210584832572014-07-23T15:41:30.841+10:002014-07-23T15:41:30.841+10:00While we can practice the art of characterisation ...While we can practice the art of characterisation I think some people just have the knack right from the get-go, don't you? Clearly, John Green had it in this book :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-5742408774339927862014-07-23T15:38:48.356+10:002014-07-23T15:38:48.356+10:00Extreme is the correct word for sure! It reminded ...Extreme is the correct word for sure! It reminded me of all those black and white flim clips of hysterical girls at a Beatles concert. Amazing. And mesmerising.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-89224307096053613582014-07-23T15:36:48.083+10:002014-07-23T15:36:48.083+10:00They sound like my daughter's friends. She is ...They sound like my daughter's friends. She is 15 and suspicious of hype but they insisted on taking her along. He certainly knew his audience, as do the Pokemon authors who keep managing to wow young boys. I agree with you about the importance of character. Did you need those tissues, Andrea?Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-72669217970668378862014-07-23T15:36:13.407+10:002014-07-23T15:36:13.407+10:00My mouth still falls open when I relive the experi...My mouth still falls open when I relive the experience! But it spoke to me nonetheless :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-71545607836726413552014-07-23T15:05:51.152+10:002014-07-23T15:05:51.152+10:00LOL. I just asked my own teenage daughter - who we...LOL. I just asked my own teenage daughter - who went and saw this movie on opening day, and who has also read the book - if this was similar to what happened in the cinema when she went. 'Pretty much,' was her reply. <br /><br />I might just have to have a read, and see what the commotion's all about. :)Amanda Deedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02430837640142332983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-80128379055802079822014-07-23T15:00:49.427+10:002014-07-23T15:00:49.427+10:00I've bought the book, but haven't read it ...I've bought the book, but haven't read it yet. My daughter (14) has, and has seen the movie. Now she's waiting for me to read the book so she can talk to me about it ... <br /><br />And while I might not go to these extremes, the characters in Too Pretty did leap off the page. I admit that means I wanted to whup Nate around the head for being such a MALE, but the emotional connection was definitely there. I'm interviewing Andrea on my blog next Monday, and reviewing Too Pretty on Tuesday, so drop by!Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-53298654444041975132014-07-23T13:59:54.639+10:002014-07-23T13:59:54.639+10:00Hear so much about this book. Will have to read it...Hear so much about this book. Will have to read it. I can relate, as I am a person who gets very involved with characters. Have been known to cry at certain books and movies. Good aim to try and write strong characters people relate to. Thanks for telling us and challenging writers, Andrea.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-22865746909773976952014-07-23T11:00:12.681+10:002014-07-23T11:00:12.681+10:00Loved this post, Andrea. I haven't seen the mo...Loved this post, Andrea. I haven't seen the movie or read the book, but more and more, I'm tempted to check it out. Yes, engaging characters will divide the great books from the so-so. A needed reminder. :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11657583544798915346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-22141818911348782472014-07-23T10:12:45.803+10:002014-07-23T10:12:45.803+10:00Such a good reminder, Andrea, that our characters ...Such a good reminder, Andrea, that our characters need to jump out from that page and truly engage our readers' hearts. I think you did a great job in this blog of making those poor girls at the movies so real to us, so you have 'shown' us as well as 'told' us even here! I'm hopeless at sad movies, so I really related to these girls--but I don't think even I would go to those extremes!Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-21633600324189683312014-07-23T09:48:34.261+10:002014-07-23T09:48:34.261+10:00Andrea, that's the funniest thing I've hea...Andrea, that's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. What a marvellous outpouring of grief over fictionalized characters.<br />Oh, for such a connection with my readers!!!! Perhaps I'll just have to kill off some of my characters to get it. Aw, I prefer happy endings.Still, just goes to show what we all need to aim for.<br /><br />My hubby's mouth dropped open when I read this to him!<br />Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-3958658217566421292014-07-23T08:39:28.229+10:002014-07-23T08:39:28.229+10:00Given us something to aim for, hasn't it? Wow....Given us something to aim for, hasn't it? Wow. I'm still reeling :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-57727064246076162282014-07-23T07:59:54.654+10:002014-07-23T07:59:54.654+10:00What an incredible story! I would never imagine su...What an incredible story! I would never imagine such a response. I hope my characters are strong enough to get such a reaction Andrea!Catherine Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03947906623825971761noreply@blogger.com