tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post1462802785965074265..comments2024-03-22T02:54:23.511-06:00Comments on Shallee McArthur: How to Write Deeper Characters: Be them for a dayShalleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-16188042509223061872011-06-22T18:08:54.476-06:002011-06-22T18:08:54.476-06:00This is a fascinating idea and one I should try! S...This is a fascinating idea and one I should try! Sounds like you are really getting into Gena - like an actor would research to play a part.KM Nallehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06714392426676743868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-63735565313278469632011-06-22T17:00:25.544-06:002011-06-22T17:00:25.544-06:00I love to get inside my characters' heads. If ...I love to get inside my characters' heads. If they are scared, I want to be scared, if they are sad, I want to be sad...if they are staying in a super plush hotel with all the amenities-(heehee) Anyway, whatever they do I want to be able to describe it well enough so a reader can become that person and experience what my characters experience. The MC in my current WIP, I get her, she's a bit of a spaz so I can relate. ;) But one of my sub characters is flippin awesome. (And I'm not being conceited because as many writer's know, the characters tend to write themselves. ;-])She is much bolder, braver and brash (and some other B words☺) than I ever could be. Her name is Lex and I want to get WWLD? tattooed on my wrist! HAHA!Amanda Milnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07582468814920761586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-33392320711367103762011-06-22T12:26:14.194-06:002011-06-22T12:26:14.194-06:00See, this is where drama experience comes in handy...See, this is where drama experience comes in handy. I spent YEARS on the stage--studying scripts and figuring out how to be someone else. I know exactly what you're talking about because it's my natural reaction to any fictitious entity. It's impossible to write believable characters if you can't "feel" them. <br /><br />--Great post!Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-80925424629020821252011-06-21T17:42:13.548-06:002011-06-21T17:42:13.548-06:00This is a great idea, Shallee! I have been thinkin...This is a great idea, Shallee! I have been thinking about taking martial arts for exactly this reason, since my character spends about half the book learn to kick butt. Plus it's a fun way to expand yourself as a person (uh, and get off the computer).<br /><br />Also, I love Doug's comment about how you can tell when an author has actually experienced the or place she's describing. It's so much more real.Julia Darceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988811326275623857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-26744353826260716462011-06-21T17:07:29.038-06:002011-06-21T17:07:29.038-06:00I think this is a great method and so necessary. I...I think this is a great method and so necessary. I've currently got a character with a slight limp so I'll try to walk like her a bit, see how she might manage on a daily basis. It always helps make your scenes more vivid.Elena Solodowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037029195682225565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-7256854411516091422011-06-21T12:32:19.850-06:002011-06-21T12:32:19.850-06:00Great idea. How fun. I used to be a dancer in anot...Great idea. How fun. I used to be a dancer in another life, and I miss it sometimes. I would love to be Derek for a day, but I don't think anyone is going to let me fly a fighter jet. =)Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01445455787485222068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-55374903426367721552011-06-21T11:12:28.516-06:002011-06-21T11:12:28.516-06:00Awesome post, Shallee. I've never tried out th...Awesome post, Shallee. I've never tried out the same hobbies my characters have. I think that is a fantastic idea! Seriously. Great post. :)Chantele Sedgwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07920913211842919013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-34693241814943301312011-06-21T10:46:19.348-06:002011-06-21T10:46:19.348-06:00I swear I've been living in my character's...I swear I've been living in my character's heads recently. I haven't really been writing so much of a plot, more like oodles of reactions from my characters to the plot. I agree, it definitely is fun, and fantastic advice! Gena sounds like she's awesome. I'm a dancer, and I know it is a ton of fun. (Especially doing ballet in pointe shoes. . . it's just not the safest thing.) ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-54798673626830875812011-06-21T09:37:16.164-06:002011-06-21T09:37:16.164-06:00I haven't done any of this yet, but I hope to....I haven't done any of this yet, but I hope to. I can understand how doing the lessons gave you an appreciation for the physicality of dancing. Great post!Christine Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08168406879681616375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-68536130987156564132011-06-21T09:34:54.919-06:002011-06-21T09:34:54.919-06:00I really like this idea. I've always felt like...I really like this idea. I've always felt like an author should be required to go hunt, trap, skin, and roast a rabbit over a fire before they so casually toss this action into their books. <br /><br />As an avid reader of just about everything I can tell the difference when an author is writing about something he/she has done vs. researched.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17287788152409113501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-1482801408908509982011-06-21T09:15:42.460-06:002011-06-21T09:15:42.460-06:00I'm currently reading this book: "No More...I'm currently reading this book: "No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript That Sells"<br />by Alice Orr<br />and she has a very extensive list of questions that would help the writer get in the skin of their character, for a more intimate connection.<br />It's a bit uncomfortable for me, but so far I'm finding it pretty helpful.akosshttp://akossket.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com