tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post2364939089464637878..comments2024-03-27T00:08:47.465-07:00Comments on KATE AVERY ELLISON: Are Your Friends or Family in Your Books?Kate Avery Ellisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16639363051736890588noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-15754191267652532252011-10-21T13:27:56.681-07:002011-10-21T13:27:56.681-07:00I haven't ever based my characters on real lif...I haven't ever based my characters on real life people, BUT I did base one of my characters in Elemental on a real life cat (and yes, the character was a kitty).Emily Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478461123707071108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-71770891105614287952011-10-20T08:04:12.157-07:002011-10-20T08:04:12.157-07:00LC Frost: Yes, for me it's a very interactive ...LC Frost: Yes, for me it's a very interactive process to create those characters. I never just have them down right away.<br /><br />Vic: Cool, you're like the mirror opposite! And I agree about drawing from the people you know... we definitely don't live in a vacuum. All our observations about people are coming from what we've seen and experienced. Good thoughts.Kate Avery Ellisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16639363051736890588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-54840765400938886272011-10-20T06:13:30.210-07:002011-10-20T06:13:30.210-07:00I do about like you, except that i usually start w...I do about like you, except that i usually start with a character and a setting and the plot comes from there. <br />it's impossible not to draw at least a bit from people you've known. because knowing others shapes who you are and how you react to the world and philosophies and situations, and how you react and judge and feel about things can't help but find its way into your writing, even if you intentionally try to avoid it.<br />at least that my opinion! :)vic caswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218698236837610704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-42697553321333975482011-10-20T05:43:35.499-07:002011-10-20T05:43:35.499-07:00I very much agree: I also think it's not good ...I very much agree: I also think it's not good from a creative standpoint to start with fully formed characters. Part of writing a story is coming up with the backstory, which, as you said, is where your characters become the people who get into the sort of shenanigans you're writing about. That's also where the fun is! :-) Great post!L.C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10647676688357758965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-52736769110833571772011-10-19T19:28:32.545-07:002011-10-19T19:28:32.545-07:00Sarah: Yay, I'm not the only one!
Joshua: Exa...Sarah: Yay, I'm not the only one!<br /><br />Joshua: Exactly. It just seems like it would be a hassle even if the person DID fit the story, and they never do.<br /><br />Kane: That's an interesting idea, to use their faces in a graphic novel. I actually think I'd like that (as opposed to being offended). But then, it's sort of a different consideration. Like a cameo.Kate Avery Ellisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16639363051736890588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-798472238002521172011-10-19T19:01:39.572-07:002011-10-19T19:01:39.572-07:00I take some traits from people I know (and fiction...I take some traits from people I know (and fictional characters/celebrities) but never whole personalities, mainly because all my characters are extremely flawed and people would probably get offended. Since I'm writing and illustrating a graphic novel, I was thinking about using likeness' of my friends and family as background characters, just faces in a crowd.Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01759483397198492335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-67862875828755976112011-10-19T16:47:28.250-07:002011-10-19T16:47:28.250-07:00They might share a trait or two with people I know...They might share a trait or two with people I know, but I'd rather avoid an hassle and not base them off an actual person at 100%.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-20220176663329911492011-10-19T14:51:24.085-07:002011-10-19T14:51:24.085-07:00I'm like you, maybe a bit from him and a bit f...I'm like you, maybe a bit from him and a bit from her but never whole people. Also i read recaps of shows that I don't watch all the time - saves me watching them :-)Sarah Tokeleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13273148070092101085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-3747888952348752142011-10-19T14:27:47.783-07:002011-10-19T14:27:47.783-07:00Jordyn: Exactly. I guess my point is I never simpl...Jordyn: Exactly. I guess my point is I never simply stick friends or family members straight into the story. For some reason a LOT of people assume I do, though. Some even encourage it--they say "just write about your family and change the names." No, thanks :)Kate Avery Ellisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16639363051736890588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876403658608858252.post-72214446103151736902011-10-19T14:06:39.579-07:002011-10-19T14:06:39.579-07:00Ahhh I love this topic.
Mine are MOSTLY totally f...Ahhh I love this topic.<br /><br />Mine are MOSTLY totally fictional. I do occasionally use something from my friends/family as a "jumping off" point. ie. for one of my characters the first trait I knew of hers was a trait from one of my family members. But then that was the only thing they shared.<br /><br />So I'd say my characters are like 90-ish% fictional. Though I do have one (ONE!) based almost entirely off a person I used to know. Nobody I'd be worried about offending though, or that would probably even read the book ever if it were published.Jordynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07544006301357995240noreply@blogger.com