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How is everyone? Good I hope!
How is your WIP progressing? (You know how mine is going.)
When you write, do you picture characters ahead of time, or let them wonder into your mind during creation? (I don’t plan a thing, especially how a character looks like or what they’ll do.)
Without question, there has to be “telling” in a book… it can’t all be showing. How do you keep telling short and sweet—not to mention intriguing? (I really struggle with this one: not the intriguing part-I hope-but with the right amount.)
Thx for stopping by and any comment you might leave.
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One way I use tell without showing is to let another character work through a thought process, often trying to read the mind of yet another character.
ReplyDeleteSince I frequently write ensemble casts, I found this often works well.
My characters pop in my head. If I was a better artist I would draw them, but I for sure can see them when I start writing.
ReplyDeleteWow, good questions. I usually know a bit about at least one character, but the others usually show up a bit more slowly. The WIP's going slowly--I'm revising bit by bit!
ReplyDeleteI have far less of an image of the typical character elements--clothing, eyes, nose, etc.--but often identify people as I do in real life, with a specific trait, something that I always think of when I think of them. It might be hunched shoulders, a greasy jacket, a smell, or a hairdo. But I'm not sure that's the best way to go about it. I just don't like describing characters head to toe. I don't look at people that way.
ReplyDeleteAs to the other question, I always make sure something is happening. Nothing interesting in life is static, and again I bow to my own snotty pickiness... if something on TV just goes on and on, and nothing really happens, I lose interest. Even news loses me if everybody seems to be talking things over and over, and no actual events are developing.
Can you tell I'm easily bored?
Also, in answer to your first question, my WIP is crawling. However, I think I'm going to keep myself off the internet tomorrow until I work on the book all morning. I'll do some prep, but mostly I need to start really revising!
I usually create an image of the character while I'm plotting. I jot down descriptions, and sometimes even compare the character to a celebrity, which helps with visualization during the first draft.
ReplyDeleteAs for telling, I notice it most when I do my first read through (after the first draft). When writing the first draft I try not to worry myself with that. I'm still developing a "system."
Good luck with your WIP!
I usually have a preconceived image of my character before I begin the drafting process. I work from that and write a short bio. I know this sounds hokie, but it works for me, helps me get to know her/him. I also outline before I go. I have deviated from it at times, but only if I missed an important piece of info that needs to be included in the book. As for telling and showing. I usually try to tell through dialogue. It seems a natural way to insert tidbits of info.
ReplyDeleteI don't have enough focus to sit down and write a complete story. I have quite a few characters floating around in my head but I need to work making something more concrete on of these days.
ReplyDeleteI wish you well in you journey.
I tend to almost adopt the life of my character by imagining what she or he would do in any situation. I tend to have fully fleshed out characters and settings before I write so this helps me keep interest because I feel like I am right there with them watching them living out their lives by being themselves instead of actually creating them and dictating what they do.
ReplyDeleteI can't write without a strong grasp on my MC...not what he or she looks like, but WHO they are, what's important to them, their personality.
ReplyDeleteAs for the showing vs. telling, I wrote a fairly popular post on the topic...you can find one version of it on my blog under the Tab (at the top) called My Writing. You'll find a link to it. I hope it will be helpful answering your question(s).
Hugs,
Lola