Wednesday, July 3, 2019

IWSG & Waffles ... sort of

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.




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:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Waffles are delicious though!
My characters aren't much like me either.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

The over-thinkers just need a little extra prodding, that's all.

Natalie Aguirre said...

My characters tend to have some of my characteristics, but they thankfully aren't me and have more exciting lives.

Chrys Fey said...

I overthink things a lot in real life, too. I think that's why I make my characters sure of themselves and act fast.

Jean Davis said...

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.

Pat Garcia said...

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

The Cynical Sailor said...

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.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

To be human is to waffle. I made that up, but it is true. It makes characters real to second guess themselves.

Debra Renée Byrd said...

I'm great at second-guessing myself, so I try to make my characters NOT do that lol.

JShelby said...

I'm up for some waffles!

Jemi Fraser said...

Definitely time to get some waffles! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

We do, indeed!

Jemi Fraser said...

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! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I do have a few of those confident characters too - but the wafflers always steal my heart :)

Jemi Fraser said...

We can! I think, but maybe not everyone, but maybe...
LOL - yes we can!

Jemi Fraser said...

That is great! I love that you infuse them with you!

Jemi Fraser said...

Maybe waffles with some chocolate chips??? :)
I wonder - that's something to think about!

Jemi Fraser said...

You may have made it up - but it is so true!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Love it! We may need to start a wafflers-support group :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Me too! Breakfast for supper!

Elephant's Child said...

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.

emaginette said...

Waffly, nice word. It's official, now I want waffles and less waffly is always good. hehehe

Anna from elements of emaginette

Chemist Ken said...

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!

Michael Di Gesu said...

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

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm sorry food is tough for you right now! That's such a difficult thing to deal with!

Jemi Fraser said...

Enjoy the waffles! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

You're SO right about that one! I always need that 2nd set of eyes to point things like that out to me!

Jemi Fraser said...

Love it! I think those are awesome characteristics to pass along. Humour can always help!!!

Olga Godim said...

"...stop the waffling..." - yeah! I love the phrase. It made me laugh.

Mary Aalgaard said...

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

Elizabeth Mueller said...

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(

Jemi Fraser said...

Me too - just wish it would happen! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Mary - the colourful ones are always the most fun! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

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!

Denise Covey said...

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.

Heather R. Holden said...

I'm always overthinking and second-guessing myself, too. Guess I'm like you and your characters! XD

Jemi Fraser said...

It's amazing how those little quirks we've seen work their way into our characters!

Jemi Fraser said...

Welcome to the waffle club, Heather! :)

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

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

Jemi Fraser said...

I like that. That would be a fun character!
I definitely need to get some waffles :)

Nick Wilford said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

I agree! I like seeing characters like that succeed! :)

Michelle Wallace said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Michelle!
I love your description of how we get to know our characters - that's so accurate!