tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post948740103553840639..comments2023-04-03T11:09:41.690-04:00Comments on The Write-At-Home-Mom: How to Write Compelling CharactersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-50053694563372047742010-10-05T21:51:26.266-04:002010-10-05T21:51:26.266-04:00I think one thing that makes a character compellin...I think one thing that makes a character compelling to a little kid is when that character does things that the kid can only dream about doing ... or had never ever considered themselves. A character that a kid relates to who then does something amazing becomes a hero to the kid and allows their imagination to soar.Peggy Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10636649756346788343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-21966722245387201462010-09-28T17:03:35.633-04:002010-09-28T17:03:35.633-04:00As a SF/fantasy writer, I agree that even non-huma...As a SF/fantasy writer, I agree that even non-human characters need to have something that enables readers to relate to he/she/it.Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-32033874227473988612010-09-28T16:54:54.286-04:002010-09-28T16:54:54.286-04:00Great post Megan. Love the picture book spin you p...Great post Megan. Love the picture book spin you put on your topic :)Rachael Harriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16764930101064527321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-67399395471894162892010-09-28T10:44:11.003-04:002010-09-28T10:44:11.003-04:00Yes, PB's are a whole other breed of creative....Yes, PB's are a whole other breed of creative. I have a few that I have had to put on the back burner. Telling a complete story with compelling characters in about 30 pages is extremely challenging. I look forward to reading about your journey!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-54209556543519918452010-09-28T00:26:53.573-04:002010-09-28T00:26:53.573-04:00What a great post. I've only just started to t...What a great post. I've only just started to think about writing a picture book so this is really helpful. Thanks!Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-77008312527672397942010-09-26T14:12:37.120-04:002010-09-26T14:12:37.120-04:00I like the "don't have to be human" ...I like the "don't have to be human" aspect.<br />Hadn't thought of that. And I LOVE children's lit. Good stuff. Thanks Megan.Heather Spivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08413133808058265715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-53875486737080457922010-09-26T13:06:09.970-04:002010-09-26T13:06:09.970-04:00I don't write picture books, but I do have som...I don't write picture books, but I do have some favorites from my childhood. Two come to mind, 'The Little Engine that Could,' and 'Horton Hears a Who.' Neither have people as characters but both have voices that are exceptional. "A person's a person no matter how small."<br />Nancy<br /><a href="http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">N. R. Williams, fantasy author</a>N. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-72684883387135329272010-09-26T08:40:02.530-04:002010-09-26T08:40:02.530-04:00Great comments everyone! Thank you all for visiti...Great comments everyone! Thank you all for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. This topic has apparently tapped into something, so I'll just have to put it on my list of "blog-topics" to visit again!Megan K. Bickelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17306585009994740664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-89460235130116332572010-09-25T20:13:16.826-04:002010-09-25T20:13:16.826-04:00Just read "Oh, the places you'll go!"...Just read "Oh, the places you'll go!" tonight. It strikes me how this is the one book where my son will point at the little boy and say "There I am!" or "Where am I in this picture?", and yet, this is a little boy alone in a big, big, world. Maybe it works in this instance because he starts the book as a "winner", before he faces his scary trials all alone, coming out on top again. Only makes me wish Ted Geisel illustrated some girls as main characters so my daughter could have a book she felt was written all about her.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02359685995077764164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-59079681773389722412010-09-25T14:27:07.837-04:002010-09-25T14:27:07.837-04:00Great post Megan! Part of the challenge with creat...Great post Megan! Part of the challenge with creating compelling characters in PBs too is the length. How to make them compelling in 500 words or less? This is why the illustrations are so imperative - they tell more than half the story.<br /><br />For me, I think great PB characters show kids (human or not) taking control of their world in some way, learning something by experience (rather than being taught by an adult), and having intense emotional moments.<br /><br />BUT - while they must be universally relatable in some way, they also need to be unique. <br /><br />THAT's why it is so darn hard to write these things.Julie Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477115458570906449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-66912486442018752162010-09-25T09:34:42.957-04:002010-09-25T09:34:42.957-04:00Good point about the character not being human but...Good point about the character not being human but still being relatable. I've been struggling with that in my current WIPJennifer Hoffinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-83993586378490161482010-09-25T07:37:35.978-04:002010-09-25T07:37:35.978-04:00It was great to get a PB spin on this - including ...It was great to get a PB spin on this - including the fact that your character will (of course) be illustrated, so readers will know what they look like!<br /><br />I'm a long time picture book lover, and started buying picture books well before I had children. Some, I have to admit, I bought just for me.<br /><br />Good luck with your quest to strike a balance!Adina Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860528131098237473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-6239721240018420122010-09-24T21:27:05.570-04:002010-09-24T21:27:05.570-04:00WOW. You write for picture books? This is crazily ...WOW. You write for picture books? This is crazily awesome. This was so interesting to read. Thank you! Seriously. <br /><br />You must be talented to entertain three year olds. Yikes.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-72368088118742021842010-09-24T19:56:48.394-04:002010-09-24T19:56:48.394-04:00Cool post! I'm not sure what would be compelli...Cool post! I'm not sure what would be compelling to a three year old, but I know it's so important to read to your child, starting from a young age, so go you! :)lettuceheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14338776419077765978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-40818381471139734832010-09-24T18:15:21.404-04:002010-09-24T18:15:21.404-04:00As a preschool teacher and mother of two, I own pr...As a preschool teacher and mother of two, I own probably 500 picture books and have read each one many, many times. I can only imagine the work that goes into explaining a character in so few words and captivating a child (or many, or generations of them) that way. And more PBs with real people for characters would be awesome! Good post and good luck!<br />ericaerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-73986226573679377322010-09-24T17:39:27.122-04:002010-09-24T17:39:27.122-04:00I think your point about making non human characte...I think your point about making non human characters relatable to the readers. For picture books, especially for young children I pretty much think the world is your oyster because for their imagination has no boundaries. My young son loves 'reading' and will spend ages on one picture because he has so many questions.<br /><br />Great post, interesting to hear about PBs vs novels.Taleihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07317577935549931974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-60995372788111944992010-09-24T17:31:27.673-04:002010-09-24T17:31:27.673-04:00Thanks, Patricia! I'm glad my post is inspiri...Thanks, Patricia! I'm glad my post is inspiring conversation!! : )Megan K. Bickelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17306585009994740664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-89301714363495485152010-09-24T16:23:53.381-04:002010-09-24T16:23:53.381-04:00I really enjoyed this post. I tried my hand at wr...I really enjoyed this post. I tried my hand at writing PB's back in 1998 and to my surprise it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be.<br />Don't give up (I'm sure you won't). I love the way you bring up having to make the characters illustratable, that was great! <br /><br />I've been enjoying the way these posts are making me think today. Your post especially is going to be on the top of my mind for a while I think. I'm even going to bring it up in my next writing group session.Patricia A. Timms-McGeheehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08989800584001861716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-35284568682597043882010-09-24T13:58:16.441-04:002010-09-24T13:58:16.441-04:00Rachel - So true. It is an art I hope to learn an...Rachel - So true. It is an art I hope to learn and grow!<br /><br />Quinn & Jen - I'm glad I touched on something not as many people were mentioning. I'm only a few through on the list myself, so I'm anxious to see what others wrote!<br /><br />Elana - I'm thrilled you stopped by! You marvelous fearless, you!Megan K. Bickelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17306585009994740664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-30484128979402817202010-09-24T12:11:59.979-04:002010-09-24T12:11:59.979-04:00This is exactly why I can't write picture book...This is exactly why I can't write picture books. I so see all your points -- illustrateable, human, and then non-threatening. Um, good luck?? LOL!Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-61344270044513508202010-09-24T10:55:27.208-04:002010-09-24T10:55:27.208-04:00How neat! I love how you talked about picture book...How neat! I love how you talked about picture books, I'm with Quinn on this one, I'm making my through the pile and you're the first. I love your take on compelling characters. I write YA novels and adult novels and just thinking about a character development for a childrens book sounds daunting! <br /><br />Thanks for shedding light on this! I look forward to more of you! For some reason your followers button isn't showing on my internet so I'll have to come back for a visit to officially follow.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-68013545349368293262010-09-24T08:59:34.274-04:002010-09-24T08:59:34.274-04:00I've been making my way through the list of pa...I've been making my way through the list of participants and yours is the first that tackles writing compelling characters for picture books. It was really interesting reading this. <br /><br />I agree with Rachel -- I think it must take extra skill. <br /><br />I'd be interested in hearing more about your first point. How much creative control do you have over what your characters look like?Basthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12561466241112288690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729994196540004831.post-8484310825748619432010-09-24T08:02:29.759-04:002010-09-24T08:02:29.759-04:00I think it must take extra special skill to captur...I think it must take extra special skill to capture (and retain) the attention of little ones :-)Miss Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13555565851287548203noreply@blogger.com