Well, here it is folks. Hope you've enjoyed my little experiment as much as I have. Don't forget to come back on Thursday for another chance to win something very cool!
Thanks for the tips about looking externally as well as internally when developing a character. I do do that. I have four kids and plenty of kid/teen props. lol. It really does help. What I hadn't thought of though, was using this technique to get deeper or pull me out of a funk with that character.
Thanks for the reminder. I'll have to backtrack and view your other vlogs on voice. I'm currently switching my 2nd YA novel from 3rd to 1st POV and the voice is so strikingly different. I definitely would like to hear what you have to say. Thanks.
SA- I'm glad it was useful to you! I figure, if that is my strong point, I should share some insights. I personally love first person, hope that works for you!
Oh man, actually go out to a PUBLIC PLACE and act out your character? Blushes bright red. I actually got bamboozled into doing that exact thing at the last writer's conference I went to. Making a fool of myself in front of sixty other writers? Yikes. But as far as getting into character? It. Worked. Got to act out a ditzy housewife visiting a pyschologist for help with her marriage.
Not sure if I will ever be brave enough to try it again though.
Wow Margo! That's awesome. And it sounds like it was actually a lot of fun. I'm sure you did a great job. Glad to hear a story where something like that worked out. :D
There was an exercise that we had to do for this workshop… the card I pulled was the nurse in romeo and juliet… the facilitator wanted us find an example of what fruit or vegetable the character represented… I came up with an eggplant - I bought an eggplant and practiced it's stature and emerged with this physical 'waddle' of the character that made the character real for me.
Psychologically the deep purple hues of a deepened ripe-ness along with the soft inner texture gave my character depth, wisdom and humor - "I am an eggplant, after all!".. that I needed to be convincing for my fellow actors, while inviting the audience into the believability as well.
Leah - I'm so glad you took the time to visit! Love it, and love the whole eggplant thing. Ha! I'll have to add that to the character questionnaire - what vegetable do you most resemble? LOL
Okay, this is too funny. Two weeks ago, I bought some clothes that the teen mc of my new wip would wear. You're right. I did feel like I was in character. My kids thought it was strange that I was buying the graphic t-shirts because they aren't my style.
On WriteOnCon there was a vlog in which an author made a collage for each of her characters (the major ones). She cut up magazines with pictures and words that represented her characters. I tried that this weekend. It was amazing. It was like my characters were there in my house. Like flesh and blood. I could even hear their voices in my head. ;)
Stina - that is very cool. For the first time this past week I made a powerpoint presentation using pics from google images that I thought looked like my characters. Not only was it really nerdy fun, I think it helped make it feel more real as well. You never know until you try.
And I wonder if I could get into character and pass for a middle schooler tomorrow? I'll just slide into some stretch pants a flowery longish shirt. No prob.
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Thanks for the tips about looking externally as well as internally when developing a character. I do do that. I have four kids and plenty of kid/teen props. lol. It really does help. What I hadn't thought of though, was using this technique to get deeper or pull me out of a funk with that character.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. I'll have to backtrack and view your other vlogs on voice. I'm currently switching my 2nd YA novel from 3rd to 1st POV and the voice is so strikingly different. I definitely would like to hear what you have to say. Thanks.
SA- I'm glad it was useful to you! I figure, if that is my strong point, I should share some insights. I personally love first person, hope that works for you!
ReplyDeleteOh man, actually go out to a PUBLIC PLACE and act out your character? Blushes bright red. I actually got bamboozled into doing that exact thing at the last writer's conference I went to. Making a fool of myself in front of sixty other writers? Yikes. But as far as getting into character? It. Worked. Got to act out a ditzy housewife visiting a pyschologist for help with her marriage.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if I will ever be brave enough to try it again though.
Wow Margo! That's awesome. And it sounds like it was actually a lot of fun. I'm sure you did a great job. Glad to hear a story where something like that worked out. :D
ReplyDeleteThere was an exercise that we had to do for this workshop… the card I pulled was the nurse in romeo and juliet… the facilitator wanted us find an example of what fruit or vegetable the character represented… I came up with an eggplant - I bought an eggplant and practiced it's stature and emerged with this physical 'waddle' of the character that made the character real for me.
ReplyDeletePsychologically the deep purple hues of a deepened ripe-ness along with the soft inner texture gave my character depth, wisdom and humor - "I am an eggplant, after all!".. that I needed to be convincing for my fellow actors, while inviting the audience into the believability as well.
Lisa, Great insights!! Keep on keeping' on!
Leah - I'm so glad you took the time to visit! Love it, and love the whole eggplant thing. Ha! I'll have to add that to the character questionnaire - what vegetable do you most resemble? LOL
ReplyDeleteGreat vlog, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteOkay, this is too funny. Two weeks ago, I bought some clothes that the teen mc of my new wip would wear. You're right. I did feel like I was in character. My kids thought it was strange that I was buying the graphic t-shirts because they aren't my style.
On WriteOnCon there was a vlog in which an author made a collage for each of her characters (the major ones). She cut up magazines with pictures and words that represented her characters. I tried that this weekend. It was amazing. It was like my characters were there in my house. Like flesh and blood. I could even hear their voices in my head. ;)
Stina - that is very cool. For the first time this past week I made a powerpoint presentation using pics from google images that I thought looked like my characters. Not only was it really nerdy fun, I think it helped make it feel more real as well. You never know until you try.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun vlog! Great job, Lisa. I'm tweeting it now. And was Allie or Harrison sneezing in the background? If so, God bless you!
ReplyDeleteLOL that's so funny! I didn't even realize it. It must have been Harrison because he's got the cold too.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a totally cute voice!
ReplyDeleteAnd I wonder if I could get into character and pass for a middle schooler tomorrow? I'll just slide into some stretch pants a flowery longish shirt. No prob.
Well Laura, either that, or people will think you're trying to relive the 80s. ;D Thanks for the compliment on my voice. I know I sound pretty young.
ReplyDelete