tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post7190388633092604695..comments2023-09-27T08:59:17.508-05:00Comments on The Lesser Key of Tere: The Importance of Being FleshyTere Kirklandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-13568744829014229972010-07-12T19:05:09.280-05:002010-07-12T19:05:09.280-05:00Excellent post! I rewrote my entire beginning bec...Excellent post! I rewrote my entire beginning because my lovely beta readers didn't feel connected enough to the characters to care what the outcome of the plot ended up being. Not a good thing, for sure. Characters have to be loved regardless of how exciting the plot is.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-7518793293963401602010-07-12T17:05:42.011-05:002010-07-12T17:05:42.011-05:00This is so true and something that I worry about w...This is so true and something that I worry about with my own writing. I think the problem with some of my earlier ms was I was more focused on the premise and didn't spend enough time developing the characters.<br />Now I'm the opposite. My characters always come first and hopefully it shows in my writing.Jadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444920778218867295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-48175458787003609582010-07-12T16:06:37.976-05:002010-07-12T16:06:37.976-05:00OOOO, sorry I just added another section to my rev...OOOO, sorry I just added another section to my review of Her Fearful Symmetry. Just adding some cons, because even though I very much liked the book, a lot of people seemed not to.XiXihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05364953168828471897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-16209165689430466492010-07-12T14:56:16.495-05:002010-07-12T14:56:16.495-05:00I am sooooo with you on the "tired of the big...I am sooooo with you on the "tired of the big, action-filled opener that then goes nowhwere" thing. Books are a marathon. If you run out of gas after 1500 meters, well, then I put your book down right about that point. <br /><br />There are so many great books that probably wouldn't have made it past an agent's desk for lack of a gripping opener. But those slow-build kind of books are preferable to a book that poops out on me at the halfway mark and leaves me feeling like I just don't care.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704845146768729518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-56968574740132106452010-07-12T14:26:47.250-05:002010-07-12T14:26:47.250-05:00Hahaha, nice pic. And very good thing to remind us...Hahaha, nice pic. And very good thing to remind us about. I tend to enjoy character-driven stories (I love literary fic) so I will definitely drop a book immediately if the characters don't pop out of the page.<br /><br />Good thing to remember when writing.XiXihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05364953168828471897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-35876271875070858012010-07-12T13:56:58.183-05:002010-07-12T13:56:58.183-05:00What a true post. I think this is a great reminder...What a true post. I think this is a great reminder but also something that is tough to make happen.Tara McClendonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246124060126729229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-14460913250291461002010-07-12T12:34:11.623-05:002010-07-12T12:34:11.623-05:00Great post, Tere! The character's are the most...Great post, Tere! The character's are the most important aspect of a book for me and a big part of the reason I love YA so much. But it seems I've been disappointed a lot lately. So many great ideas out there that fell apart because the characterization wasn't strong enough. <br /><br />I finally finished a book last night that I've been trying to read for over a month. The concept and the twist at the end were awesome and I may read the sequel just because it's the first book in a long time that actually surprised me at the end, but it won't be for the characters.Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-62837926062193006342010-07-12T12:31:24.865-05:002010-07-12T12:31:24.865-05:00By the post title I thought you were going to tell...By the post title I thought you were going to tell us to chow down more! Ha! I love this post so much. You've hit on something I've noticed, too, that some books forget the character development. For me, that's what makes a story memorable.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-15013187604891291902010-07-12T12:19:27.573-05:002010-07-12T12:19:27.573-05:00Excellent post! I always start a novel with a char...Excellent post! I always start a novel with a character in mind. In fact, today, I "saw" him riding his longboard down the street after I dropped my son off at band practice.<br /><br />There was this kid, and I thought, "There he is! That's my next MC."Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-60198870252888941832010-07-12T11:56:26.318-05:002010-07-12T11:56:26.318-05:00Such an excellent reminder. I've always been ...Such an excellent reminder. I've always been a character writer, and my characters always come to me before the plot does. But I still have to take the time to make sure they come across on the page the way they do in my head-which is easier said than done.<br /><br />Glad to hear you're loving your nook--even if the book on there leaves a little to be desired. :)Shannon Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08003607156860716462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791084360727373309.post-40070602962225379032010-07-12T10:37:36.147-05:002010-07-12T10:37:36.147-05:00Excellent excellent post! I had the same experienc...Excellent excellent post! I had the same experience with a very popular YA book recently. I was so disappointed in the characters that I won't be picking up any of the sequels. I tend to be a plot driven writer, but it's the characters that drive the story forward. Thanks for the great reminder!JEMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04043891292719086478noreply@blogger.com