tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post9011741763668763383..comments2023-10-25T03:45:03.077-04:00Comments on Confessions of a Watery Tart: Stepford BooksHart Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-50929691561676780372011-02-17T02:53:14.932-05:002011-02-17T02:53:14.932-05:00Looks, brains, talent, money- she better show she ...Looks, brains, talent, money- she better show she is human in some way if she doesn't want me bashing her head in.Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00481081735923606868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-66473864055545142632011-02-15T23:32:01.650-05:002011-02-15T23:32:01.650-05:00But on the other hand, it is nice to live through ...But on the other hand, it is nice to live through your characters. I write MG/YA and I always WANTED in real life to "get" the super-hot, talented, nice guy (or at least hot, hey, I wasn't that picky, haha). So I want my characters to, also. I WANT PERFECT, DAMMIT!! *sigh*<br />ericaerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-60718047095420948312011-02-15T23:01:20.147-05:002011-02-15T23:01:20.147-05:00Perfection is not interesting. My opinion!Perfection is not interesting. My opinion!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-14159356459436386082011-02-15T22:39:53.460-05:002011-02-15T22:39:53.460-05:00Congrats on finishing your major edits Hart, and f...Congrats on finishing your major edits Hart, and fingers crossed for you. I absolutely believe you can do the whole 'dark, mystery-filled' fiction thing. Hope your agent agrees...Adina Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860528131098237473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-32351226396867421032011-02-15T21:30:28.762-05:002011-02-15T21:30:28.762-05:00Hello crusader.
I loved your post!And I'm goi...Hello crusader. <br />I loved your post!And I'm going to use that line-- oh my book isn't ready yet, just smooothing it out! Love it.Tanya Reimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293977395016853814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-24528578546140412662011-02-15T21:29:17.500-05:002011-02-15T21:29:17.500-05:00I agree with this. What's fun is writing chara...I agree with this. What's fun is writing characters who think their perfect and of course they aren't adding to all the conflict.Kari Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04404956407734167300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-54289723837419590992011-02-15T20:38:48.887-05:002011-02-15T20:38:48.887-05:00Hear hear, Hart! A crooked tooth; a zit; a wrinkle...Hear hear, Hart! A crooked tooth; a zit; a wrinkle; a bad habit - all of these things add texture to real people as they do to fictional characters. I like my books like I like my life: a little bit messy and out of control.Elizabeth Twisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133959633383307056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-68031946565488522652011-02-15T18:43:07.699-05:002011-02-15T18:43:07.699-05:00Well Done Hart; Congrats!
Yes, we need the MC to b...Well Done Hart; Congrats!<br />Yes, we need the MC to be flawed, look like a diamond, sparkling and attractive, but flawed, real, authentic otherwise we lose interest. We need to relate to them in some form, flaws are what gives us insight and we can all relate!<br /><br />Great post~Ellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06070952447277684613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-18025472913224601152011-02-15T18:18:20.198-05:002011-02-15T18:18:20.198-05:00Ooh, the dreaded Mary Sue complex. I remember som...Ooh, the dreaded Mary Sue complex. I remember some of my friends in book club talking about this a couple years ago, and I had never heard of it. They described Bella as this in Twilight especially in the last book when she's aboslutely perfect in every way- it didn't even hurt that bad when she changed. Anyway, my thing is, I don't really mind if a character is perfect. I want to escape into a fantasy world where yes, the characters are beautiful, and they have cool powers, and maybe a couple flaws. But that's what I'm used to. Anyway, I never really noticed it as a reader until other writers and readers pointed it out to me lol. It's nice to see some flaws, but I also hate it if EVERYTHING bad happens to the character. Then, I'm like C'MON, I want to be entertained, not depressed. Anyway, so that's my take on it.Abby Minardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963640263845561309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-36775009339079688402011-02-15T18:10:00.743-05:002011-02-15T18:10:00.743-05:00Siruis Black was one of my favorite characters! If...Siruis Black was one of my favorite characters! If the character isn't flawed then the story is no fun.Kerri Cuevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13305892536084882077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-72832023401616863002011-02-15T16:12:28.496-05:002011-02-15T16:12:28.496-05:00Great post. No one is perfect, so why would we wan...Great post. No one is perfect, so why would we want to read about a perfect character? :)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-85953239396062563762011-02-15T15:59:29.669-05:002011-02-15T15:59:29.669-05:00Great post. I'm a new follower from the crusad...Great post. I'm a new follower from the crusade. Nice to meet you! :)Margo Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474612650116392270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-29761415664099760142011-02-15T15:46:35.564-05:002011-02-15T15:46:35.564-05:00Perfect is boring! That's why I never liked th...Perfect is boring! That's why I never liked the James Bond movies -- too much silly male fantasy. But I make an exception for the two new Daniel Craig ones because there's a grittier feel to them and Craig makes a couple mistakes.<br /><br />And yes, when the formula shows in a book (thriller, mystery, whatever), I feel like I'm being talked down to. Not good. Why doesn't the writer's editor catch stuff like that?Helenahttp://www.becominglayla.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-13754693072826782702011-02-15T15:36:21.524-05:002011-02-15T15:36:21.524-05:00Helloooo! Dropping in on a fellow crusader - good ...Helloooo! Dropping in on a fellow crusader - good post, I loathe perfectly perfect characters. I write romance so they have to have *something* but not neceassarily perfect abs or pnuematic boobs. J K Rowling is always being picked up on the adverbs but, hey, the storytelling is so gorgeous, she should worry!<br />Having said that, much as I like Gary Oldman, I'd have someone more archtypically handsome for Sirius Black!Margo Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06759845391358543223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-24912725114294281432011-02-15T13:42:51.057-05:002011-02-15T13:42:51.057-05:00Sirius was a Playa...so funny, Hart. He was also a...Sirius was a Playa...so funny, Hart. He was also arrogant which actually may have helped him a little in the whole wizard hunting thing. Dropping by to say hello as a fellow crusader too.<br /><b><a href="http://nitewriter6.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Edge of Your Seat Romance</a></b>Raquel Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870113745683162915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-48381644995023157922011-02-15T13:42:23.988-05:002011-02-15T13:42:23.988-05:00Some days I think there aren't enough serious ...Some days I think there aren't enough serious difficulties in my MG novel. It's quite funny and definitely quirky, but the dangers are fractionally too easy to get out of, hmm... Thanks for bringing this up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-49525438032780653452011-02-15T13:16:26.988-05:002011-02-15T13:16:26.988-05:00I don't mind good looking characters, but like...I don't mind good looking characters, but like you said, give them flaws. <br /><br />I think I have this part down... Best looking guy = biggest bastard I could imagine without him being the bad guy.<br /><br />I HAAAAAATE perfect characters. <br /><br />They are so boring.<br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-81532373003683713752011-02-15T13:03:01.203-05:002011-02-15T13:03:01.203-05:00Congrats on finishing the edits :)
Good point abo...Congrats on finishing the edits :)<br /><br />Good point about the characters. They do need flaws, and they need plenty of them, especially if they're annoyingly beautiful. Hopefully the characters don't any US while we're writing them :)RosieChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07911305246379355484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-42123679560626182432011-02-15T12:36:09.293-05:002011-02-15T12:36:09.293-05:00Ha! Cherie- you snuck in there! I'm suspicio...Ha! Cherie- you snuck in there! I'm suspicious that way, too--definitely expect there to be something horrible about them!Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-34718244605508393412011-02-15T12:34:55.906-05:002011-02-15T12:34:55.906-05:00LA-WELCOME! And definitely--if there is no room f...LA-WELCOME! And definitely--if there is no room for growth, what a bore!<br /><br />Holly-yes--it's only in REAL life we are flawless! (teehee)<br /><br />CaH--I like author tics, too--something that makes them unique. And YAY for chunky women! *shifty*<br /><br />Zan-WELCOME! And yes, get on that flaw! teehee<br /><br />Abe-you are so right--I think that is an insecurity thing. Of course I may be extreme in my 'just skipping meeting them' before assuming they're awful, but I think MOST people would act badly sometimes, but pretty people never get the self correction (abandonment by peers) for it that changes that.<br /><br />Jenny-Yes MAKE THEM SUFFER (but they better be naked about it)<br /><br />Ciara-I would, but when I'm in the bathtub, it would bounce back and hit me!<br /><br />VR-you may definitely have something there. Americans are a material lot. Maybe we just prefer to WATCH instead of participating and if you are just watching, pretty is nice... (totally agree on the Potterverse though--think how much people love Tonks or Moody--or LUNA! odd or unusual makes them even MORE appealing.)<br /><br />Helen-I like those reasons to be in there, too--I love psychologically damanged characters. So much more interesting.<br /><br />Diane-Welcome! Funny-I never noticed the adverb thing READING it, only listening, but then I've been reading those books regularly since before i was really writing... (and I, too, love Hermione's flaws... going overboard sometimes)Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-76206211251370347952011-02-15T12:28:52.030-05:002011-02-15T12:28:52.030-05:00Dropping by to say hi to a fellow crusader. :)
I...Dropping by to say hi to a fellow crusader. :) <br /><br />I agree that character flaws are a must, but I'm very suspicious of "perfect" people. I always look for what is really going on there.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-9978446773646727402011-02-15T11:41:57.878-05:002011-02-15T11:41:57.878-05:00Good post. fellow crusader coming to check you out...Good post. fellow crusader coming to check you out. (that totally came off like a pick up line. Feel free to reread that in a Joey voice for effect) Anyway...I hate perfect characters. I love that Herminone in HP was super smart, yet she was far from perfect. (I also noticed the adverb thing btw)Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13752019877440100530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-28018690220959951582011-02-15T11:12:51.761-05:002011-02-15T11:12:51.761-05:00My main character has flaws, but the reader sees t...My main character has flaws, but the reader sees the reasons for those flaws. Her past not only created those flaws, but is greatly affecting her future.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-17597792312137419332011-02-15T11:04:17.132-05:002011-02-15T11:04:17.132-05:00Americans in particular like beautiful, inordinate...Americans in particular like beautiful, inordinately gifted characters, or at least that's what US publishers want. Can't say for sure if it's what readers truly prefer. So even when our characters have flaws oozing out of every pore, in most cases s/he better be a hottie. <br /><br />This is one of the reasons I prefer British fiction to American. In fact, a large part of the charm of HP is that the the three MCs aren't beautiful and perfect, it's what makes them relatable. There's a lesson in there somewhere.<br /><br />Congratz on finishing the *big edit round*!!!VR Barkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927993233682731113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-30065722119803407672011-02-15T10:51:43.898-05:002011-02-15T10:51:43.898-05:00I can't stand a perfect protagonist. I'll ...I can't stand a perfect protagonist. I'll throw the book at the wall. :)Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.com