tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post4939717941796574181..comments2024-03-12T01:48:28.637-06:00Comments on Margo Berendsen: Bonding with main charactersMargo Berendsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-23811356889200904962011-02-28T18:33:38.188-07:002011-02-28T18:33:38.188-07:00Awesome post! Great suggestions to think about as ...Awesome post! Great suggestions to think about as I revamp my opening. Thanks! :)Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-79221396151407767102011-02-28T00:48:19.312-07:002011-02-28T00:48:19.312-07:00Oh I agree; some experiences are universally bondi...Oh I agree; some experiences are universally bonding for characters and readers.<br /><br />No matter what the genre. I've never experienced cryogenic freeze, but I've experienced the feeling of complete isolation from everything and everyone I've known. Any military brat can relate to this. Or foster kid.<br /><br />So much in life is comparable if you look at it in the right context.<br /><br />Good post Margo. Profound.<br /><br />........dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-64835419393871734082011-02-27T18:46:47.507-07:002011-02-27T18:46:47.507-07:00Hi there fellow crusader. I'm not sure if I...Hi there fellow crusader. I'm not sure if I've connected with you yet. Thanks for following me at my Pichets in Paris blog. I was lucky enough to win the BP Blogfest.<br /><br />Great post on characters. I read lots of books on this aspect of writing, but when I write the characters seem to lead me along as we go. Nice.<br /><br />Denise<3Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-52000849383898759622011-02-27T12:45:34.207-07:002011-02-27T12:45:34.207-07:00This was a wonderful post. I understand what you m...This was a wonderful post. I understand what you mean by how we relate to certain circumstances that others experience as we read. It is true that we do attach ourself to others whom we share common experiences with. Great post. Thanks.Reginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03493618594406138554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-8666326297149237832011-02-26T12:01:11.159-07:002011-02-26T12:01:11.159-07:00Great observation on the Shared Experience! I'...Great observation on the Shared Experience! I'll have to keep that in mind. Most of us haven't had our parents arrested, but we've gotten lost at a mall/amusement park/airport.<br />And tha Anniversary one has a Reality TV/train wreck appeal -- we all want to know what's gonna happen. If he isn't seriously injured, he will be!Will Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10158149526658590324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-10521769929177132392011-02-26T08:31:00.233-07:002011-02-26T08:31:00.233-07:00Excellent post. It doesn't matter what genre ...Excellent post. It doesn't matter what genre I'm reading, but if a character is going through something we all go/went through, then I bond.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-40001833051846291342011-02-25T17:05:47.636-07:002011-02-25T17:05:47.636-07:00Hmm. I see what you're saying, and in retrospe...Hmm. I see what you're saying, and in retrospect I look for things to make me identify with MC all the time but not consciously so.<br />Probably I will pay more attention!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-68319133145190500052011-02-25T12:30:04.811-07:002011-02-25T12:30:04.811-07:00Okay, I'm back after I saw your question. I do...Okay, I'm back after I saw your question. I don't think it's a have to, but creating the worst possible character for the role adds so much - conflict, humor.... Save the Cat talks about mostly adult films, so it's not just for MG. And it's not always obvious either. I've read many stories where it's not always the worst possible character for the story - and it works. Only you can decide. I'm planning a whole blog post on that next week, because I've thought about that too!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-70567680904051390752011-02-25T12:24:41.515-07:002011-02-25T12:24:41.515-07:00and then I looked and saw that you were only about...and then I looked and saw that you were only about 5k words away from the end! You go girl!Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-43492949053753030912011-02-25T12:23:16.828-07:002011-02-25T12:23:16.828-07:00Universal emotions and experiences are definitely ...Universal emotions and experiences are definitely important. I also connect to a character's thoughts and voice. If she has lots of flaws and tough decisions even better. But even then it can be subjective!Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-62209988404800843832011-02-25T10:49:12.375-07:002011-02-25T10:49:12.375-07:00Great post! I can definitely relate to the idea of...Great post! I can definitely relate to the idea of being stood up on my 1st anniversary (fortunately it didn't happen), but I would have been furious!Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-75527253673695206402011-02-25T08:15:11.783-07:002011-02-25T08:15:11.783-07:00Great post. I think I've sometimes worked too ...Great post. I think I've sometimes worked too hard at making my character unique to the point of her becoming unrelatable. I love the you said about underlying universal experiences, even in unfamiliar environments (like cryogenesis in ATU). My gears are grinding now!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-7276108892314456802011-02-24T08:07:34.115-07:002011-02-24T08:07:34.115-07:00Very interesting post. The link on characters seem...Very interesting post. The link on characters seems great! Thanks!Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04299983104962912639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-69223590361607660722011-02-24T05:23:27.602-07:002011-02-24T05:23:27.602-07:00I won't kick you but will tell you when I saw ...I won't kick you but will tell you when I saw your word count I wanted to say "way to go!!" you are almost done!!!<br /> Great examples of bonding with the character. I struggled with that in my first few books, and had to get the MC more likeable as well. My current WIP opens with a death and a my MC being thrown into serious debt by it.<br /> I loved all of yours--yes, I related!Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-68283731807444681192011-02-23T21:57:01.884-07:002011-02-23T21:57:01.884-07:00Wow, thanks for all the enthusiastic comments! Thi...Wow, thanks for all the enthusiastic comments! This is the kind of feedback I CRAVE. You guys have made my week, plus giving me more ideas to ponder over.Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-37353417072075899962011-02-23T10:38:38.168-07:002011-02-23T10:38:38.168-07:00What a great post. As a reader I have to connect w...What a great post. As a reader I have to connect with the mc quickly or I'm gone. :)<br /><br />Nice to meet you! Fellow crusader and new follower.Alison Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12179538085536841348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-6229511676709543492011-02-23T05:58:53.808-07:002011-02-23T05:58:53.808-07:00Universal emotions are definitely a key ingredient...Universal emotions are definitely a key ingredient.<br /><br />I have an award for you at my <a href="http://alisonstevens.blogspot.com/2011/02/awards.html" rel="nofollow">blog</a>.Alison Pearce Stevenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955543150406880055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-51050409671820659582011-02-22T18:17:25.815-07:002011-02-22T18:17:25.815-07:00Great post! I think you hit the nail on the head w...Great post! I think you hit the nail on the head with making the *emotions* in our stories universal. Then even if readers haven't been through that particular experience, they can still bond with the main characters because they've likely had those same feelings.Stacy Henriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03303383087338174942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-2363586903290200772011-02-22T16:47:23.829-07:002011-02-22T16:47:23.829-07:00Nice post! I love the examples you use.
My MC has...Nice post! I love the examples you use.<br /><br />My MC has to take care of his little sister who is ill. Pulls on fear of loss and the importance of family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-30316286774967378692011-02-22T11:20:40.144-07:002011-02-22T11:20:40.144-07:00Great post! And I had noticed a few of those great...Great post! And I had noticed a few of those great openers, where the MC is immediately in a universal situation. I think this is even more dramatically important when your story is SF/F or some other very-different world from ours. We have to understand immediately what the tension is for the characters, and how they are like us. :)Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-80615878003109280052011-02-22T10:07:47.635-07:002011-02-22T10:07:47.635-07:00Great analysis!! We have to bond with the MC over...Great analysis!! We have to bond with the MC over something relatable. So simple and true, yet not always understood. I like it. I'm going to go ask my own characters that.. <br /><br />Oh and GET BACK TO WORK!!! Or else. Yeah that's right. I know lots of creepy paranormal characters...Lisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-12175505188425201522011-02-22T06:16:54.928-07:002011-02-22T06:16:54.928-07:00This is an interesting post. I'll have to thin...This is an interesting post. I'll have to think about the books I read and what catches my interest. Sometimes though, I think rather than bonding, the MC or situation catches my imagination. Something I haven't experienced, but find interesting (princess and pegasus).Kari Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04404956407734167300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-73537624129137644102011-02-21T21:14:51.780-07:002011-02-21T21:14:51.780-07:00Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I've done HOOK reviews after r...Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I've done HOOK reviews after reading first pages, but this is so much more relevant. Not a generic "what" hooks a reader, but "WHY" are they hooked. YES! Character connections! I love this post and saved it to my faves for future reference. For your beginnings: 1)I'm sure nearly every teen out there has been in a situation that they'd rather be doing something else,somewhere else. 2) i know I'D relate 3)for this one, it makes me think that sometimes "opposites attract" I'd read it because it was different from my life...sometimes that's why i pick up a book..to leave my own life and "live vicariously" through somebody else. Christyerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-58432040846249239562011-02-21T19:25:36.333-07:002011-02-21T19:25:36.333-07:00Very cool post!
I think the desire for a kid to d...Very cool post!<br /><br />I think the desire for a kid to do what she wants rather than the stupid thing her parents have chosen for her is a universal feeling. I feel horrible for your MC who was stood up on her first anniversary - that's just too horrible. Also universal, the fear and/or excitement of being left on one's own.<br /><br />My MC has to do a back-breaking and mindless job she doesn't want because it's her only way to take care of her younger sisters. I hope others find something universal in that situation.<br /><br />Good luck with your characters!Vicki Tremperhttp://www.vbtremper.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150746199598958569.post-58254417049864301182011-02-21T18:22:28.680-07:002011-02-21T18:22:28.680-07:00Thanks for the link, Margo. You make a good point...Thanks for the link, Margo. You make a good point-- it makes we want to go back and tinker and add an eighth step: give your character a universal fear.Matt Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319984238456281734noreply@blogger.com