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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Y: Yuck


Sometimes, characters will do and say things that you wouldn’t. What do you do when you have a character that loves eating anchovies which you despise?
Let them.
It makes your writing stronger. If all of your characters love kittens and lemonade, then your writing will be boring. Your characters should not have the same opinions as you.
That can be difficult. How do you write about how describe how delicious slimy cold anchovies are if you hate them?
That’s why you are a writer—you make stuff up. It can be difficult writing opinions that differ from your own, but your writing will be so much stronger. If you struggle with this, practice it.
Happy writing!

23 comments:

  1. Great post for Y. enjoyed reading.

    Yvonne.

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  2. How true.
    I love writing characters with wierd opinions, it's a chance to slip into other shoes and can be quite fun.

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  3. I did this when I tried to get my kids to eat their vegetables! Julie

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  4. Good point! New follower here. I’m enjoying reading my fellow “A to Z”ers. I look forward to visiting again.

    Sylvia
    http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

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  5. I love writing the YUCK. Hey Jessica, nice to meet you.

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  6. Well, my writing is pretty much limited to my blog and an occasional eulogy. And I like anchovies!

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  7. Great post Jessica :) I guess that's half the fun, making stuff like that up (coming from someone who wrote about a girl who went on a revenge spree and killed heaps of people) :D

    Love the words at the top of your blog - I had that saying inscribed on my iPad when I just bought it, I think it's my favorite of all time!

    Hugs,

    Rach

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  8. Very true, I get the yuck thing a lot. But I'm good at making stuff up so it works.

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  9. very true--and maybe that is one reason i didn't like my last mc--we were so different and that is okay--i don't think i have to like her--great post!

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  10. Yuck-yuck-yuck! Can't wait to see Z.

    Beth
    http://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com

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  11. Good reminder on character differences.

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  12. I thought I didn't like anchovies until I realized they were in caesar dressing.

    Yes, we don't want our characters to be carbon copies of us!

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  13. Very good point, Jessica. I don't try to include stuff that is not me often enough. Thank you for the reminder.
    I didn't think i'd ever had anchovies but... If they are in ceasar salads, i'm in!
    Cheerz, Sylvie of LittleSToday.Blogspot.com

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  14. This is why I'd never make a good writer. I don't know if I could pull that out of me.

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  15. I'm one of those who truly dislikes anchovies. Too sharp for my taste. It's another of those subjective things. I like subtle flavorings, more herby than spicey.

    As for characters, I can easily make them do something I wouldn't by imagining them as my dark shadow. Then embellish as needed.

    Following now, and thanks for dropping by my blog so I could get to know you.

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  16. This made me giggle. My characters do things all the time that make me feel that way, and good for them!

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  17. The antagonist in my current WIP is so vile I could never imagine acting the way he does, and I'm having such fun imagining his behavior. This can be one of the most fun aspects of writing to me. Great post for Y!

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  18. Because I write a lot of horror and thrillers, I have my characters doing things all the time I'd never do. But for some reason, it gives me pause when I have them SAY stuff I'd never say, like something racist. I'm always worried people will think I think that way - which is so silly since I'm writing FICTION.

    But I will say I will never have a character eat an anchovy because I'm not willing to try one in order to accurately describe the taste. Yuck! :-)

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  19. Great post! Another new follower here!

    Riya

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  20. That's the beauty of writing isn't it? None of my characters are like me. They are all way cooler.
    Heather

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