tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post2801346250678209574..comments2024-03-28T07:00:43.256-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: Background CheckElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-81496581783356453062009-08-13T16:14:39.566-06:002009-08-13T16:14:39.566-06:00sometimes self background checking is sometimes a ...sometimes self background checking is sometimes a good idea. it will help you discover you strength and weaknesses. it is also advisable that you do a <a href="http://www.backgroundpi.com/bgs.php" rel="nofollow"><b>background search</b></a> for a good and applicable moral attitudes that might help youUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08306612584984358658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-25628114982282615102009-08-08T16:53:13.320-06:002009-08-08T16:53:13.320-06:00I always do background checks on my characters. Th...I always do background checks on my characters. Then I do full scale, FBI profiling, CIA head sweeps, and throw in some Santa Claus watching just for the heck of it. Yeah...I know my characters too well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-74020276141468536932009-08-08T09:04:52.553-06:002009-08-08T09:04:52.553-06:00Fun idea. I never thought about this.Fun idea. I never thought about this.Kimbra Kaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16955657301998255029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-49492025795871305122009-08-07T23:27:11.995-06:002009-08-07T23:27:11.995-06:00Fab analogy. I'm diggin it and realizing I...Fab analogy. I'm diggin it and realizing I've got a lot of work still left to do w/my characters...*https://www.blogger.com/profile/06484208765656281917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-23532104799893259862009-08-07T22:34:15.711-06:002009-08-07T22:34:15.711-06:00I've heard about interviewing your characters ...I've heard about interviewing your characters and knowing their background a thousand times. And yet, it's only today that I finally get it!<br /><br />Duh!<br /><br />For some reason, the way you expressed it finally reached through the gargantuan wall walnut that is my brain.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09840131637847068076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-9518643238649550322009-08-07T17:22:55.284-06:002009-08-07T17:22:55.284-06:00I have about 7 single-spaced pages that covers the...I have about 7 single-spaced pages that covers the background of 5 of my main characters. It's what makes the story connect for me, knowing who each of them is and who they used to be.MeganRebekahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285116194891827858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-2590818295340504692009-08-07T16:48:54.902-06:002009-08-07T16:48:54.902-06:00What a good idea. I'm going to have to try tha...What a good idea. I'm going to have to try that. I once had a questionnaire to fill out for characters that helped a lot but I lost it somewhere along the way.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-58638270140739397902009-08-07T15:41:33.270-06:002009-08-07T15:41:33.270-06:00I've commented on this somwhere before, but I ...I've commented on this somwhere before, but I don't remember where. Anyway, I tend to just sit down and go with it, if I don't get a feel for my character within the first ten thousand words or so I'll sit down fill out a dnd character sheet, do an interview, or a character bio to get a bit more information about them. Then go back and fix it later on in the edits and revision portion.Ryan S. Kinsgrovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11709819500632207934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-4836175007914110022009-08-07T12:02:18.570-06:002009-08-07T12:02:18.570-06:00This post is tremendous--the insightful comments y...This post is tremendous--the insightful comments you received are a great help too. There are a lot of good writers out there...Lizahttp://www.middlepassages-lcs.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-74976912093729032232009-08-07T10:49:34.153-06:002009-08-07T10:49:34.153-06:00I steal a page from my "teacher's manual&...I steal a page from my "teacher's manual" and draft resumes for my characters. That and break into their homes. Funny what you can find sometimes...Aaron Polsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-52403346893780745752009-08-07T10:37:16.948-06:002009-08-07T10:37:16.948-06:00What a great post! i have a few characters i'm...What a great post! i have a few characters i'm working on, i just keep them all in an unorganized word document on my computer..<br />all the blog reading i've been doing lately has made me so excited to work on my own writing...i just haven't made it a priority, and don't know that i can at this time in my life...but, you're posts are soo motivating! thank you.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11919344241305952972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-48382422171977516752009-08-07T10:31:02.367-06:002009-08-07T10:31:02.367-06:00I agree with Suzanne! The file cabinet in my brai...I agree with Suzanne! The file cabinet in my brain turns into backstory on the page. But you are right. If we don't know our characters background, we can't be consistent with their actions and reactions. Great point!Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-63740637613475158712009-08-07T10:16:31.099-06:002009-08-07T10:16:31.099-06:00Great points, Elana!
In my current WIP, I made a ...Great points, Elana!<br /><br />In my current WIP, I made a ton of notes before I even started writing on "How they got this way," what their quirks were, fears were, and dreams were. It is helping A LOT during this first draft. <br /><br />Now, if only I could go back in time, and do that for my first novel... hmmmm.Rebecca Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15214077952378770753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-68815179521744125512009-08-07T10:07:12.731-06:002009-08-07T10:07:12.731-06:00I don't know everything about my characters an...I don't know everything about my characters and I need to sit down and have a nice chat with them for being so guarded. The background check is coming for me, the last one wasn't nearly in depth as it should have been. Time to figure out their faves! :D <br /><br />Great post, Elana. Thanks for the reminder, I definitely need to get to know my characters some more.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12294516011395206412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-32736070522179304132009-08-07T08:37:01.609-06:002009-08-07T08:37:01.609-06:00I went through exactly this in the last two weeks ...I went through exactly this in the last two weeks in July. I was writing up character bios. Writing out the things that happened to them. Who they met, where they lived, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.<br /><br />The challenge is my MC who's lived in the woods her whole life guarded by foul beasts. She's only 10 at the beginning of the series. When you can only go a small radius most of your life, it's a challenge to come up with things that happen.<br /><br />But I'm working on it. I really don't like my main character as much as my major characters who are all older, most above 20.<br /><br />But knowing these backgrounds and such and going beyond the physical is helping the writing I've done so far this month.<br /><br />Character interviewing does take time. I usually only got one or two characters done in a day for all the questions I was asking. Questions like "What sorts of possessions does he/she value? Fashion? Cleanliness and hygiene?" The first two chapters of <i>The Plot Thickens</i> are all about questions to interrogate your characters with.<br /><br />I wrote down everything in a notebook as I went. It usually took at most 1 1/2 double-sided pages to get all the information written out, but then it's all in one central place that I can reference as needed.Stephanie McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507025637411479409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-69176574517871108582009-08-07T08:28:52.198-06:002009-08-07T08:28:52.198-06:00Hmmm, character interviews and background checks. ...Hmmm, character interviews and background checks. This could get scary! Think I'll have to sit mine down and take notes :)<br /><br />Happy weekend,<br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683486631901017529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-7880233591434537532009-08-07T08:26:24.619-06:002009-08-07T08:26:24.619-06:00Unhappily I know too much and then want to share i...Unhappily I know too much and then want to share it with everyone. That means it ends up in my book as BACKSTORY and i get "too much backstory" from reviewers.<br /><br />Yuck. Learning, learning, learning.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556206184198452490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-24356052335976030922009-08-07T08:01:43.928-06:002009-08-07T08:01:43.928-06:00Characters become people when their past starts fu...Characters become people when their past starts fusing with their present and future. I absolutely believe in knowing their backgrounds.<br /><br />Most of the time, though, they don't open up about their pasts to me until we've had a chance to journey together for a bit.M. Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00624479956106759407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-84211817441272995662009-08-07T08:00:16.462-06:002009-08-07T08:00:16.462-06:00Background check! What a great way to describe it....Background check! What a great way to describe it.<br />The best one I've done is to interview my main characters by asking them to tell me about their childhoods. So they spoke in first person and I took notes. And, boy, did my antagonist let loose. That character really gained depth as a result.<br />Thanks for the reminder. It's a good one.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-11655112425726456792009-08-07T07:53:17.451-06:002009-08-07T07:53:17.451-06:00You know I love my tortured characters - and they ...You know I love my tortured characters - and they wouldn't be that w/o a really well thought out past. A lot of times my stories/charaters are born of different writing exercises or short pieces that delve into something from their past - something that shaped who they are. And since Iam really into emotions - yeah, I love that part the most.<br /><br />Another great post!Christine Fonsecahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986034666903054819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-58895390842589651152009-08-07T07:34:10.309-06:002009-08-07T07:34:10.309-06:00I'm with Lisa and Laura on this way. I know fa...I'm with Lisa and Laura on this way. I know far, far too much about my characters - some planned, some spontaneous decisions while writing. <br /><br />I always chart out family background - parents divorced, two brothers, one sister, etc. - when developing the characters and even go so far as to list favorite books, movies, types of music they listen too, favorite menu item at cheap Mexican, adult beverage of choice, and a few other things as well. I do this in an Excel worksheet that I print out and post next to the computer for easy reference. Background and choice of adult beverage are important.<br /><br />Great post.<br /><br />SScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06905515473737579937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-4150340568164546062009-08-07T07:27:01.414-06:002009-08-07T07:27:01.414-06:00Hey, I use that filing cabinet too. Um, but it'...Hey, I use that filing cabinet too. Um, but it's mine, not yours. :) I have all their background info in there. I keep thinking I should get it all down on paper, but yeah. Don't think that's ever going to happen.Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-87580260451587970982009-08-07T07:26:11.738-06:002009-08-07T07:26:11.738-06:00We know far too much about most of our characters....We know far too much about most of our characters. Sometimes we plan it out, but sometimes it just sort of appears as we write. I'd like to think that we do a good job creating our characters there are a few in particular who I'm really proud of. But I love it when you do these posts because they're such a good reminder that there's always more that you can do with characterization. Thanks E!lisa and laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18144863275895761642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-44957793411086177542009-08-07T07:24:21.224-06:002009-08-07T07:24:21.224-06:00I love a character with a background, the kind tha...I love a character with a background, the kind that spices things up.. yet keeps you on the edge wondering.<br /><br />You hurry to finish, yet dread finding you're half way through your book and realize DANG it I NEVER WANT IT TO END!<br /><br />Yes I like the spicy ones!<br />heh heh.Cinder Rail'leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422971305954362140noreply@blogger.com