 | 20 Sep 06 |
ADMIN: Please join us in welcoming guest blogger Barbara Colley of the popular Charlotte LaRue mystery series! Barbara’s willing to answer questions and chat with MSW friends, so don’t be shy. Ask away…. and welcome, Barbara!
What a Character!
First, I should thank the wonderful authors of Murder She Writes for inviting me to be their guest. Thanks, ladies!
And second—you do know that if you say first, there has to be a second–anyway, just so you know, I have never blogged before. I’ve been just a wee bit afraid to. Okay, make that a lot afraid to. You see, I have a tendency to say things I shouldn’t at times, especially if I’m sitting at a keyboard, so I figured that blogging was just one more way to get myself into trouble. Of course I was told that I could “talk” about anything that I wanted to, but it was suggested that something about writing would be appropriate.
So, how about I talk about creating characters? That should be safe enough and keep me out of trouble. Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot about characters lately. Starting in two weeks I’ll be teaching a series of three writing classes for the Community Education program where I live, and I’ve been trying to decide what I want to include in those three short classes. After all, I’ve been in this business for at least twenty years and have had several books published, so there’s a whole bunch of information that I could share.
The title for my course is “A Novel Idea.” How’s that for being original? And no, I’m not usually sarcastic, just a wee bit aggravated that I couldn’t come up with something more, ah . . . creative. Anyway, that’s beside the point. The real problem is that I’ve got more information to share than I’ll have time to present, but I digress . . . again. For the first six books I wrote that were published, I knew that characters were important, but it wasn’t until I began writing my mystery series that I realized just how important they were. Suddenly, it hit me that my whole series hinged on that very first book and the first introduction to my sleuth. If readers liked her, then they would want to read more about her. But if they didn’t like her, then my series was doomed. Just think about the books you’ve really enjoyed. I’d be willing to bet that you probably don’t remember every detail of the plot, but you remember the characters. Think, Scarlett O’hara, and what about Clarice and Dr. Lecter, or how about Harry Potter? See what I mean? All are truly memorable characters.
Talk about putting pressure on myself! I put so much pressure on myself that I spent more time getting to know Charlotte LaRue than I’d ever spent on any other character that I’d created, and that was before I even gave Charlotte a story. And yes, I did that chart thingie where you fill in the hair color, color of eyes, body type, etc., etc. But I guess what I wanted to share with you (and what I’ll share with the class that I’ll be teaching) is the one thing that I did that was most helpful when creating Charlotte. I simply let her talk to me and tell me “her” story. Once I let her talk, I couldn’t shut her up, and I learned all kinds of stuff about her that no one has ever put on a chart.
Now I know that might sound a little strange, but unless you’ve tried it, don’t knock it. And just to be crystal clear, I do think that character charts are helpful, essential tools for a writer to use. But once you’ve filled in all of the blanks, then sit back, close you eyes, and let your character talk to you through the keyboard. And no, I’m not into channeling or any of that kind of hocus-pocus non-sense. What I am into is giving my creative self permission to be . . . creative. Does any of that make sense? I sure hope so, but if it doesn’t, then do whatever works for you, and thanks for taking the time to read my first attempt at blogging.
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Barbara, you’re making perfect sense! I love it when my characters talk to me. I can usually get the heroines to talk to me pretty early on, but the heroes…sheesh, I have to wade through all the male bravado stuff before I finally figure out what drives them. Men just aren’t as good at sharing their feelings whether they are real live people or fictional characters
Thanks for guest blogging today!
by Jen September 20th, 2006 at 8:25 amMy characters are ALWAYS telling me what they are going to do! It’s a real problem!
Thanks for guest blogging, Barbara, and you did a great job.
by Natalie September 20th, 2006 at 9:14 amYou sure did do a great job, Barbara. Thanks again for guest blogging!
by Deb September 20th, 2006 at 11:11 amBarbara, thank you so much for sharing. It is nice to see the mechanics of a writer’s craft (and each writer is as different as a snowflake.) It drives me crazy as a reader to find a book that the writer didn’t take time to know their character. It’s aggrevating to no end – my husband says I’m nitpicky, but he’s not a reader. A good character becomes a life long memory, cherished, and eager to be visited again. They never becoming boring, regardless of the number of rereads.
by Cele September 20th, 2006 at 12:19 pmWelcome, Barbara! And my characters do talk to me, too . . .
by Allison September 20th, 2006 at 12:42 pmBarbara, you done great! Consider your blog cherry popped! bwahahahaha.
by Karin September 20th, 2006 at 5:09 pmThank you for stopping by.
Barbara, great post. I always enjoy hearing other writers say they hear voices. Means I’m only a little strange, since I talk back to my voices in my head. LOL
by Amanda September 20th, 2006 at 5:37 pmBarbara, your first blog post and you did a fantastic job.
You were warm, personable, humorous and informative! Keep up the good work and have fun teaching those Community Education classes.
by Meretta September 21st, 2006 at 5:42 amHey, Barbara,
Great job, girl. I’m glad Charlotte was so willing to talk to you. I see I’m in good company as a writer whose characters talk. Mine wake me and introduce themselves. I have several waiting their turn for a short story or a book. One called herself Vhonda Sue Peabody and told me why her parents gave that name. Strange girl.
I’m so pleased for you and Charlotte’s success.
Mary
by Mary Marvella September 27th, 2006 at 9:41 am