Voices of Fiction - Who's Your Favorite Character - Part One

Welcome to another edition of Voices of Fiction. We have another great group of writers here to discuss their favorite characters. Please welcome our guests.

Cara Marsi, an award-nominated author, is a former corporate drone and cubicle dweller who is finally free of her fabric-covered cage. She craves books with happy endings and loves to write about independent heroines and the strong heroes who love them. Cara is published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. She’s also published numerous short romance stories in national women’s magazines. Cara and her husband enjoy traveling and she loves to write about the places they've visited. They share their house with a fat black diva of a cat named Killer. Website, Twitter, Facebook

Reno Charlton - I'm a full time copywriter, working from home to provide clients around the world with content for websites, magazines and other media. I am also an author, having written and published three children's fantasy novels and two short stories for older readers. The short stories were created under my pen name of Emily Ho. One of these stories, The Journey Home, won a Curtis Brown Short Story Competition. Link, Link, Link



Ellen Spain is a retired Federal Investigator, now turned author, editor, and educator. She is active with EPIC, PennWriters, RWA, SCBWI, and the Pittsburgh East Writers.
Website, Link, Link


Barbara Ehrentreu, a retired teacher with a Masters degree in Reading and Writing K-12 and seventeen years of teaching experience lives with her family in Stamford, Connecticut. When she received her Masters degree she began writing seriously. If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor, Barbara’s first YA novel, published by MuseItUp Publishing was inspired by Paula Danziger. Her novel is also available on Amazon for Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for both paperback and Nook, Smashwords, Omnilit and of course The Muse Bookstore. In addition, Barbara has a story in Lavender Dreams, a memorial anthology for which all the proceeds go to cancer research. She has three poems in Prompted: An International Collection of Poems by the Anthologists for which all the proceeds go to Literacy research. Her blog, Barbara’s Meanderings, http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/, is networked on both Facebook and Blog Catalog. She hosts Red River Writers Live Tales from the Pages on Blog Talk Radio every 4th Thursday. In addition, her children's story, “The Trouble with Follow the Leader” and an adult story, “Out on a Ledge” are published online. She has written book reviews for Authorlink.com. and several of her reviews have been on Acewriters and Celebrity Café. She is a member of SCBWI. Writing is her life! Blog, Facebook, Twitter 


Welcome Authors! It’s wonderful to have you back for another round.

Now the question is: Who’s your favorite character? (can be yours or someone else’s)

Cara Marsi: That's tough. I love my Logan from "Logan's Redemption." He'll always be special to me. Of course, I fall in love with all my heroes. I have a much easier time writing the heroes than the heroines. I love my heroines, too, but they don't set my heart to racing like my heroes.

Reno Charlton: Okay, this is going to sound a bit off the wall, but my favourite character was Fatty in Enid Blyton's Five Find Outers, as I found him so funny as a child and still do when I read those books (yes, I still read them!). Out of my own characters, it would be the vampire Gladstone Gore, as he has a very dry wit about him and is a bit tongue in cheek for a vampire.

Ellen Spain: In the "Secret in the Fog" series, although Morgan Walker is the protagonist, I have a lot of fun writing about Danny Fennchar, the young prodigy.

Barbara Ehrentreu: My favorite character of all time is Harry Dresden of The Dresden Files. For my own writing's favorite character I would have to say John from If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor. He manages to slip from good friend to boyfriend for the main character. He was written as a very minor character, but he won my heart and I kept him in as a love interest.

Thank you all for joining us today and sharing your favorite characters.

Readers feel free to ask questions concerning this topic in the comments. Also feel free to send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

(Disclaimer - Bios and answers have been posted as submitted by author) 

Part Two

Voices of Fiction - Character versus Plot - Wrap Up

Welcome to Voices of Fiction. We've spent the last few weeks learning what comes first, the character or the plot, from a variety of wonderful authors.

Based on the many different answers of nineteen writers, Plot came in first, with Character stepping on its heels. A few alternatives, such as both and depends, were included in the mix. I think it may be safe to say there's a fifty-fifty chance of a writer starting with the character or the plot.

As we wrap up this topic, for now, I'd like to share my answer to this question.

My stories normally start with a vague plot, with the character stepping in to give it their own spice of wonder. The plot is what gives the characters life, but the characters give blood to the story.  :) I'd still say the plot starts first in most cases though.

Seduced by Darkness, available at eTreasures Publishing, is a short novella at less than 11,000 words. It could easily be considered a short story by many.

The story began with a brainstorming session. The theme was predetermined as a paranormal romance to fill a slot at the publishing company. I knew I wanted a vampire, a human, and a happy ending. I came up with the logic of their two worlds needed to collide.

Geneva came to life easily for me, and by the end of her first scene, Lewis appeared. So basically, the plot lead to Geneva, and she lead the way through the story, bringing many delightful surprises. You can see how one 'the plot' actually bled into the other 'the character.'

Thank you all for joining us as we explored "Character versus Plot."

Next week, we'll begin exploring another topic on "Voices of Fiction." Feel free to join in.

Readers send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com, Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

Voices of Fiction - Character versus Plot - Part Four

Welcome to another edition of Voices of Fiction.

We have another great group of writers here to discuss ‘Character versus Plot’

Please welcome our guest.

Barbara Ehrentreu, a retired teacher with a Masters degree in Reading and Writing K-12 and seventeen years of teaching experience lives with her family in Stamford, Connecticut. When she received her Masters degree she began writing seriously. If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor, Barbara’s first YA novel, published by MuseItUp Publishing was inspired by Paula Danziger. Her novel is also available on Amazon for Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for both paperback and Nook, Smashwords, Omnilit and of course The Muse Bookstore. In addition, Barbara has a story in Lavender Dreams, a memorial anthology for which all the proceeds go to cancer research. She has three poems in Prompted: An International Collection of Poems by the Anthologists for which all the proceeds go to Literacy research. Her blog, Barbara’s Meanderings, http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/, is networked on both Facebook and Blog Catalog. She hosts Red River Writers Live Tales from the Pages on Blog Talk Radio every 4th Thursday. In addition, her children's story, “The Trouble with Follow the Leader” and an adult story, “Out on a Ledge” are published online. She has written book reviews for Authorlink.com. and several of her reviews have been on Acewriters and Celebrity Café. She is a member of SCBWI. Writing is her life! Blog, Facebook, Twitter 

Jade Varden is the author of the Deck of Lies series, a collection of YA mystery books that show what happens when dark family secrets are exposed. Jade also provides professional writing tips to other indie authors on her blog. Blog, Twitter


 

Karina Kantas is the author of five titles, including Huntress which is published by MMP. She originates from the UK but now lives in Greece with her husband and two beautiful daughters. Website




Pat Andres - author of MAGGIE: A SAVANNAH DOG, Roseanna the Savannah Squirrel, LOVE FROM the ASHES, and It’s Hard to Be Crystal: Life in the Tranny Lane. Website

Vicki Batman likes to kick back with a diet Coke and write crazy things for her characters. She has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories. She is a member of RWA, and the DARA, Elements, and RWA-WF chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??" Blog, Blog, Link


Welcome Authors! It’s wonderful to have you back for another round.

Now the question is: What comes first, the character or the plot?

Barbara Ehrentreu: For me I think it's a little bit of both. I'll think of a character and/or a plot and then develop it into a story. Sometimes the character comes from my own life and sometimes the plot does too. In my first novel I based the character on a family member and the plot was taken from this person's existence. In my second novel I used my own husband's heart attack and bypass surgery with the plot. The characters came afterward as I fitted them into the story. In my third novel it was all character-based at first.

Jade Varden: Usually, the main character comes first. Once I know who that person is, I can start manipulating them through various events.

Karina Kantas: It's the basic plot and story line that I have before a character enters my head. Once I know who he/she is, I allow them to come alive on the page and I start putting myself in their situations.

Pat Andres: Characters usually come first for me.

Vicki Batman: Character because the character says something. But quickly move to plot. I like to play "What if???" So when I get my spark, I usually go "What if???" and continue writing from there. If I get stuck, I try "What if???" again and take off.

Thank you all for joining us today and sharing your techniques.

Readers feel free to ask questions concerning this topic in the comments. Also feel free to send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

(Disclaimer - Bios and answers have been posted as submitted by author) 

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Voices of Fiction - Character versus Plot - Part Three

Welcome to another edition of Voices of Fiction.

We have another great group of writers here to discuss ‘Character versus Plot.’

Please welcome our guests.

Dr Bob Rich has retired 3 times so far, has 4 to go. Two ongoing ones are writer and editor. He is also a professional grandfather, with hundreds of grandkids. Read the evidence. Bob doesn't believe in genres. All writing is about the human condition, even if those humans happen to have 3 arms and 3 legs, and green skin (the heroes of Liberator, the lead story of Bizarre Bipeds, the latest of his 14 published books. Website, Link, Link

Cara Marsi, an award-nominated author, is a former corporate drone and cubicle dweller who is finally free of her fabric-covered cage. She craves books with happy endings and loves to write about independent heroines and the strong heroes who love them. Cara is published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. She’s also published numerous short romance stories in national women’s magazines. Cara and her husband enjoy traveling and she loves to write about the places they've visited. They share their house with a fat black diva of a cat named Killer. Website, Twitter, Facebook

Reno Charlton - I'm a full time copywriter, working from home to provide clients around the world with content for websites, magazines and other media. I am also an author, having written and published three children's fantasy novels and two short stories for older readers. The short stories were created under my pen name of Emily Ho. One of these stories, The Journey Home, won a Curtis Brown Short Story Competition. Link, Link, Link



Children’s Picture Book author, Clara Bowman-Jahn, of “Annie’s Special Day” is living the life of her dreams an hour at a time. Link, Blog, Link

Ellen Spain is a retired Federal Investigator, now turned author, editor, and educator. She is active with EPIC, PennWriters, RWA, SCBWI, and the Pittsburgh East Writers. Website, Link, Link





Welcome Authors! It’s wonderful to have you back for another round.

Now the question is: What comes first, the character or the plot?

Bob Rich: For me, neither. It is usually a scene. I carried the concept of my series The Stories of the Ehvelen in my head for 20 years, for much of which I didn’t feel competent to write fiction. It’s a group of hunter-gatherer teenagers on the hunt that’ll qualify them for adulthood, attacked by a patrol of nomads who kill the boys and abduct the girls. This is the essence of what’s wrong with humanity: why we are now at risk of destroying our life support system. My current project: a blind gentleman was referred to me for therapy after being attacked by teenagers. I couldn’t work with him if I shared his emotions, so I displaced my outrage into a different scene. An old lady witnesses 6 kids and the crossing supervisor killed by a hit-and-run driver. The characters then come from the scene, and THEY decide what happens in the story.

Cara Marsi: Sometimes the character and sometimes the plot. It all depends on the story. I'm writing a sequel to my first RS, "Logan's Redemption." It this case I had the characters from the original. Then I had to figure a plot. I'm a short story writer too. My short stories are always plots I've had in my head for years. I just need to come up with characters to fit the stories.

Reno Charlton: For me, it is usually the plot that comes first for a new book and then I am able to work out what sorts of character would fit well into that particular storyline. Sometimes, the plot does change if I come up with a character that would warrant a change in direction, but this would only be a small change in most cases.

Clara Bowman-Jahn: In my published book of "Annie's Special Day" the plot came first. I knew what I wanted to say before I had a character. Then after I knew how I wanted to say what I had to say I formed my character. I knew who she was after I had her say my story. When one of the illustrators who worked on my book wanted a list of characteristics I made a list. Before that she was just a figment of my imagination. Annie the character in the book I just wrote became more of a person from the list. . Since it is a children's book the illustrator, Claudia Wolf, worked her magic and drew Annie from what I had told her. In my present WIP the character comes first and then the plot, so your question is a variable one for me.

Ellen Spain: I think first about the story line and then create the characters to fit the plot. Danny was finally created as a whole person by the artist who created the beautiful book cover.

Thank you all for joining us today and sharing your techniques.

Readers feel free to ask questions concerning this topic in the comments. Also feel free to send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

(Disclaimer - Bios and answers have been posted as submitted by author) 

Part Four
Part One
Part Two