tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post3635641808263640440..comments2024-03-19T03:14:35.228-04:00Comments on A Good Blog is Hard To Find: A Good Blog Is Hard to Findhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823958967965785849noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-40598316353692391772010-06-04T17:44:11.005-04:002010-06-04T17:44:11.005-04:00Thank you, Anita, the best daughter-in-law in the ...Thank you, Anita, the best daughter-in-law in the world! I love you right back!Peggy Webbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-34017403306155876742010-06-04T00:39:37.391-04:002010-06-04T00:39:37.391-04:00I love to discover characters that are "solid...I love to discover characters that are "solid". They don't remain on the page. They become "people". I might have seen them at the mall or I can imagine them living next door or they become someone that I would love to meet. If I care about them, I become invested in the story. If the story line falls short of my expectations, I feel bad for the characters. This proves that plot and character development must go hand in hand. <br />I have always loved the strength of your characters. I enjoy knowing as much about them as they will allow you to print. <br />I am waiting IM-patiently for ELVIS AND THE MEMPHIS MAMBO MURDERS! <br />Love ya,<br />AnitaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-87613095523062756032010-06-03T17:49:58.992-04:002010-06-03T17:49:58.992-04:00Shel, you've made my day! Elvis number five is...Shel, you've made my day! Elvis number five is zipping along, the Valentines and Elvis as zany as ever. As the old saying goes, if God is willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be writing many, many more!<br /><br />And Molly...LOVE your story! If you ever need a witness that you're a coffee drinker, I'm the gal who can provide proof. :)Peggy Webbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-31801551740205191862010-06-03T17:29:54.806-04:002010-06-03T17:29:54.806-04:00I can well believe that Elvis wouldn't shut up...I can well believe that Elvis wouldn't shut up, Peggy. That character keeps me in stitches, and I am thrilled beyond words to know there will be up to at least a fifth book in the series. It became one of my all time favorites somewhere about the fifth page of the first book.Shelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12763944794673350184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-69551680198762058362010-06-03T17:04:19.574-04:002010-06-03T17:04:19.574-04:00Shared a story with my husband this very afternoon...Shared a story with my husband this very afternoon about a character who was instrumental in furthering and solidifying my long-term profession. I was called upon to order a beer for an influential individual who assessed many by that very skill. This lifetime coffee drinker was bailed out by "old friend" Milo Sturgis, created by Jonathan Kellerman, when I heard him whisper, "Grolsch, of course".Molly Swobodahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07229643590778880293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-31959279826041457772010-06-03T15:24:47.929-04:002010-06-03T15:24:47.929-04:00Peggy,
As a writer, I let my characters take me w...Peggy,<br /><br />As a writer, I let my characters take me where they will. As a reader, I find I love characters who are passionate, different from the norm, take a stand or save someone when no ones else would, and have convicitions and beleifs so strong that when something hurts them I hurt.Julie Johnstonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-91361709997838714922010-06-03T15:08:09.791-04:002010-06-03T15:08:09.791-04:00LOL, Andy! Good luck with the waterproof paper an...LOL, Andy! Good luck with the waterproof paper and pen. Characters always choose the most inconvenient times to visit!Peggy Webbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-13216188542492212652010-06-03T14:17:13.808-04:002010-06-03T14:17:13.808-04:00I know one of my characters has really gotten ahol...I know one of my characters has really gotten ahold of me when he or she starts speaking to me while I'm in the shower. Line after line of dialogue, and I can't get toweled off fast enough to get to my computer and write it all down. I'm now looking into waterproof pen and paper.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04784152968955562987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-83730754141662115502010-06-03T13:10:36.668-04:002010-06-03T13:10:36.668-04:00Vicki, I love your 100 page rule, and got quite a ...Vicki, I love your 100 page rule, and got quite a chuckle out of the image of us (the authors) traipsing along behind a character to see and record his antics.<br /><br />Susan, I chuckled at your wake-up call. I guess that's why writers hang around together as much as possible - we all get it!<br /><br />Laura, thanks for the validation re: plot and character.Peggy Webbhttp://www.peggywebb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-7981336764058636812010-06-03T12:00:57.502-04:002010-06-03T12:00:57.502-04:00Great post! You're right; characters and plot ...Great post! You're right; characters and plot do show up at the same time. You can't have one without the other. :) <br /><br />As a reader, I love when a character feels real, like the author is writing a true story about someone they know. They have that special spark that makes you eager to find out what they're going to do next. <br /><br />As a writer, I definitely do let my characters take the lead! I'd miss out on a lot of amazing scenes if I tried too hard to administer control.Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-73511554895401668192010-06-03T11:40:18.847-04:002010-06-03T11:40:18.847-04:00Before I started writing fiction (I mainly write e...Before I started writing fiction (I mainly write essays and memoir) I used to laugh at fiction writers who talked about their characters as if they had minds of their own. Really? Aren't you the writer, controlling their every action, thought and word? And then I started work on a novel and oh my goodness. It's almost creepy, the way they act out at times. Now if the control-freak in me can just let go and let them guide me:-) Thanks for this post.Susan Cushmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513534110522851590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-60868465415512516182010-06-03T10:57:10.265-04:002010-06-03T10:57:10.265-04:00Peggy, I have what I call the Hundred Page Rule. ...Peggy, I have what I call the Hundred Page Rule. When a character simply refuses to do what I want, I follow them for a hundred pages. If it works, I keep it. If not, I ditch it and go back to the point where they started acting up. :)<br /><br />The conclusion I've drawn is that the characters simply allow us authors to think we're in control. They do what they want--and that drives the plot. Their story, their way.<br /><br />We just get to follow behind and monitor what happens--trying to dodge any mud puddles and to keep the mud from squishing between our toes.Vicki Hinzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00659751742904652262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-61615796418945779872010-06-03T10:00:13.572-04:002010-06-03T10:00:13.572-04:00Good morning, Anonymous. You're very wise. :)...Good morning, Anonymous. You're very wise. :) One of my favorite characters is Hannibal Lecter. Such complexity. And certainly no wimp!<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Peggy Webbhttp://www.peggywebb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-70262969038098738962010-06-03T09:40:53.422-04:002010-06-03T09:40:53.422-04:00I agree with you. Plot and characters are so tied ...I agree with you. Plot and characters are so tied up it's hard to separate the two. I love characters who have direction (no wimps, please) and who have enough flaws to make them interesting. But no whiners!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com