tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post1696715663895686092..comments2023-08-16T07:15:32.801-04:00Comments on BookingIt: Creating Likable CharactersJessica Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-40847665365907845802009-07-23T11:44:42.741-04:002009-07-23T11:44:42.741-04:00Hi honey, good question. It is hard to know, some...Hi honey, good question. It is hard to know, sometimes you think you dislike a character because they are all about them etc... and then they start growing. It doesn't have to be early on in the book. I feel once the revelation of that person growing is shown they become a character you start to want to root for. Love Momdenise petrovichnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-72965614112198818472009-07-22T19:34:58.913-04:002009-07-22T19:34:58.913-04:00Turn ons: Intelligence (strategical intelligence, ...Turn ons: Intelligence (strategical intelligence, not book-learning), humor, courage/bravery.<br />Turn offs: Cruelty, callousness, mockery CAN be. It depends on if the author suggests that character will be put in his place. Of course, these aren't necessarily things that will make me put the book down. If they're the villain's traits, you've got a great villain. Especially so if they're also intelligent and challenging to the hero/ine.<br /><br />Great topics, btw.Victoria Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14012092208934951963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-36462466977425600732009-07-21T21:18:29.726-04:002009-07-21T21:18:29.726-04:00Deb,
Interesting point about a character getting w...Deb,<br />Interesting point about a character getting worse rather than better. Someone who starts out as a protagonist and then shifts to antagonist. That made me think, and would be interesting to read, as long as there was a "real" protag to root for. LOLJessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-74146742571091753962009-07-21T21:17:16.906-04:002009-07-21T21:17:16.906-04:00Same for me Jeannie.Same for me Jeannie.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-69937199978839133562009-07-21T21:16:54.231-04:002009-07-21T21:16:54.231-04:00Hi Karen,
Yes, that's us. Always thinking. YOu...Hi Karen,<br />Yes, that's us. Always thinking. YOu know movies are a write-off, right? LOL! Just doing business there.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-35144170287201239112009-07-21T20:28:23.407-04:002009-07-21T20:28:23.407-04:00For any character to be real, they have to reveal ...For any character to be real, they have to reveal both their light and their shadows. I hate characters who bore me, or who don't grow in any way - whether it's for the good or the bad.Deb Shuckahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03439395710731341021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-85071534537537679452009-07-21T18:42:58.559-04:002009-07-21T18:42:58.559-04:00hmm...maybe i'll try to come up with a formula...hmm...maybe i'll try to come up with a formula! ha! not likely. :) i'm not big on reading stories about affairs and cheating on spouses. just a turn-off for me.Jeannie Campbell, LMFThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958943404601029395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-74870020399570153942009-07-21T15:23:40.632-04:002009-07-21T15:23:40.632-04:00See? This is what I mean about you novelists worki...See? This is what I mean about you novelists working so hard all the time. Even when you go to the movies you are thinking about writing, and analyzing character development. <br />Do you ever rest???<br /><br />*grin*Karen Hossinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18049412644792482270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-4220105520822588932009-07-21T12:41:51.973-04:002009-07-21T12:41:51.973-04:00Hi Stephanie,
Thank you! :-) I love that title too...Hi Stephanie,<br />Thank you! :-) I love that title too, though I might have to change it since it doesn't quite fit with most inspy romances. LOL!<br />Thanks for stopping by. :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-44023801823471949542009-07-21T12:40:57.547-04:002009-07-21T12:40:57.547-04:00Hi Kara,
You're not alone. I find it very, ver...Hi Kara,<br />You're not alone. I find it very, very hard to be sympathetic to a character who's had an affair. I'm not even sure I'd read a romance novel where the hero or heroine has cheated. It's just hard for me to like that character. (and I wouldn't say I'm that way in real life, but with entertainment...yeah.)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-78235819291162713122009-07-21T12:39:28.024-04:002009-07-21T12:39:28.024-04:00Thanks for commenting Nancy. I think that's a ...Thanks for commenting Nancy. I think that's a large part, us wanting to see the room for growth.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-1514691824928243422009-07-21T10:59:15.280-04:002009-07-21T10:59:15.280-04:00Maybe there's an overall message in that...may...Maybe there's an overall message in that...maybe we're all more likable as people because of our flaws. And we relate to that in the books we read.<br /><br />And I like your title by the way. "The Bridegroom's Revenge" is catchy.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-6358406175077291402009-07-20T23:38:31.491-04:002009-07-20T23:38:31.491-04:00Okay I get this from my husband because he refuses...Okay I get this from my husband because he refuses to watch or read anything in which one spouse has an affair and is the hero or heroine of the book. I'm all about forgiveness, but this particular flaw really turns me off.Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03925811510913201292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-27848444485260957752009-07-20T22:53:48.797-04:002009-07-20T22:53:48.797-04:00Hi Jessica-
Great post and so very true- a reader...Hi Jessica-<br /><br />Great post and so very true- a reader needs a reason to like them right off- even if it's only a hint that they can change and grow.<br /><br />Cheers~Nancy J. Parrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10107417252662717576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-20932888406833851902009-07-20T21:26:33.752-04:002009-07-20T21:26:33.752-04:00Hey Krista,
I missed that post. I'll have to g...Hey Krista,<br />I missed that post. I'll have to go check it out. At least I think I missed it...<br /><br />Anyways, interesting points about some things not being redeemable. That would make an interesting post.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-45819006820545207302009-07-20T21:11:31.082-04:002009-07-20T21:11:31.082-04:00I so agree with this!!! I blogged about the same t...I so agree with this!!! I blogged about the same thing last week, it's the story BEHIND the actions that make us decide whether we like the person or not, BUT... there are some things that aren't redeemable, or are very very difficult to redeem. LIke someone noted, animal cruelty. Or Child abuser...Krista Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10772828583379163612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-88753740922776502722009-07-20T17:30:19.058-04:002009-07-20T17:30:19.058-04:00You worded it well, Kate. It's tough to do, a ...You worded it well, Kate. It's tough to do, a delicate operation almost, but well worth it when done right. I think, at least. :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-59984740685273529962009-07-20T17:29:18.432-04:002009-07-20T17:29:18.432-04:00Hi Heather,
Nice of you to come by too. :-)
I comp...Hi Heather,<br />Nice of you to come by too. :-)<br />I completely agree. Makes me think of Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets. LOL Not very likeable at first, but boy did he make the movie interesting. :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-9711378864557449642009-07-20T15:37:37.055-04:002009-07-20T15:37:37.055-04:00This question is one that I keep on returning to a...This question is one that I keep on returning to again and again. I think you are right though that to see a glimpse of something good, beneath a hard exterior can help us like an otherwise unlikeable character. Also, knowing what motivates a character to behave the way they do can also give us insights into their bad behaviors.Kate Karyus Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15581176126578915929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-29243533029834618392009-07-20T13:52:45.069-04:002009-07-20T13:52:45.069-04:00Great post, and lots of interesting comments. Hi,...Great post, and lots of interesting comments. Hi, Jessica. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier. <br /><br />I agree with the statement above that characters should be likeable, and by likeable, I mean redeemable. Even in the most flawed characters we should see redeeming qualities during the story. And to be interesting, characters should definitely be flawed. I love it when a writer produces a truly unlikeable character but then turns around and gives us some big reason to cheer them on.Heather Sunserihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552506888985553471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-42936398494142515892009-07-20T13:52:12.915-04:002009-07-20T13:52:12.915-04:00Good point Danyelle.
I couldn't relate to eith...Good point Danyelle.<br />I couldn't relate to either character, but heroine A I felt bad for. Heroine B I didn't. Makes a big difference, I think. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-39306985596285216022009-07-20T13:36:11.220-04:002009-07-20T13:36:11.220-04:00The point of no return for me is someone who harms...The point of no return for me is someone who harms children or animals.<br /><br />I like what you said. I think for a character to be likeable, they need to be well-rounded, painted in shades of gray rather than black or white. I think it also helps if we can relate to the character in some way.Danyelle L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10366276085080565870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-73427926057974029132009-07-20T13:35:05.146-04:002009-07-20T13:35:05.146-04:00LOL Dara! You're making me laugh. I stay home ...LOL Dara! You're making me laugh. I stay home so I don't think I'd appreciate that view either. LOLJessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-71139436172084304402009-07-20T13:11:32.132-04:002009-07-20T13:11:32.132-04:00Hi Susan.
True. I'm like you. Sometimes I don&...Hi Susan.<br />True. I'm like you. Sometimes I don't know what's motivating my characters until later on in the story, then I try to go back and hint at it.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-15301332898721399152009-07-20T13:10:38.227-04:002009-07-20T13:10:38.227-04:00Hi Anita,
All of your characters have been very li...Hi Anita,<br />All of your characters have been very likable, in my opinion. You do a good job balancing them as well as giving them believable motivations.<br />Thanks for stopping by. :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.com