tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post2594176780463213393..comments2023-11-22T06:35:25.251-05:00Comments on POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS: Three Traits of Compelling CharactersJulia Buckleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270211923343731659noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-79460176374714236612010-12-06T03:29:23.116-05:002010-12-06T03:29:23.116-05:00А! Ah!!! at last I found what I was looking for. S...А! Ah!!! at last I found what I was looking for. Somtimes it takes so much effort to find even tiny useful piece of information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-34802143300710304452010-11-01T00:29:01.817-04:002010-11-01T00:29:01.817-04:00maxexisefer
[url=http://healthplusrx.com/sexual-he...maxexisefer<br />[url=http://healthplusrx.com/sexual-health]sexual health[/url]<br />JittyCatIminaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-8033528756110357292010-10-04T22:28:41.714-04:002010-10-04T22:28:41.714-04:00Thanks for sharing your tips for creating interest...Thanks for sharing your tips for creating interesting characters. I'll keep them in mind during the revisions of my first mystery.<br />Sincerely,<br />Diane FinneyDiane Finneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07265978302238171004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-48575321872546502452010-10-04T13:07:14.400-04:002010-10-04T13:07:14.400-04:00Hi Kathleen, hope to see you and M&M in M. nex...Hi Kathleen, hope to see you and M&M in M. next month. The new one is out and I can't wait to show it off.Sue Currannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-8938745229945492982010-10-03T22:21:45.558-04:002010-10-03T22:21:45.558-04:00Thanks for the good conversation, everyone. I'...Thanks for the good conversation, everyone. I've been on the road, but as soon as I can check in with Sandy we'll have the name of the book winner.<br /><br />This was my first stop on a month-long blog tour, so I hope you'll continue the discussion! You can find the full schedule at my blog, http://sitesandstories.wordpress.com/<br />There will be a giveaway with every post!<br /><Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-33867913131381090402010-10-03T19:03:57.508-04:002010-10-03T19:03:57.508-04:00Interesting post! -- BrendaW.Interesting post! -- BrendaW.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-77487725625179724672010-10-03T12:47:25.981-04:002010-10-03T12:47:25.981-04:00I like a protagonist who has inner strength, can b...I like a protagonist who has inner strength, can be vulnerable but able to do what is right even when it hurts. I like a life interesting enough to want to follow it into the next novel. Keep writing, it keeps us readers happily reading.shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06310778176889652167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-66350612986689554342010-10-03T00:01:50.813-04:002010-10-03T00:01:50.813-04:00I agree that the protagonist cannot be too perfect...I agree that the protagonist cannot be too perfect. When you look at the flaws, that is what makes them intersting and human. It also helps to create a need in the reader for the protagonist to win out. If the antogonist is equally as interesting what wonderful sparks can happen. It is the 'hits' that we take that create the 'steel' we become. That is what I love about stories.Renaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-7112154575403817292010-10-02T21:35:56.581-04:002010-10-02T21:35:56.581-04:00Oh, good additions, Kori. We're used to meeti...Oh, good additions, Kori. We're used to meeting characters in mysteries who are strong and capable--so how compelling to see evidence of that kind of ethical depth. I like a sleuth who can handle the tough stuff, but does not get hardened by these events.<br /><br />And as for Chloe...I hope so too.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-43110326859714221582010-10-02T19:35:21.650-04:002010-10-02T19:35:21.650-04:00Thanks for sharing, Kathleen. I'm just a few p...Thanks for sharing, Kathleen. I'm just a few pages inside of Sandi Ault's 4th mystery featuring Jamaica Wild (Wild Penance, 2010) and realizing that when I turn the last page my "friendship" with JW will be on hold until Sandi's next book is ready...am already feeling the loss, perhaps because JW has all three of your compelling traits. Perhaps ethical depth or something Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-26606804550351785302010-10-02T19:34:27.392-04:002010-10-02T19:34:27.392-04:00Pauline - I love your definition of spunk. A char...Pauline - I love your definition of spunk. A character who exhibited that ability is one I'd happily follow through a book--or a series.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-6114370066740869182010-10-02T19:32:53.897-04:002010-10-02T19:32:53.897-04:00Sandra - I think you make an important point when ...Sandra - I think you make an important point when you said "We can't be too protective of our characters." So true, and yet it can be difficult! We create these characters, we love them, we want the best for them...and yet sometimes we have to let them stumble, and even fall.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-91252193144780269482010-10-02T18:59:11.663-04:002010-10-02T18:59:11.663-04:00I enjoyed your post. Maybe when you talk about spu...I enjoyed your post. Maybe when you talk about spunk you mean the same as I think of as the ability to decide on an unpopular choice of action and to follow through because it's the most human thing to do.Pauline Alldredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00847008019331163905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-13197997118248026062010-10-02T17:56:43.502-04:002010-10-02T17:56:43.502-04:00I think that the three traits that you mentioned a...I think that the three traits that you mentioned are right and I look forward to reading your new series.<br /><br />I also love the American Girl series and have a large collection of those.<br /><br />Helen KikerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-48404247772256514012010-10-02T17:20:43.730-04:002010-10-02T17:20:43.730-04:00Thanks for visiting us this weekend, Kathleen, and...Thanks for visiting us this weekend, Kathleen, and for contributing such a great post. I hope a lot more people will comment before the weekend is over so they'll have a chance to win one of your books.<br /><br />About character flaws: I think some aspiring writers are reluctant to give their protagonists flaws, bad habits, etc., because they don't want readers to dislike them. Yet thoseSandra Parshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17403144248962124138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-86386291461089717482010-10-02T17:12:11.862-04:002010-10-02T17:12:11.862-04:00Thank you for distilling these three steps!I have ...Thank you for distilling these three steps!I have never actually thought about it in those terms but, everyone is spot on.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04983033599934831646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-92047548572660464582010-10-02T17:11:56.544-04:002010-10-02T17:11:56.544-04:00I couldn't agree with you more. It's thes...I couldn't agree with you more. It's these three traits that give the character depth and create a real person, not a cardboard cut out. A great post.<br /><br />Lesley DiehlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-68268236052797466752010-10-02T17:07:50.172-04:002010-10-02T17:07:50.172-04:00Ellis - I am so glad you enjoyed Whistler in the D...Ellis - I am so glad you enjoyed Whistler in the Dark! That was great fun to write, and I was introduced to the whole Reform Dress movement while working as a curator.<br /><br />And to you, Lyn, and anyone else - the history professional world, in broad terms, does provide great fodder for mysteries, doesn't it? I'd love to swap stories. Perhaps at a conference some time.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-22808471499968409852010-10-02T16:59:19.224-04:002010-10-02T16:59:19.224-04:00Great blog! I agree 100% on the traits! I hate t...Great blog! I agree 100% on the traits! I hate to try to read a book when I could care less about any of the characters! Thanks for the article!CherylsPearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09120662352797492079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-13034591720476594752010-10-02T16:58:18.307-04:002010-10-02T16:58:18.307-04:00Thanks for the comments, everyone. I know that th...Thanks for the comments, everyone. I know that the authors I most admire are those who create characters so real they walk off the page and into our hearts!Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-60903963015812532392010-10-02T15:38:20.481-04:002010-10-02T15:38:20.481-04:00It was nice to see the traits catalogued so clearl...It was nice to see the traits catalogued so clearly. It's always useful to see character development from another person's angle.<br /><br />I find it fascinating to see so many other museum/historical society professionals who also write mystery. We have our own little sub-sisterhood!<br />Llyn K.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-7876418010556815472010-10-02T15:32:38.547-04:002010-10-02T15:32:38.547-04:00I'm working on exactly whereof you speak: a c...I'm working on exactly whereof you speak: a compelling backstory to the protagonist in my new novel. If there's no depth, no psychological thing at stake, the book is flat and no one really cares.Carol-Lynn Rosselnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-53143888982354951832010-10-02T14:27:36.462-04:002010-10-02T14:27:36.462-04:00Great post! These characteristics also apply to th...Great post! These characteristics also apply to the best villains in fiction. The easiest way to turn heroes or villains into comic-book figures is to make them invulnerable.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.suzanneadair.com" rel="nofollow">Suzanne Adair</a>Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11624472793275282926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-24524094531188524102010-10-02T12:26:54.630-04:002010-10-02T12:26:54.630-04:00My MC is a museum curator, looking for a home afte...My MC is a museum curator, looking for a home after a nomadic life as an archaeologist. I loved your book (Whistling in the Dark?) about the newspaper woman and her daughter. It's been years but I haven't forgotten it or the bloomers.Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-41075284650227986992010-10-02T11:06:16.374-04:002010-10-02T11:06:16.374-04:00Loved your post - it emphasized the importance of ...Loved your post - it emphasized the importance of making your characters human. Sometimes I forget to look at my characters deeply. To take the time to find out what's really bothering them and why they are behaving in a certain manner. Went back over a few chapters of my latest manuscript and will implement your wisdom to help my readers better understand my characters. That's really Allene Reynoldshttp://www.glenoraallenereynolds.comnoreply@blogger.com