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36th out of 47 books
—
21 voters
Creating Unforgettable Characters
by
Linda Seger (Goodreads Author)
In this book, Linda Seger shows how to create strong, multidimensional characters in fiction, covering everything from research to character block. Interviews with today's top writers complete this essential volume.
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
July 15th 1990
by Holt Paperbacks
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Linda Seger offers a lot of good examples and exercises/questions to ask as you explore different aspects of your characters' personalities. She also provides good examples and explanations of how to use the information you glean through research in your book. More specifically, the better you know your characters, the more that will shine through in your story even if you don't use every detail you know.
The only reason I didn't give Creating Unforgettable Characters five stars is I have heard m...more
The only reason I didn't give Creating Unforgettable Characters five stars is I have heard m...more
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I will agree with the many reviews that said this book was full of a lot of basics, but it is still a good reference and worth reading. While some of the information I scanned, other parts gave me fresh ideas. Perhaps it made the difference that many of the works she referred to were books, shows or movies I was familiar with. Either way, I made some highlights on my weaker areas so I can refer occasionally back to it to make sure I am becoming stronger and not overlooking laziness.
Creating Unforgettable Characters was written in 1990, and may appear dated. However, the films, television shows, and novels Linda Seger uses as examples have become classics, exactly because they are so character-driven. She also includes exercises and applications, making this book an excellent reference on character development, whichever medium the writer decides to use.
This book was definitely more of a beginner's tool for fleshing out characters. It's well-written and a quick read, but I thought it would have a bit more depth than it did. I also didn't realize it was published in 1990, and I didn't have a background with some of the shows that Seger referenced repeatedly. That fact alone probably made it less helpful for me.
(lost my review somehow; here's a shorter version)
This is a worthwhile read for a writer at the beginning of their career, who wants to improve on their character development. Seger's examples were mainly from television programs in the late 1980s, none of which I watched. This limited the value to me. Also, she is more oriented to screen plays than to novels or short stories, which further limited the value to me, as I write novels not screen plays.
However, it's a good basic book for a beginnin...more
This is a worthwhile read for a writer at the beginning of their career, who wants to improve on their character development. Seger's examples were mainly from television programs in the late 1980s, none of which I watched. This limited the value to me. Also, she is more oriented to screen plays than to novels or short stories, which further limited the value to me, as I write novels not screen plays.
However, it's a good basic book for a beginnin...more
This was my first book on character development for script, novel, and comic writing. I have to say, I don't see the need for another one. This book offered advice from experienced novelists and screenwriters on the changes and process of creating characters in story. The process is often lengthy and exhausting, a finished script only reveals "a tip of the iceberg" of work required to create interesting multidimensional characters who drive a story. This book teaches you how to mold the rest of...more
A solid book on how to develop your characters. Good for writers and probably actors as well.
Lots of information packed in this one as well as good strategies on how to get to the meat and bones of who your character is.
Lots of information packed in this one as well as good strategies on how to get to the meat and bones of who your character is.
I believe this book gave a thorough overview of what elements are important in creating characters. Although I wouldn't say that it is a guide that any aspiring screenwriter must read, it provides a good introduction.
This book is amazing and so inspiring. I can't let you borrow it because I wrote all over the pages! It is extremely helpful for character development in screenwriting, novels, etc.
This book is a must for anyone wishing to write a work of fiction. It's direction is simple, straight forward, and has lots of specific examples.
This is a great tool or refresher course for aspiring authors. As my recent quote states;
"Character and Plot, Character and Plot
Some authors have it and some do not
This I'll tell you brother
You can't have one without the other."
"Character and Plot, Character and Plot
Some authors have it and some do not
This I'll tell you brother
You can't have one without the other."
This book was geared more toward screenwriters than fiction writers, but it did have a few good insights.
Another very good Seger approach to making sense of screenwriting.
Excellent writers reference to character building.
brilliant book on screenwriting. must read
At times I really enjoyed some of the tips and shared experience that this book had to offer, and at other times I felt out of the loop because of the large amount of references made to works that I had not read or seen. When the author was talking about characters from a film I'd seen, I felt like I was learning a lot, but that didn't happen often enough to warrant more than 3 stars for this book.
A really good book on crafting characters. The book used mostly examples from TV shows I'd never seen, but explained the characters and situations well enough that I could follow along. Highly recommended.
Comme son titre l'indique, c'est une espèce de guide pour créer des personnages. Très pratique et de conseils de bon sens, autant un manuel pour étudiant que pour satisfaire les curieux dans mon genre.
Brilliant book for writers who struggle to construct characters who are both believable and larger than life.
Jun 15, 2013
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