tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post3038932058735469656..comments2024-02-16T15:14:36.719-06:00Comments on Wet Noodle Posse: Starting a New Manuscript by Diane GastonMJFredrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06881706931355203700noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-60344547192119593062009-09-21T22:59:19.784-05:002009-09-21T22:59:19.784-05:00Great blog, Diane.
When I read a book it's t...Great blog, Diane. <br /><br />When I read a book it's the characters that draw me in, absolutely. When I write a book though it is a combination of character and plotting that gets me started.Theresa Raganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815320170046221853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-56880718947272030542009-09-21T22:01:36.891-05:002009-09-21T22:01:36.891-05:00Christine, I can totally relate to what you are sa...Christine, I can totally relate to what you are saying. I know I'm on the right track when my characters feel like real people to me. <br /><br />I know I felt so strongly about Maddie and Devlin of The Mysterious Miss M that I could not give up on them. That's why I entered it in the Golden Heart a second time. It won and it sold to the judging editors. <br />And I was on my way!<br /><br />So believe in those characters and work with them until the story works!Diane Gastonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14770373530197339170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-67204029417102433122009-09-21T21:52:45.038-05:002009-09-21T21:52:45.038-05:00Diane: your trilogy sounds so great. Must find tim...Diane: your trilogy sounds so great. Must find time to read again! Characters are central to me, but the plot must be well-balanced. I want, need, action. But in first draft mode, I am in my peoples' heads. I am struggling right now with a revision. Not sure if anyone will be interested in the story (and I'm not published so having interest is important). But I told my CP today that I can't give up on these two people. The plot issues are hanging me up, but the reason I wanted to tell their story hasn't changed. I decided that even if only I, and my beloved CPs read this one, I must write it for my hero and heroine. They deserve for their story to be told.<br /><br />Okay, I am nuts. But I do love these two people. They make me weep at the end and that is all that matters to me. Maybe an editor or agent might not believe their story is compelling enough to sell, but I believe their story is compelling enough for me to write it.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-68669401587177173722009-09-21T14:17:35.017-05:002009-09-21T14:17:35.017-05:00sometimes my story ideas don't start with char...sometimes my story ideas don't start with characters, but they are always important to me. I know I've got them right when they feel like real people to me. <br /><br />(I love my bookcover, too, Trish!)Diane Gastonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14770373530197339170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-21768778868797740402009-09-21T14:04:46.984-05:002009-09-21T14:04:46.984-05:00Interesting topic, Diane--I'm always curious t...Interesting topic, Diane--I'm always curious to know how writers launch their stories :-).<br /><br />Some of my books have been pulled from others (secondary characters who've been given their own stories). Some of my tales have started with a fictionalized version of a scene from my own life (a float plane landing, an event on a street in Paris). Sometimes I start with a favorite movie and play with variations on the premise.<br /><br />I used to dive into a project with the thinnest of premises and discover my characters and story as I progressed. Now, with synopses to produce and deadlines to meet, I find I'm more focused on plot and structure--not a comfortable fit for a pantser.Terry McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08557335434947611768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-34521558282980856362009-09-21T13:04:28.752-05:002009-09-21T13:04:28.752-05:00I start with a character that captures my attentio...I start with a character that captures my attention. I've a dozen WIPs, some of which have only names and one or two sentence descriptions, usually what they do. A pantster or scene sewer. Yes, I like to see where the characters take me, but I have actually written then end well before I'm even half way through, then I'll add scenes that may end up shuffled. <br /><br />Terry stated it just right: Characters, characters, characters, then plot.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07843239483061220089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-10923704965090802812009-09-21T12:49:08.671-05:002009-09-21T12:49:08.671-05:00I kind of start out with a combination of situatio...I kind of start out with a combination of situation and characters.<br /><br />BTW, I love the cover of your December book.Trish Milburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812010789617982102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-1144075362840949202009-09-21T10:16:31.722-05:002009-09-21T10:16:31.722-05:00I have one story (WIP, still) that started with a ...I have one story (WIP, still) that started with a single scene, with just 3 words. <br /><br />I really read for the characters. I want to know these people, what's going on with them, what's next.Sewickedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01687151840720911769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-63531050258415695492009-09-21T08:11:27.446-05:002009-09-21T08:11:27.446-05:00When I read, it's almost always the characters...When I read, it's almost always the characters, characters, characters. Plot comes in somewhere around fourth place.<br /><br />When I write, I need to know my characters, although I don't know them in great depth until I start writing.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.com