Creating Characters: Let Them Whisper Their Secrets

by Marisa D'vari, Kenneth Atchity (Foreword by)

Fresh, invigorating, and jam-packed with solid how to advice this amazing desktop resource reveals the secrets highly paid screenwriters and best-selling novelists furiously fight to keep under wraps.

233 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2005

Reviews

[Josie Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a mixed bag for me. I liked the idea of the "MORE" framework as an approach to block out character types and their interactions with each other. I also appreciated the way the author suggests a variety of approaches for accessing ideas about characters and developing individual story characters on an individual and highly personal level.
But some things irked me. For example, the double spacing between every paragraph gives the hard copy book the appearance of being a much longer work. In places this rises to triple spacing. I also thought the illustrative examples were taken from too narrow a range of references. The vast majority come from only 3 films.
Worth borrowing from a library or buying on Kindle if you can, or even buying second hand as I did. I don't think I'd pay full ticket price for a new paper copy.

[Robert Hartung · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunate attempt at creating a system to writing characters, filled with worthless pseudoscientific nonsense.
Luckily I purchased this book for only 3 dollars, but I still feel like I should have been paid for reading what little I read.

The More-Personality system might be great for people into crystals, magic eightballs, and tarot cards, not for people that think.

Not a book for learning about the craft of writing characters, not a remotely useful book, not even for a paperweight.

[Benedict Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting, but flawed, take on the creation of characters. On the one hand it asks you to put your faith in a spiritual component and yet on the other hand it disempowers the writer by giving you a strict path to follow as you put together a character. I'm pleased I read it... but only because it's firmed up my own process by giving me something to rebel against.