tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post2021154315116228114..comments2023-09-01T07:10:48.073-06:00Comments on What Am I Doing In Mexico?: Getting Inside Your CharactersMelanie Hooyengahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-65449924929377842452009-08-11T16:29:12.110-05:002009-08-11T16:29:12.110-05:00Gypsy, what's funny about the "need to wr...Gypsy, what's funny about the "need to write" note is do I really think I won't notice that the chapter doesn't exist if I DON'T say that? lol. I'm glad other people do that too!Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-80214808459332293672009-08-11T16:27:10.650-05:002009-08-11T16:27:10.650-05:00Janna, I'm glad this one is flowing so much be...Janna, I'm glad this one is flowing so much better for you.<br /><br />I have to be careful or all my characters will talk like I think, lol. Even the guys.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-59573478019703962132009-08-11T16:20:14.449-05:002009-08-11T16:20:14.449-05:00I've never based a character's speech patt...I've never based a character's speech pattern on someone I know- at least not consciously. But that's something for me to remember if I get stuck one day! Good idea.<br /><br />And heh- glad to know I'm not the only one who scribbles down: "need to write". And yes, I've also forgotten about them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-45534793320035970912009-08-11T09:15:11.039-05:002009-08-11T09:15:11.039-05:00Not consciously, but my current MC speaks like my ...Not consciously, but my current MC speaks like my inner voice does. And the other characters (for the most part) have different expressions or words or what have you. It's been fun! And natural, surprisingly, with this work.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-85380627304848221552009-08-11T07:13:10.486-05:002009-08-11T07:13:10.486-05:00Robin, I say "you know" a lot and Ibis c...Robin, I say "you know" a lot and Ibis calls me out on it a lot. I find there are a lot more pauses in my speech without them, but half the time it's all I can do just to HEAR them, it's so automatic for me.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-77325509174362625892009-08-11T07:12:23.068-05:002009-08-11T07:12:23.068-05:00Amy, that's a good way of explaining what I me...Amy, that's a good way of explaining what I meant -- I try to imagine what they would say.<br /><br />What your friend does would be really annoying. I'm sure she thinks it's cute or clever and shows how "close" you are.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-28103590339120441752009-08-10T20:57:32.575-05:002009-08-10T20:57:32.575-05:00I definitely say "like" and "you kn...I definitely say "like" and "you know" too much, but if Adam points it out, I'm literally tongue tied. Those words must stimulate my speech centers.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12396540555696283171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-10729570073345294462009-08-10T18:13:45.638-05:002009-08-10T18:13:45.638-05:00When I start writing a character I hear his or her...When I start writing a character I hear his or her voice in my head. Sometimes I think they speak like someone I know, so I try to imagine if that person would say what I'm writing. The character might differ greatly form the real life person, but I try to make sure the speech pattern matches and the words makes sense with it. <br /><br />I know someone who finishes my last words of every sentence with me. Not a soul mate, mind you, a casual friend. It must be a habit of hers and there is no way around it. It makes me not want to talk to her -- and I like her. I have not figured out how to work that into a story, and I really want to.Amy Sue Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13854920309673361956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-82867953334215405582009-08-10T12:15:33.117-05:002009-08-10T12:15:33.117-05:00Nadine, I bet you have a lot of energy for your wr...Nadine, I bet you have a lot of energy for your writing now! <br /><br />I have to be careful not to have every character talking like me, that's where it came in handy when I realized the one character sounds a lot like my mom. I can imagine her saying these things and it comes out more easily.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-39081331451784040082009-08-10T12:14:05.268-05:002009-08-10T12:14:05.268-05:00JLC, I think it's so cool you're consideri...JLC, I think it's so cool you're considering writing a script (even if you're resisting the signs). I wouldn't even know where to start.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-34423782363741677222009-08-10T10:47:01.636-05:002009-08-10T10:47:01.636-05:00LOL - I do the same thing and put "Need to wr...LOL - I do the same thing and put "Need to write" in caps or red font.<br /><br />I don't think I've based a character's speech pattern on anyone else, but in every book, I am one of the characters - meaning they have my mannerisms and dialogue. <br /><br />I'm excited to get back to writing this week!Nadinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14457340386682051325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-64966013140606719302009-08-10T10:33:15.214-05:002009-08-10T10:33:15.214-05:00Its great that you are making so much progress!
S...Its great that you are making so much progress!<br /><br />Some of my characters are similar to characters I've seen in movies or tv shows. (Sigh.. there's more evidence for script writing. Geesh!)JLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05405559509794744714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-63617299882906236492009-08-10T09:21:18.595-05:002009-08-10T09:21:18.595-05:00Erica, I'm excited for YOU with your new story...Erica, I'm excited for YOU with your new story. It takes some practice, for me anyway, to figure this part out. I think my dialogue is usually pretty strong, so now I'm trying to take it up a step.<br /><br />I wrote 63K words in November, which was about 23 chapters. My outline has 27 chapters, and I'm on chapter 12 now, or the 24K word mark. I think that's roughly a third of the way through.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-6721120347603591892009-08-10T09:19:23.035-05:002009-08-10T09:19:23.035-05:00Lurker, I think you explained that about as clearl...Lurker, I think you explained that about as clearly as I did, so yeah, I got you. :)Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-49593398170223501222009-08-10T09:12:56.540-05:002009-08-10T09:12:56.540-05:00I was just thinking about this topic this weekend....I was just thinking about this topic this weekend. I have a lot of trouble with making the characters dialogue unique to them. I'm trying with this new story to make all of them have something that stands out in their speech. I have a british guy in my WIP, so I have some studying to do on the slang. That was really the only way I could make the patterns different for now- make him from another country ;)<br /><br />Congrats on the writing! That's great. I'm so glad you're excited! It makes the writing go so much faster and smoother. <br /><br />How far are you in the story?erica m. chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14773306703153110737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-180105495247571542009-08-10T08:32:56.823-05:002009-08-10T08:32:56.823-05:00Melanie,
I've never based a speech pattern on...Melanie,<br /><br />I've never based a speech pattern on someone I know, but I do try to make sure characters speak in a way that makes sense to who they are ... if that makes any sense :)<br /><br />By the way, the puppy is cute!<br /><br />(p.s. I posted the first story this morning!)Jon VanZilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14026643422328853037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-41963854350787362112009-08-10T08:02:18.051-05:002009-08-10T08:02:18.051-05:00Good. :)Good. :)Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-87772340468948453782009-08-10T08:01:31.083-05:002009-08-10T08:01:31.083-05:00OK -- I can live with that :)OK -- I can live with that :)Melanie's Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-84960641803987629742009-08-10T07:24:15.355-05:002009-08-10T07:24:15.355-05:00Mom, I thought you might chime in. I'm not sur...Mom, I thought you might chime in. I'm not sure the best way to describe it, but she's very matter-of-fact and speaks her point clearly.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124066428536267360.post-33490090131504020562009-08-10T07:08:41.819-05:002009-08-10T07:08:41.819-05:00I'm very curious to read After the Fall to fin...I'm very curious to read After the Fall to find our what my speech patterns are! I have no idea how I talk that's different from someone else...Melanie's Momnoreply@blogger.com