Comments on Claire Robyns: Do we judge characters too harshly?

lol. I remember when we were in Venice watching pe...

2011-09-10T15:34:54.925+01:00

lol. I remember when we were in Venice watching people in gondolas looking as miserable as a patient at the dentists and all the time they were being serenaded by handsome Italian gondoliers. Hilarious.

The problem with basing fiction on actual, real life is that some people out there are so boring it'd never sell. You still can't beat a bit of people watching to get ideas though.

Hi there, Fellow Campaigner dropping by to say he...

2011-09-09T13:34:34.197+01:00

Hi there,

Fellow Campaigner dropping by to say hello!

I think there is definitely a place for heros and heroines who aren't the strong type. Mind you, a strong and capable hero also makes for a nice bit of day-dreaming material from time to time :-)

Claire

I like that there are so many different types of p...

2011-09-08T19:49:28.386+01:00

I like that there are so many different types of people in the world, and in my writing, I try to showcase that.

I like this post. I think the expectations for her...

2011-09-08T19:02:50.348+01:00

I like this post. I think the expectations for heros and heroines is too narrow. I know there are certain requirements to be a hero, but I like the idea of expanding the make up of our characters rather than making them a one-size-fits-all.
And, like you, I am so not a Sookie Stackhouse fan. There's nothing wrong with you :-)

QuidForQuill: definitely, you have to know your ch...

2011-09-07T20:48:46.744+01:00

QuidForQuill: definitely, you have to know your character and stay true to them.

Okay, I definitely love this post. I think we don&...

2011-09-07T14:51:52.946+01:00

Okay, I definitely love this post. I think we don't want to make characters too bland, but a little bit of people watching would prove that there ARE rather bland people walking through "real" life, so it's all a matter of perception. There are also people who fit every other piece in the wide range of emotions/reactions. So maybe the advice would be simply to stay true to a character, rather than judge their "realness". Whatever you make them out to be, stick to it. Don't throw in the personalities of 5 very different people (unless of course they have such maladies as multiple-personality lol).

I totally agree :) We do judge too harshly. I alwa...

2011-09-07T00:31:48.914+01:00

I totally agree :) We do judge too harshly. I always hear people say, "No one would do that." But the world is populated by all types, so someone probably would. Great post.

Hi Claire! Saw you on Twitter at the #writecampaig...

2011-09-06T20:15:50.912+01:00

Hi Claire! Saw you on Twitter at the #writecampaign. I love to people watch too ;)

Since the kids came, I had to devote myself to wat...

2011-09-06T17:49:17.773+01:00

Since the kids came, I had to devote myself to watching them whenever we were out and about, but fun times are here now that they're almost in their teens :)

I haven't people-watched in ages. I'd forg...

2011-09-06T05:57:45.615+01:00

I haven't people-watched in ages. I'd forgotten how much fun it is. And, yes, I do hope there is place in fiction for more than just "kick ass" heroines!

Judy, South Africa

LOL, "some of them really are too stupid to l...

2011-09-06T00:54:50.200+01:00

LOL, "some of them really are too stupid to live." Thank goodness there's a place for all types of heroes and heroines :)

Sounds like a wonderful day.

Nice reminder to pay attention once in a while! Th...

2011-09-05T23:35:24.298+01:00

Nice reminder to pay attention once in a while! Thanks

I had to laugh out loud at your final observation ...

2011-09-05T22:57:02.927+01:00

I had to laugh out loud at your final observation that "some of them really are too stupid to live." Isn't it funny how we forget about people-watching when we've been busy watching our own children for all those years. Bet it felt good to relax. :)