 Action/Adventure: August 16, 2006 Issue [#1208] |
  Action/Adventure
This week: Edited by: Nikola~Thankful  
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The follies a man regrets most in his life are those he didn't commit when he had the opportunity.
~Helen Rowland
Only those who dare truly live.
~Ruth Freedman
Adventure is worthwhile in itself.
~Amelia Earhart
The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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How Do You See Your Characters?
As writers, we tend to be a visual lot. But how far does that visualization go toward seeing your characters?
Can you completely see every character in your mind's eye? Do you need hits? Do they look like or resemble a real person?
My method varies between them all although, to a lesser degree, the third. Once I have a name, I can pretty well see the person behind it. I will automatically know what color hair and eyes and what body type they will have. I will know their likes and dislikes.
Sometimes I might need a little push. In this case I go to my trusty box of pictures I've cut out of magazines, newspapers and such. In this case, it's usually a certain feature I can't quite grasp. I have scraps with only eyes, mouth or a forearm on them for reference.
At one time, I was to write a novel with a friend. She had already laid out the plot, characters and setting. The idea was that she felt I was better at description and she insisted on writing all the dialog. Not a bad idea in theory. But she had a method for choosing her character's looks that, I felt, would have made it difficult for me. You see, when my friend writes her characters, she chooses film and television stars that she feels would best play the role should Hollywood pick up the book for a film. Every last character is chosen this way. I found it difficult to write without describing the real person exactly and thusly felt that I wasn't being true to the work. Having said this, I have two characters in an as yet unrealized novel that are based on actors. One is a female that a particular actress, in laid back photos, has the perfect look for. Will I describe her exactly? Probably not. She merely has the right look. A male character is written with a particular actor's style in mind, not necessarily his look. There is just something about him that would work for this character. In not choosing to write the descriptions exactly as the person appears, I have given myself some leeway.
There are many ways we can go about finding the right description for our characters. What are yours?
Stay adventurous!
~Nikola
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From cnoto: Hi Nikola, I really enjoyed this month's issue. History is a great field for plucking our stories. I liked your idea of using a character to describe a historical battle, etc. I did have a comment though. In reference to your statement about language, I have found it is actually better to use standard, modern language (without modern slang or references, of course) than to do a poor imitation of a dialect. Look at people who have a grasp on the US Southern dialect but are not really Southerners. All the ya'lls and sugar pie's are enough to make any real southerner gag. Take care, Char
Thanks Char! I understand. I grew up in Texas and the stereotypes are enough to make one sick!
From PlannerDan  : Nikola, I am so pleased you featured my story. I am very honored.
History occupies a special place in my heart. I agree totally that we can write tremendously interesting fictional pieces based upon solid historical facts. The beauty is that when we do it well it make history meaningful--not simply facts and figures.
I've always loved your work and was happy to feature it.
From karabu: Believe me, history buffs will be the first to let you know that you've made a mistake!
-So I couldn't resist mentioning that there were no cavemen around yet during the time of the dinosaurs.
Great newsletter - thanks!
Thanks! Shows how much I know about that time period, eh?
From Chewie Kittie : Thank you for including my story in this NL, Nik!
No problem Chewie.
From scribbler : just a heads up, cavemen and dinosaures did not live at the same time. that would make me close a book much the same way you closed the old western. (unless of course it was meant to be a comedy and not at all historical)
Thanks! At least a few of you are up on your prehistoric history.
From Johnny_mac : Thanks Nikola for the input. I've taken a time some 80 yrs ago and placed myself right in the middle of it. Now when scholars ask if I remember this time in history, my answer is yes, because I was there!
Cheers, from Johnny_mac
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