Gail Carson Levine's Blog, page 35
July 11, 2012
Love's labor
On Feb 4, 2012, Clare wrote, Romance can be difficult for me to write variations of. My romance is generally all the same, with two people starting out as friends who tend to smack each other a lot and then they fall madly in love through a series of unfortunate events. I currently have an idea for a really good story, but the plot is going to need to be moved forward by unlikely romance.
The relationship between hero and heroine starts out when they need to pretend to be engaged...
July 4, 2012
Character clamor
On February 3, 2012, CallMeAddie wrote, I also have the problem that I'm trying to make too many of my characters important, and my main characters aren't feeling so MAIN anymore. Any advice?
The great aspects of this problem are that you (and anyone else in the same pickle) have set up a story world with a lot of complexity and a cast of characters that interests you. You have a problem of abundance, which is much better than a problem of scarcity - but no less frustrating.
(When I say story w...
June 27, 2012
Character block
On December 30, 2011, Tisserande d'encre wrote, I've been having a problem with my MC. Some time ago I discovered I didn't know my character at all. We have tried reactions to problems, thoughts and things she likes, but I still can't discover her personality! Because of this, I'm unable to say how she will react to the situation or how she relates with other people. Nothing comes up to my mind. The first pages were easy to write because I knew her feelings, and ten pages ago I still di...
June 20, 2012
Adjective advice
On December 28, 2011, FightingIrishFan1111 wrote, I am one of those people who loves to use adjectives, but I think I use too many adjectives! For example, is it better to say: "Her hair was brown", rather than "her luscious, long hair was auburn with flecks of dark mahogany"? I think I over-write some characteristics of my characters! Any suggestions about how to approach looks, personality, and other descriptions would be great!
So, “her hair was brown” is dull. "Her luscious, long hair was...
So, “her hair was brown” is dull. "Her luscious, long hair was...
June 13, 2012
Hatred, Yay!
On December 28th, 2011, Maybeawriter wrote, How can one portray hatred? It's such a strong emotion, but so often senseless and illogical. How does one show the difference between, say, dread of talking with somebody hatred, and all-out hate-your-guts Romeo-vs-Tybalt wish-you-were-dead hatred? ...How do we justify hatred? Do we even NEED to justify it? Does it make a character less appealing if they can hate?
The tools we have for portraying hatred are the usual: actions, dialogue, thoughts, an...
The tools we have for portraying hatred are the usual: actions, dialogue, thoughts, an...
June 6, 2012
Detailing
December 28, 2011, writeforfun wrote, ...the thing that I struggle with the most is detail (how much is too much, when do you use less, when do you need more, what details are good, etc.).
While I reread writeforfun’s question, a public service announcement was running on the radio, advising people about licensing their dogs. It was a very short spot, and then the news resumed. But if the organization that sponsored the ad, the ASPCA or whatever, had the air time, details might have sent dog o...
While I reread writeforfun’s question, a public service announcement was running on the radio, advising people about licensing their dogs. It was a very short spot, and then the news resumed. But if the organization that sponsored the ad, the ASPCA or whatever, had the air time, details might have sent dog o...
May 30, 2012
Surprise!
Mending my ways and letting you know a little sooner - I’ll be in Providence, Rhode Island, on June 16th because the library system has chosen Dave at Night for its Kids Read Across Rhode Island. I am so honored! Here’s a link: http://www.newportlibraryri.org/npl/2012/05/06/kids-reading-across-rhode-island/.
Last December M.K.B. wrote, I was curious about surprises in stories. Do you have to give hints of what surprise (I'm talking about in non-mystery stories)? Like in that movie "Tangled" (w...
Last December M.K.B. wrote, I was curious about surprises in stories. Do you have to give hints of what surprise (I'm talking about in non-mystery stories)? Like in that movie "Tangled" (w...
May 23, 2012
Entitled
On December 2, 2011, writeforfun wrote, ...my writing buddy and I were talking about names, and since she's not a blogger, I thought I'd ask and see what you and the other bloggers thought on the subject. How important do you think the name of your book is? On one hand, it's just a name. But on the other, when you're at a library or bookstore, all you see is the spine of a book - just the name and the author, no description, no picture. How important do you think the name of a book is if you'...
May 16, 2012
Open-ended
For anyone in the area and able to come, on Saturday I’ll be at the Children’s Festival of Reading in Knoxville, Tennessee. Here’s a link to the event: http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/html.... I’m speaking at 10:45 am and 12:45 pm and signing books after each presentation. If you come, please let me know you heard about it here.
On to the post topic, on November 27, 2011, Jenna Royal wrote, Does anyone have any thoughts on open or unresolved endings? I've been fascinated...
On to the post topic, on November 27, 2011, Jenna Royal wrote, Does anyone have any thoughts on open or unresolved endings? I've been fascinated...
May 9, 2012
Pop!
On November 14, 2011, writeforfun wrote, ...I've already read your extremely helpful section in Writing Magic about developing characters and I've filled out a character questionnaire for each of my characters, but they still seem sort of flat and Mary-Sue like, especially compared to the ones in my last book. I think part of my problem may be that they don't have lots of quirks and faults, despite my efforts to think up some and apply them. Any ideas on how to make these characters pop?
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