tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post8658864471250329719..comments2024-03-27T18:06:04.484-04:00Comments on Murder by 4: Characterizations: Archetypes and StereotypesMarta Stephenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-45785607543926299342008-11-26T18:43:00.000-05:002008-11-26T18:43:00.000-05:00Suzanne -- when you finally get around to watching...Suzanne -- when you finally get around to watching the new Bond, rent "Casino Royale" first. The Bond movie in theaters now takes up where that one ended.<BR/><BR/>Great post -- that the Hero's Journey is really just a starting point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-2011544169794316152008-11-22T12:34:00.000-05:002008-11-22T12:34:00.000-05:00Hi Lonnie, yeah, I know which one you mean. Aren't...Hi Lonnie, yeah, I know which one you mean. Aren't you glad he doesn't reside in *your* head? :-) Thanks for stopping by! SuzanneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-38273341735139334682008-11-22T11:11:00.000-05:002008-11-22T11:11:00.000-05:00I gotta say, Suzanne, your bad guys scare me. And...I gotta say, Suzanne, your bad guys scare me. And you know which one I mean!Lonnie Crusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14617936690870869287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-15190202202186815402008-11-21T18:58:00.000-05:002008-11-21T18:58:00.000-05:00Marta, hmmm, I guess I need to see the new Bond. W...Marta, hmmm, I guess I need to see the new Bond. When I'm creating villains, I'm not nearly as organized as you are. I get to a point about 1/8 into the first draft where my characters take over, so I sit back and let them have at it. My protag and villain start playing off each other. I'm a "pantser," so that may have something to do with my less organized method. Thanks for the opportunity to post on MB4.<BR/><BR/>Kim, thanks for the kudos. Yes, it's soooo hard keeping characters from sliding into stereotype. Sometimes, when I realize I need a little more layering on a character that I've worked on over and over, I just want to scream with frustration. But what a terrific feeling when readers compliment you on characterizations. They have no idea how much sweat went into it.<BR/><BR/>SuzanneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-4391382068448601082008-11-21T15:56:00.000-05:002008-11-21T15:56:00.000-05:00Suzanne, what a great post. This is probably my bi...Suzanne, what a great post. This is probably my biggest struggle in writing, but the most fulfilling when I get it right!<BR/>Glad to have you with us :)<BR/>KimKim Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13933746166088034102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-42507869886395149392008-11-21T15:44:00.000-05:002008-11-21T15:44:00.000-05:00Here, here to the new Bond. Really like him better...Here, here to the new Bond. Really like him better than the others... Okay, Shawn C. is still mighty hot, but ...<BR/><BR/>One thing I find useful to do when developing a new character is to write back a story (a page or two) for my antag. I need to understand who shaped their lives and what has brought them to Harper's (my protag) turf.<BR/><BR/>This exercise helps to reveal their soft as well as their evil side. <BR/><BR/>Some have told me that they sympathized with some of the villains in my first book. I found that very interesting.<BR/><BR/>Suzanne, thanks so much for posting on MB4. Best of luck with "Camp Flower."Marta Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-72614971106105359982008-11-21T13:34:00.000-05:002008-11-21T13:34:00.000-05:00Hi Joylene, I wonder whether the cardboard charact...Hi Joylene, I wonder whether the cardboard characters "slip by," or editors are just under too much of a time crunch to get the novel/movie out the door. I haven't seen the blond Bond, but I hear he has a personality layered beyond the mere "shaken, not stirred," which would be a definite improvement. Movies and novels in which the villain upstages the hero sure are interesting, aren't they? Congrats on creating a memorable villain for your book! SuzanneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-9484232270306293682008-11-21T12:16:00.000-05:002008-11-21T12:16:00.000-05:00You're so right, Suzanne. Far too many cardboa...You're so right, Suzanne. Far too many cardboard characters exist in films and books today. It's amazing they slipped by editors. <BR/><BR/>But there are improvements. Case in point: today's James Bond verses the James Bond from the 60s & 70s. What a contrast. He's appealing, flawed, and heroic. <BR/><BR/>This summer, I had two readers comment on how evil and exciting Miquel DeOlmos is in my suspense thriller Dead Witness. To know that they got what I tried to do was rewarding. I wanted the reader to admire my bad guy eventhough he spends most of the story trying to find Valerie so he can kill her. <BR/><BR/>I think the conflict of being attracted to that bad boy image, yet knowing you shouldn't be, is one reason some stories are memorable while others are forgotten. <BR/><BR/>I'd rather have my book remembered for its charismatic antagonist rather than its too-good-to-be-true hero.Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.com