tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post5095353214170144348..comments2024-03-29T07:12:24.516+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: A Change of Character by Michelle RobinsonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-33885449068875053202014-05-10T17:11:07.288+01:002014-05-10T17:11:07.288+01:00I liked that, Michelle. Can you do us one about P...I liked that, Michelle. Can you do us one about PLOT now? Then we'll all be sorted! malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-41648392858000979172014-05-07T09:50:54.730+01:002014-05-07T09:50:54.730+01:00Absolutely, character is a part of the bigger pict...Absolutely, character is a part of the bigger picture - it's just one that's often not very well-formed with me. I find set-piece writing approaches have their uses, taken with a pinch of salt. Knowing a couple of theories makes me feel like there's a safety net beneath me as I write, but I never start writing with them in mind, I just see what happens. (I often end up flailing about in the net, sobbing).Michelle Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09620246793467493696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-23401117708899158382014-05-07T09:47:01.524+01:002014-05-07T09:47:01.524+01:00Yes, I think it all comes down to emotion. I'm...Yes, I think it all comes down to emotion. I'm going to carve EMOTION! into my desk. Or perhaps my forehead...Michelle Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09620246793467493696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-36934070620968648932014-05-07T09:46:16.182+01:002014-05-07T09:46:16.182+01:00Tony Ross is wonderful, eh? Good luck with the sto...Tony Ross is wonderful, eh? Good luck with the story!Michelle Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09620246793467493696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-54898424195452199582014-05-07T08:28:56.473+01:002014-05-07T08:28:56.473+01:00I also start with plot! But I'm not sure that&...I also start with plot! But I'm not sure that's such a bad thing. Obviously you need to build in character as well but I'm not sure it matters which way round you start. I sometimes get bogged down in all the 'writing advice'. Some of it is useful but it's also important to develop your own style, know what kind of author you want to be and do what you are good at! For me, I think I'll always be more of a plot author than a character author. Don't forget - a lot of character can come through via the plot eg in Where the Wild Things Are, we learn a great deal about Max's character by the fact that he chooses to go on a voyage and dance with the beasts, both of which are elements that I would describe as plot-based.<br />Having said that - I'd love to do that character course!Abie Longstaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682225221860351795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-79738918136511152552014-05-06T18:08:52.249+01:002014-05-06T18:08:52.249+01:00REALLY interesting. Thanks, Michelle.REALLY interesting. Thanks, Michelle.Pippa Goodharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709422048047155208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-32698499499530213622014-05-06T14:20:28.946+01:002014-05-06T14:20:28.946+01:00This is great; just what I needed to hear today as...This is great; just what I needed to hear today as I revise my pb character.Tina Chohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02808651865125809841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-81744129156548685712014-05-06T11:26:14.505+01:002014-05-06T11:26:14.505+01:00Brilliant post. I think you (and Laurie) are abso...Brilliant post. I think you (and Laurie) are absolutely spot on about characters' emotions being the key to EVERYTHING in every type of storytelling. Hard to remember when you're in the middle of a crazy plot, so very good to have a reminder. I'm off to make that pot of tea. Teresa Heapyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644746527425723053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-46505030309962998742014-05-06T09:01:58.819+01:002014-05-06T09:01:58.819+01:00Thanks Michelle! I'm like you - I love plottin...Thanks Michelle! I'm like you - I love plotting and adding action, but character tends to suffer. I'm writing for 7+ at the moment - It's very action-led, but without strong characters it fails. The course sounds fascinating, and I'll make that pot of tea..Thinking about strong characters in a picture book - Tony Ross comes to mind as being very good at that. Moira Butterfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17355420549929911500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-7485018655016651802014-05-06T06:45:42.567+01:002014-05-06T06:45:42.567+01:00Thanks for this post - it has come at a time when ...Thanks for this post - it has come at a time when I need it (well this past weekend would have been better actually - where were you?), and I am going to bookmark it for future reference. D.J. Kirkbyhttp://djkirkby.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-39777826099862365932014-05-05T16:49:05.801+01:002014-05-05T16:49:05.801+01:00Great post, Michelle. Character is really tricky w...Great post, Michelle. Character is really tricky when you have just a few hundred words and also aren't the illustrator. When I have lots of spare time (ha ha!) I'll enjoy reading the character mapping link. Some books are more character driven than others. Thanks :-)Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16304088335318285353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-26434390078505455802014-05-05T12:57:57.747+01:002014-05-05T12:57:57.747+01:00I find it fascinating how differently we all appro...I find it fascinating how differently we all approach writing, Jonathan. I know a lot of writers who start from character. I think I start from concept because I'm programmed to from working in advertising for so long. The course was brilliant, so many great insights. I had brain ache by the end of the day.Michelle Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09620246793467493696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-87893198248779973242014-05-05T08:47:01.647+01:002014-05-05T08:47:01.647+01:00Interesting post, Michelle,
That sounds like a ver...Interesting post, Michelle,<br />That sounds like a very useful course you went on. 26 pages of notes! Blimey. . .<br />It just shows how different us writers can be in our approach. My stuff tends to start with a character or I'm sunk. I can't think up a story without knowing the character of the Character, as it were ;-) But then I get ideas rejected from lack of story. . .Jon Burgess Designhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686489273842347796noreply@blogger.com