tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post4089181758482234129..comments2023-10-31T10:12:37.109-06:00Comments on Working My Muse: The Little ThingsErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-60169615767540214722010-07-19T10:36:40.936-06:002010-07-19T10:36:40.936-06:00Michelle - I actually wish I had followed my ortho...Michelle - I actually wish I had followed my orthodontist's directions better. I had braces, but I stupidly refused to wear my bottom retainer after a while (and my parents didn't make me). My bottom teeth are all screwed up as a result.<br /><br />You're right about the effect characterizations have though. Nice comment.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-2412491895301019542010-07-17T13:19:55.654-06:002010-07-17T13:19:55.654-06:00Ugh! Braces. I had to deal with them. Good that yo...Ugh! Braces. I had to deal with them. Good that your son doesn't have to deal with them anymore.<br /><br />Characterizations really make the story pop. A great point made. So many people don't consider how stale and flat a character can be if not given something more to who they are - even if it's something simple.Michelle H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10117937124348728578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-52722476498316838222010-07-17T09:26:55.443-06:002010-07-17T09:26:55.443-06:00Cassandra - Thanks. You give some really good exa...Cassandra - Thanks. You give some really good examples as well.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-27392673398666075792010-07-17T01:31:52.266-06:002010-07-17T01:31:52.266-06:00I think you are making an excellent point here. It...I think you are making an excellent point here. It is the small details that make the character seem real and can really help the reader connect with them. Something as simple as getting braces or having them removed, having a bad hair cut, winning a simple game - all of these things can really help humanise the character. Thanks so much for sharing this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-46368629200910477502010-07-16T18:20:11.569-06:002010-07-16T18:20:11.569-06:00Dezmond - You got that right. Great comment.Dezmond - You got that right. Great comment.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-83740457857753497362010-07-15T14:48:37.772-06:002010-07-15T14:48:37.772-06:00little details are what makes books convincing and...little details are what makes books convincing and realistic and appealing to readers. Not just the details in characters, but also in settings and similar. It all helps the readers to imagine the heroes and the stories more easily and thus to get involved with the book more profoundly.DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-13233118261602262162010-07-15T13:11:10.864-06:002010-07-15T13:11:10.864-06:00Victoria - Thank you. You are so right, that it&#...Victoria - Thank you. You are so right, that it's difficult to keep from writing backstory. I struggle with this all the time, knowing just when it's too much.<br /><br />Kat - That's a good idea, the mannerisms. You are so right though, about making a story pop.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-66542730025934120082010-07-15T12:19:13.737-06:002010-07-15T12:19:13.737-06:00I like using expressions and body movement to give...I like using expressions and body movement to give insight into a character's psyche without having to go into back story.<br /><br />When a person taps his fingers or bounces his knees in a conversation, it can convey anxiety. When writers pare stuff like that with little breadcrumbs of back story, it makes everything pop.Kathryn Hupp-Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03776391661543060879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-24299344131627053732010-07-15T11:58:53.922-06:002010-07-15T11:58:53.922-06:00I meant is difficult* : )I meant is difficult* : )VICTORIA SAAVEDRAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329745716789899212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-39887833985212589122010-07-15T11:58:14.993-06:002010-07-15T11:58:14.993-06:00Happy for your son. I had braces and hated every m...Happy for your son. I had braces and hated every minute of it! Experiences can definitely help show the reader who this character is and what he/she has been through. I agree with Matthew Rush, though it isn't difficult at times to not fall into the experience becoming a back story.VICTORIA SAAVEDRAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329745716789899212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-10663822342099112172010-07-15T09:23:50.017-06:002010-07-15T09:23:50.017-06:00Matthew - Glad to hear I'm thinking along the ...Matthew - Glad to hear I'm thinking along the right lines. And you're right, as long as it's not backstory.<br /><br />Alex - That's a good example. Just what I was looking for, so thanks.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-46043259097344761132010-07-15T09:18:20.867-06:002010-07-15T09:18:20.867-06:00Good news for your son! Braces suck.
In my book, w...Good news for your son! Braces suck.<br />In my book, when Byron views his first spacestation, a little innocent excitement finally breaks through his otherwise cocky and controlled demeanor.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-41355411720883964382010-07-15T08:57:03.689-06:002010-07-15T08:57:03.689-06:00You make a great point here Eric and I think these...You make a great point here Eric and I think these little things can help characterization. The hard part is finding the appropriate moment to paraphrase an experience so that it doesn't become a big bit of backstory all on its own.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.com