Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
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The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Natalie Aguirre,Jennifer Lane, MJ Fifield, Lisa Buie-Collard, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!
July 3 question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?
Good question!!
For the most part, my characters are not a whole lot like me, but there are some similarities.
Many of my characters overthink things and second-guess themselves. This is definitely like me! It makes for fun reading in a story, but can sure make for some uncomfortable situations in the real world. I have to make sure characters aren't too waffly in the story as that can be annoying to the reader! Wish I could stop the waffling in real life though... 😀
How about you? Do you tend to write characters who have at least one similarity with you? Do you like reading about characters who have something in common with you? Any other second-guessers out there? Anyone else in the mood for waffles?
44 comments:
Waffles are delicious though!
My characters aren't much like me either.
The over-thinkers just need a little extra prodding, that's all.
My characters tend to have some of my characteristics, but they thankfully aren't me and have more exciting lives.
I overthink things a lot in real life, too. I think that's why I make my characters sure of themselves and act fast.
mmmm waffles. Oh, wrong kind. I think it makes characters more real when they think like we do. We can all relate to overthinking and second guessing.
Hi,
I get so deeply involved in my characters and the world that I build around them that some of my character traits and desires flow into my manuscript. But that is okay with me. It's my world and it is a world where I have to teach my characters how to survive.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I do have a craving for waffles now :)
My characters definitely have similarities to me. I wonder if writing in third person instead of first would give me more distance and make them less like me.
To be human is to waffle. I made that up, but it is true. It makes characters real to second guess themselves.
I'm great at second-guessing myself, so I try to make my characters NOT do that lol.
I'm up for some waffles!
Definitely time to get some waffles! :)
We do, indeed!
LOL - that's exactly what I thought about mine! I'm a homebody and avoid conflict like a boss - no one wants to read that! :)
I do have a few of those confident characters too - but the wafflers always steal my heart :)
We can! I think, but maybe not everyone, but maybe...
LOL - yes we can!
That is great! I love that you infuse them with you!
Maybe waffles with some chocolate chips??? :)
I wonder - that's something to think about!
You may have made it up - but it is so true!!
Love it! We may need to start a wafflers-support group :)
Me too! Breakfast for supper!
I second guess myself on a decisive day. Waffles? I pass. Food is difficult at the moment and I am not tempted. Which is probably a good thing.
Waffly, nice word. It's official, now I want waffles and less waffly is always good. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
I don't know if it's because I'm waffly or not, but my characters tend to be rather waffly until my critique partners get a hold of them. Thanks goodness for critique partners!
I think as writers, we all do that from time to time. Love the word, "waffy."
I always put my passion in my characters. They are always in emotional situations and need to cope with so much. Life is hard, and they know it, but they ALWAYS keep their sense of humor... just like me. Well, at least I hope so. LOL
I'm sorry food is tough for you right now! That's such a difficult thing to deal with!
Enjoy the waffles! :)
You're SO right about that one! I always need that 2nd set of eyes to point things like that out to me!
Love it! I think those are awesome characteristics to pass along. Humour can always help!!!
"...stop the waffling..." - yeah! I love the phrase. It made me laugh.
Now, I'm definitely in the mood for waffles. It is morning, and they are delicious. People waffle. Characters waffle. We all waffle. We write what we know. Enjoy creating more colorful characters!
Mary at Play off the Page
Jemi! Hi. How are ya? I believe I tend to insert myself into everything I write--including the villains because they all come from inside me. Is that right? If I write about an evil person, does that mean I have some evil in me like that? x(
Me too - just wish it would happen! :)
Thanks Mary - the colourful ones are always the most fun! :)
Hi Elizabeth! Hope you are well!
I'm betting we all have a bit of evil, or at least wanna-be evil. Makes it much easier to write about it when we get it!
Hi Jemi. It's hard not to insert ourselves into our early stories. I find myself using characters I've met on my travels. I'm always surprised what I remember.
I'm always overthinking and second-guessing myself, too. Guess I'm like you and your characters! XD
It's amazing how those little quirks we've seen work their way into our characters!
Welcome to the waffle club, Heather! :)
Aw, shoot! I thought we were going to get some real waffles :) I think that a reasonable amount of uncertainty is necessary in a character, though now I've said that, I can see writing a character who at least starts out knowing everything and 100% sure of him/herself. But then the point would be teaching them they don't actually know squat. So there you are :D
I like that. That would be a fun character!
I definitely need to get some waffles :)
Mmm... waffles. I do think it's good if readers can see themselves in the characters too because then they get more involved in the story.
I agree! I like seeing characters like that succeed! :)
I’m rather late to this party! But better late than never, right? 😜
I think many characters tend to waffle along... until we shape them and sharpen them... and then they become distinct.
All part of character growth.
Unless you have a distinct and fully formed character beforehand who drives your story along. Lucky writer!
Hope you're well, Jemi.
Thanks Michelle!
I love your description of how we get to know our characters - that's so accurate!
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