tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post1338583701158425455..comments2024-03-27T01:07:03.944-04:00Comments on The Roses of Prose: Into the Cuckoo’s Nest – Writing Families in Fiction By Alison HendersonAlison Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-27287123783664546492014-07-18T15:46:55.605-04:002014-07-18T15:46:55.605-04:00Sounds like a great way to round out the story. Lo...Sounds like a great way to round out the story. Lots of interaction holds my interest.Barbara Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10379534828904059584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-19391233301913363392014-07-08T05:43:22.383-04:002014-07-08T05:43:22.383-04:00What a great tip, Alison! I don't usually thin...What a great tip, Alison! I don't usually think of families purposely, but mostly if they happen to pop up!Leah St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004006100786260893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-34480051468403627452014-07-05T10:55:15.255-04:002014-07-05T10:55:15.255-04:00Jannine, my character studies are far from awesome...Jannine, my character studies are far from awesome, but at least they're a place to start. They're about a page at first, and LOTS of bullet points!Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-76761561284832840902014-07-05T10:53:39.539-04:002014-07-05T10:53:39.539-04:00Diane, it does take quite a while for the characte...Diane, it does take quite a while for the characters to fully reveal themselves no matter how much I write in advance. Sometimes they turn out to be quite different from what I expected.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-35468089338801293182014-07-05T10:52:22.880-04:002014-07-05T10:52:22.880-04:00Alicia, I try to include character eccentricities ...Alicia, I try to include character eccentricities for originality and humor. It's safer to add those to the secondary character, so my hero and heroine don't come off as too nutty.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-79424285768750631782014-07-05T10:50:55.425-04:002014-07-05T10:50:55.425-04:00Liz, I do it not so much because I'm organized...Liz, I do it not so much because I'm organized (though I guess I am), but to try to stave off writer's block. It doesn't always work, but if I wonder what a character might do or feel in a situation, I can check the sheet and get a clue.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-26548649178580221992014-07-05T10:49:29.717-04:002014-07-05T10:49:29.717-04:00Margo, I know what you mean. My character sheets g...Margo, I know what you mean. My character sheets grow and grow with all sorts of unexpected details.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-88407490531309775412014-07-05T10:03:33.601-04:002014-07-05T10:03:33.601-04:00Most of my books have family members featured. I r...Most of my books have family members featured. I really do think it adds depth to our characters. Hmm, I always intend to do awesome character sketches before I start writing, but I'm afraid they end up like Liz's! LOL Bullet points at best.Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-2265317341695150832014-07-05T10:02:37.028-04:002014-07-05T10:02:37.028-04:00While I don't do "official" data she...While I don't do "official" data sheets on my characters, I do keep a file on them. As they reveal themselves, I make notes in the file. Eventually, I get to a point where I have to know more. That's when I do a more in-depth study of what makes them tick. Love your analogy with Athena. Knowing our characters' families makes them richer. BTW, I loved Unwritten Rules. :)Diane Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754105332297068271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-4890429556708129072014-07-05T09:22:20.371-04:002014-07-05T09:22:20.371-04:00Very true. As in real life, families do shape our ...Very true. As in real life, families do shape our characters. I should focus on that aspect of my characters more, but have only done so in a few of my novels. Haha, I love the eccentricities of the characters in your book. Alicia Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003539473772776004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-63740745088807550942014-07-05T09:06:35.976-04:002014-07-05T09:06:35.976-04:00I am completely intimidated by your organization. ...I am completely intimidated by your organization. My character sheets say something like "red hair, 30-something, scared of clowns". :-) But I do love the creation of families and not knowing how they're going to come out.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-55683667034588691142014-07-05T08:17:20.610-04:002014-07-05T08:17:20.610-04:00Still love that cover. When I do character sheets ...Still love that cover. When I do character sheets for my characters, people and things I don't expect come out. Makes the writing fun! Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.com