tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post3688869449803133729..comments2024-03-28T05:59:52.454-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: What makes a backbone characterJuliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-44877966035571029302010-06-16T14:50:20.011-07:002010-06-16T14:50:20.011-07:00You're welcome, Laura. I'm glad you enjoy...You're welcome, Laura. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I hope it helps you out.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-35418083619626889642010-06-16T14:30:22.712-07:002010-06-16T14:30:22.712-07:00Perfect timing! I'm developing characters for ...Perfect timing! I'm developing characters for my WiP; this is something I must consider. Thanks for a terrific post!Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-32438301591002539072010-06-11T12:20:53.928-07:002010-06-11T12:20:53.928-07:00Stuart, I think you could have the narrator be the...Stuart, I think you could have the narrator be the backbone, depending on how you treated it. My sense is that people want to have a feeling that they're watching a single story carry through to its end, and having a main character or backbone character is one important way of achieving this. I suppose it would be a matter of creating a sense of the larger significance of the actions of the group of characters in question, and creating a sense of drive and trajectory that readers could follow on that meta-level.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-68443577824872003922010-06-11T07:59:14.891-07:002010-06-11T07:59:14.891-07:00What about a situation where you have a number of ...What about a situation where you have a number of different characters - none of whom are really a backbone character. Is it feasible that the omniscient narrator is the "off-screen" backbone character - or do you think it's always necessary to have a backbone character.Stuart Clarkhttp://www.stuartclark.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-61621987762440717192010-06-11T05:25:33.872-07:002010-06-11T05:25:33.872-07:00Thank you again!
This post is giving me insight in...Thank you again!<br />This post is giving me insight into a couple of snags I've had with a WIP.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10646548242753417196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-32837500186310148232010-06-10T20:55:42.367-07:002010-06-10T20:55:42.367-07:00Cool, I'm glad that got you thinking. :-)Cool, I'm glad that got you thinking. :-)Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-7816586584835281312010-06-10T20:31:10.386-07:002010-06-10T20:31:10.386-07:00So kind of make their stakes into her stakes? My b...So kind of make their stakes <i>into</i> her stakes? My backbone girl doesn't get any direct contact with the one character until the end (the meeting that inspired this whole thing and the reason I can't seem to give it up), but backbone-girl is with military-woman most of the time after they meet in chapter 2. With the way I've already developed their characters, it would work for backbone-girl to take on military-woman's goals as part of her own.<br /><br />I'm trying out plot cards for the time being. I spent the past couple days going through all my notebooks and files and nearly used up a whole pack of index cards. A few only have a scene title, and some are filled front and back with notes. I can see where the huge story gaps are now, but also that I had more created than my draft shows. (I had pages of notes and what-ifs.)<br /><br />Your suggestions are tickling ideas in my head. Now I just have to shake them out onto my cards. Thanks, Juliette.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942272578488986874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-73353884758520234352010-06-10T15:45:04.814-07:002010-06-10T15:45:04.814-07:00Jaleh,
It sounds to me like you have to tangle her...Jaleh,<br />It sounds to me like you have to tangle her up in them a bit more. Like the more involved with them she becomes, the greater her stakes and risks are, but she has to become involved with them because of X. Give her opportunities also to sway them even if they don't realize it. You might try on some different possibilities sometime - when you're not actually looking at the text itself, but thinking about the story and where it's going.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-75996175801168660632010-06-10T14:59:09.245-07:002010-06-10T14:59:09.245-07:00You know, that may be the problem with my YA story...You know, that may be the problem with my YA story. I know who the backbone character is, but despite trying to make her more active, the other two main characters keep trying to take over. (One has a very take charge sort of persona with her military training) My backbone character has less at stake, but without her, the other two would never complete their goals. And the story is supposed to be about her. Sigh. I'd give up in aggravation, but the story won't let me. (Freakin brain making up the end first.)Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942272578488986874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-17822364019107080612010-06-10T13:45:41.155-07:002010-06-10T13:45:41.155-07:00I'm just now evaluating this issue as I prepar...I'm just now evaluating this issue as I prepare revisions for my current WIP... Very timely.Bluestockinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01225973854788421827noreply@blogger.com