tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post1377256419305894091..comments2024-03-23T01:54:50.542-05:00Comments on J.L. Campbell: I’m Every WomanJ.L. Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-58302042821512319012011-01-12T11:22:32.713-05:002011-01-12T11:22:32.713-05:00With a combination of self, associates and our ima...With a combination of self, associates and our imagination, it's no wonder fiction writers come up with such colourful characters.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-65786981824154847812011-01-12T11:05:28.244-05:002011-01-12T11:05:28.244-05:00Wonderful post, Joy! In my first ms (totally lang...Wonderful post, Joy! In my first ms (totally languishing on my computer) there was a lot of me in the characters as well as people I knew. The current ms has more idealized notions of historical figures or simply people who act in a way I view as heroic (while still being human). It's fun to analyze where/how we become inspired to write characters the way we do. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing so much about your characters and stories, Joy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-8074568891272253142011-01-10T20:06:07.296-05:002011-01-10T20:06:07.296-05:00@Cathy - Thanks! I'll spread the word.
@Lynda...@Cathy - Thanks! I'll spread the word.<br /><br />@Lynda - I've given up on trying to make my characters behave and be their own people. Inevitably, something of me rubs off on them. <br /><br />Janel - Thanks for stopping by. You're right, our experiences do help to make our characters that much more real.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-16295752607565115322011-01-10T19:01:11.039-05:002011-01-10T19:01:11.039-05:00I think bringing in a part of ourselves into chara...I think bringing in a part of ourselves into characters make them more real. When you have experienced something or acted the same way you know exactly how a situation feels.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00823616282284779390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-60112426360002013512011-01-10T17:59:27.064-05:002011-01-10T17:59:27.064-05:00I try not to base my characters on myself but it i...I try not to base my characters on myself but it inevitably ends up happening. It's a good thing we are all so multifaceted ;)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-22059121536216619662011-01-10T17:20:48.714-05:002011-01-10T17:20:48.714-05:00Just dropping in to return the favor-and stopped t...Just dropping in to return the favor-and stopped to smell the roses (and read the posts)!<br /><br />I always tell people that if you've ever worked, lived, or even said hello to me in the grocery store, you'll end up in a story. Cleverly disguised, of course.<br /><br />Remember, you can get more chances to win if you spread the word to your followers!Cathy C. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16491874468936336577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-510793194539446812011-01-10T08:17:13.224-05:002011-01-10T08:17:13.224-05:00Hi, Cass,
I guess we all write what we know to a c...Hi, Cass,<br />I guess we all write what we know to a certain extent!J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-19615876670347702962011-01-10T04:06:47.395-05:002011-01-10T04:06:47.395-05:00I think there's always some of me in all of my...I think there's always some of me in all of my female characters and some of many of the men/boys that I've know in the male ones. The short story I wrote (that didn't win anything) was totally based on me and an ex, but in a different situation.Ca88andrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17879934869193810319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-1269201843273343422011-01-08T11:44:51.265-05:002011-01-08T11:44:51.265-05:00Holly, thanks for dropping by. I agree that this m...Holly, thanks for dropping by. I agree that this might be the way many writers develop characters. Thing is, we don't stop to think consciously about it.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-48132964159597489652011-01-08T09:55:00.633-05:002011-01-08T09:55:00.633-05:00I think that helps make a genuine character. Becau...I think that helps make a genuine character. Because you know firsthand the motivations and desires behind the particular trait. I’ve probably done this without even realizing it. Now, I’m going to have to think over my characters.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-6092107031951890312011-01-08T08:45:50.808-05:002011-01-08T08:45:50.808-05:00Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Sangu. I like ch...Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Sangu. I like characters who come to life fully rounded and vibrant, but those are the ones who tend to be the most difficult to work with. They usually have a mind of their own!J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-56196032401151420782011-01-08T08:40:35.501-05:002011-01-08T08:40:35.501-05:00I think this is true. Some of my characters burst ...I think this is true. Some of my characters burst to life fully formed, and some inevitably have bits of me - or people I know - in them. That's how you make them feel real to you and your readers, by drawing on real things. Great post!Sangu Mandannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09464061265952789628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-37809409932344256322011-01-08T07:54:50.004-05:002011-01-08T07:54:50.004-05:00Sharon,
I guess the advice write what you know ...Sharon, <br /><br />I guess the advice write what you know serves its purpose. Using the 'tools' that we have work<br />well to develop interesting characters. Good luck with that project.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-89760369036943445762011-01-07T22:52:23.328-05:002011-01-07T22:52:23.328-05:00Wonderful post! I think that most of my character...Wonderful post! I think that most of my characters are based on myself or people I know. Lots of them are relatives or friends combined with other relatives or friends... I'm working on a series of early chapter books that are based on my husband and I when we were kids...of course they are a bit exaggerated.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-44229912872728156122011-01-07T20:42:41.559-05:002011-01-07T20:42:41.559-05:00Thanks for stopping by Cynthia. Just wondered what...Thanks for stopping by Cynthia. Just wondered what it would be like if we lost a bit of ourselves each time we put a tidbit in a character. :)J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-68565156606948423652011-01-07T19:56:33.141-05:002011-01-07T19:56:33.141-05:00These characters are great! I imagine a little bit...These characters are great! I imagine a little bit of every writer ends up in her characters.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-56642942827146275702011-01-04T14:27:46.402-05:002011-01-04T14:27:46.402-05:00Tina,
I didn't think about how much of mysel...Tina, <br /><br />I didn't think about how much of myself I was laying out in the open when I wrote this, but hey, confession is good for the soul! :D<br /><br />I'll remember that tip about coming up with characteristics that are totally opposite to mine. Thanks for sharing that!J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-18591350937653961772011-01-04T14:06:40.893-05:002011-01-04T14:06:40.893-05:00After this post, I feel like I know you a little b...After this post, I feel like I know you a little better, since you've revealed which parts of yourself seeded your charcters. :) <br /><br />You're so right, I think, about writers working a bit of themselves into their charcters. When I have an MC that starts to think or act too much like me, I give them a trait totally opposite mine, to keep them real in the fiction world. :) Don't know where my insane ones come from :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-37347283243949457892011-01-04T13:53:54.696-05:002011-01-04T13:53:54.696-05:00Thanks for stopping in, Elizabeth. Good strategy,...Thanks for stopping in, Elizabeth. Good strategy, that.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4137802664622571509.post-5654553192347197702011-01-04T12:10:08.164-05:002011-01-04T12:10:08.164-05:00Great post! I also think of other people I know an...Great post! I also think of other people I know and try to project a bit of their voice into the characters as well.E. Arroyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06634213563563094173noreply@blogger.com