Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Mon, Oct 18 2010
Dancing with the Characters
I rarely get a chance to watch most TV shows, but I've spent a little time watching Dancing with the Stars this season. It's interesting to watch some of the folks be a little out of their element. And it's interesting to watch the judges with their very human biases. The viewing audience also helps determine the outcome when they vote for their favorites by cell phone.
I can't help but wonder how much a person's general looks or a feeling of nostalgia for what they represent becomes a factor in the scores and votes they get. And there's that whole idea of who has progressed the most from the beginning of the competition.
It's all in good fun. But I see plenty of parallels to the contests and challenges of everyday life. We often disagree at work, at school or at home about who is smarter or better looking or more charming. Those things can be fun, but none really represent true depth of character.
It's easy to fall into a trap with our fictional characters when writing. We can give them great cheekbones or quick wit or fast reflexes. Our readers will have fun with that. But if we want a reader to bond with a character's struggles and victories, we'll dig deeper with a character's response to life and all that comes with it.
posted at: 21:16 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
I rarely get a chance to watch most TV shows, but I've spent a little time watching Dancing with the Stars this season. It's interesting to watch some of the folks be a little out of their element. And it's interesting to watch the judges with their very human biases. The viewing audience also helps determine the outcome when they vote for their favorites by cell phone.
I can't help but wonder how much a person's general looks or a feeling of nostalgia for what they represent becomes a factor in the scores and votes they get. And there's that whole idea of who has progressed the most from the beginning of the competition.
It's all in good fun. But I see plenty of parallels to the contests and challenges of everyday life. We often disagree at work, at school or at home about who is smarter or better looking or more charming. Those things can be fun, but none really represent true depth of character.
It's easy to fall into a trap with our fictional characters when writing. We can give them great cheekbones or quick wit or fast reflexes. Our readers will have fun with that. But if we want a reader to bond with a character's struggles and victories, we'll dig deeper with a character's response to life and all that comes with it.
posted at: 21:16 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
