tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post5959146477362515551..comments2024-03-29T08:39:57.608-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6496702472878239522012-04-11T08:30:23.269-04:002012-04-11T08:30:23.269-04:00Thanks Lisa!
I had actually tried to google the i...Thanks Lisa!<br /><br />I had actually tried to google the info on the three telling details so this helps a lot!!Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17691327880215193342012-04-10T23:01:38.341-04:002012-04-10T23:01:38.341-04:00Hi Ryan. Sure, let me dig out some notes...Okay, I...Hi Ryan. Sure, let me dig out some notes...Okay, I'm copying in some workshop notes, but this stuff is also in Elizabeth George's writing book...She's into detail character analyses.<br /><br />"Once character analysis done, use it to help you come up with three telling details that make sense for the character:<br />1. A physical detail. Doesn’t need to be a gesture, can be clothes that chooses to wear etc. Tattoos, scars, etc. What you see on the person that immediately tells something about them. (i.e. a mole doesn’t count.)<br />2. A psychological detail with physical manifestation. This manifestation especially as related to the pathological maneuver.<br />3. One thing that owns that tells something about the character.<br /><br />The point of having three telling details at your disposal for the narrative is that they’re easy ways to hint at the character’s backstory/character/personality without telling reader. They show the character.<br /><br />These three details should be unusual and unique and highly specific and intimate. For example: a character that always carries her father’s monogrammed handkerchief. These details telling in the sense that say something about the character’s past—like a scar from a childhood accident etc. These telling details have nothing to do with the plot.<br /><br />Most especially, these telling details should reflect the core need/pathological maneuver. The telling details show the core need/pathological maneuver, which is why there’s no need to state them explicitly."<br /><br />Example from one of EG's novels. Character: Eve. Core need: competency. Pathological manuever when need not met/under stress: control freak/perfectionism. Sooo...<br /><br />Telling details:<br />Physical: She has a split eyebrow from childhood accident<br />Psychological detail with physical manifestation: She grows her bangs so no one sees the scar—this shows her perfectionism, must always appear perfect.<br />Thing that owns: (unfortunately didn't write this down--but would be something unique that hints a backstory)<br /><br />I love this stuff! :-)Lisa Alberhttp://www.lisaalber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54656537987748955882012-04-10T21:12:21.206-04:002012-04-10T21:12:21.206-04:00I love you guys...but you are too deep and introsp...I love you guys...but you are too deep and introspective for me today. Can't we discuss superficial stuff like how clothes make the man, like yesterday??<br /><br />I would think that coming up with a complete character bible would be extremely limiting. Then there wouldn't be any surprises available.Lora in Floridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52507840685004084782012-04-10T19:34:52.760-04:002012-04-10T19:34:52.760-04:00Three telling things? OOh. Fascinating. DO you hav...Three telling things? OOh. Fascinating. DO you have an example?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-32848563743086737862012-04-10T15:57:04.575-04:002012-04-10T15:57:04.575-04:00I agree, Linda! There are certain sections I retur...I agree, Linda! There are certain sections I return to when I'm starting a new project -- THADs is one of them.Lisa Alberhttp://www.lisaalber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87754883832941439912012-04-10T15:14:16.806-04:002012-04-10T15:14:16.806-04:00Lisa,
I love the Elizabeth George book, too. WRIT...Lisa,<br /><br />I love the Elizabeth George book, too. WRITE AWAY. I really think it's one of the best, if not the best, writing book I've read. And I'm a writing book junkie.<br /><br />I think one of the most useful things is her THADs--Talking Head Avoidance Devices. Ways to write a scene where the dialogue is important or gives important info without turning the characters into those talking heads on news shows.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16265083547534863292012-04-10T14:12:44.370-04:002012-04-10T14:12:44.370-04:00Too cool. The power of the blurb--now I'm even...Too cool. The power of the blurb--now I'm even more interested in reading the Shapiro book! :-)Lisa Alberhttp://www.lisaalber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-18457939355532947342012-04-10T13:34:34.392-04:002012-04-10T13:34:34.392-04:00Lisa,
I just noticed that there is a quote from N...Lisa,<br /><br />I just noticed that there is a quote from Norman Doidge on the FRONT of the Francine Shapiro book!<br /><br />~janJungle Red Writershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8512975065353907782012-04-10T13:02:07.508-04:002012-04-10T13:02:07.508-04:00OOOOH - Lisa,
I love that three telling details. ...OOOOH - Lisa,<br /><br />I love that three telling details. Really, thanks. Off to my Journal to work it out.<br /><br />And will definitely check out Norman's book. <br /><br />~janJungle Red Writershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24960717257913028352012-04-10T12:50:39.754-04:002012-04-10T12:50:39.754-04:00Oh I love brain stuff, too! I'm definitely goi...Oh I love brain stuff, too! I'm definitely going to check out the book you mentioned, Jan. Here's another fascinating one: THE BRAIN THAT CHANGES ITSELF by Norman Doidge, M.D.<br /><br />I can't get started until I know my main characters' backgrounds. I'm partial to the way Elizabeth George describes it in her writing book. She talks about core needs and pathological manuevers. And she talks about three telling details that hint at the characters' back stories...<br /><br />I need to know my characters before I think about plotting. Since plot comes out of character (for me at least), then I guess this makes sense. :-)Lisa Alberhttp://www.lisaalber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88040834112554615292012-04-10T12:19:27.182-04:002012-04-10T12:19:27.182-04:00Think I'm going to use the journal idea -- th...Think I'm going to use the journal idea -- thanks Debs and LInda!<br /><br />Susan, I noticed that too......Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78734983688976734622012-04-10T11:36:31.002-04:002012-04-10T11:36:31.002-04:00How observant of you, Susan! It's a major them...How observant of you, Susan! It's a major theme in my work in progress, too. Never mind our CHARACTER'S tramas... as writers we keep rehashing our own and trying to get it right. And that's all I'm going to say about that.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22744662947231091752012-04-10T10:38:18.764-04:002012-04-10T10:38:18.764-04:00I find it interesting that so many of you mention ...I find it interesting that so many of you mention mothers who had a negative influence on their daughters.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14080938779828043023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23575062789089954662012-04-10T09:27:46.831-04:002012-04-10T09:27:46.831-04:00I'm like you, Deb. I don't do character bi...I'm like you, Deb. I don't do character bibles, but at least on the main characters, I write journals about them, finding out their important backstory. <br /><br />I like what Hallie said about characters "often trying to get it right this time." Like all the rest of us?<br /><br />Still, they love to surprise me on the page--and I love it when they do, even if I'm tearing out my hair to understand why they would do that.<br /><br />Like Rhys' Molly, Skeet always has her Gran's voice in her head, trying to keep her grounded and right-thinking--and trying to get her to more fully accept her Cherokee heritage.<br /><br />Great post, Jan. I'll have to get that book!Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.com