I'm reading Elizabeth George's Write Away, which I must say is awesome. Her first chapter is dedicated to character, as she believes that is where the story begins. This got me little bit worried because stories come to me more as plot and situation rather than character, which is fine I know, inspiration can strike in any number of ways. The part that I got hung up on is that she believes the characters should be fully formed before one begins to write. Um yeah, definitely not doing that. I'm five chapters in, and am still figuring out who these people are. Even worse, I am adding characters as I go along.
The kicker for me though was that she went into detail on the importance of picking a character's name, and that a name is one of the best ways to define a character. Dear Lord, I am continually changing my characters names! Picking names is one of the hardest things for me. In fact, I recently went back an reviewed some notes, and half of the character names where different.
Where do I go from here? Well, I decided to continue on as I have been (I'm starting chapter six this week), but simultaneously I will circle back and start doing the "pre" work I apparently should have done. Not that I think Elizabeth's process has to be my process, but I do see where I would have avoided some problems if I had done some of the things she suggests.
Needless to say I am dreading picking a name for the book!
The kicker for me though was that she went into detail on the importance of picking a character's name, and that a name is one of the best ways to define a character. Dear Lord, I am continually changing my characters names! Picking names is one of the hardest things for me. In fact, I recently went back an reviewed some notes, and half of the character names where different.
Where do I go from here? Well, I decided to continue on as I have been (I'm starting chapter six this week), but simultaneously I will circle back and start doing the "pre" work I apparently should have done. Not that I think Elizabeth's process has to be my process, but I do see where I would have avoided some problems if I had done some of the things she suggests.
Needless to say I am dreading picking a name for the book!
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