Recurring Characters

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Do you do it or feel the pull to do it?

 

[oggbashan]

Yes.

If I think the characters have become rounded personalities and I know how they will react.

It doesn't always work, particularly if I have left the original story alone for several years. It can mean yet another stalled story in 'drafts'.

 

[jomar]

I've done it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Yes.

If I think the characters have become rounded personalities and I know how they will react.

It doesn't always work, particularly if I have left the original story alone for several years. It can mean yet another stalled story in 'drafts'.

How do your readers respond?

 

[oggbashan]

How do your readers respond?

Usually? Boredom, or lack of any response at all.

Unless the sequel involving those characters is posted within a few weeks at longest.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Usually? Boredom, or lack of any response at all.

Unless the sequel involving those characters is posted within a few weeks at longest.

Thanks.

Yet recurring characters are popular in other categories. Sherlock Holmes being the most famous, I think.

 

[oggbashan]

Thanks.

Yet recurring characters are popular in other categories. Sherlock Holmes being the most famous, I think.

Yet Conan Doyle was so fed up with Sherlock Holmes that he killed him off - and then had to revive him because the public wouldn't let Sherlock stay dead.

 

[YDB95]

I stick with my characters if I find them interesting enough to build another story around. Most of my sequels have been quite popular, too.

 

[SecondCircle]

A small trick I pull, which isn't entirely the same thing, is something that a few readers seemed to enjoy. I kind of weave the characters from separate stories into others, almost like cameo appearances. They're never big roles or anything. It kind of makes my stories seem like the take place in the same universe, at least the ones that make sense to.

It's a little nod to the few fans I have here. Sometimes its just a pop in spot by a particular character that would stand out to those that know them, sometimes its merely a mention of a particular person with the same result. Dunno that it really makes an impact, but I thought it was pretty neat.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Yet Conan Doyle was so fed up with Sherlock Holmes that he killed him off - and then had to revive him because the public wouldn't let Sherlock stay dead.

Sure. Ditto for Rambo. David Morrell killed Rambo then had to resurrect him.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

A small trick I pull, which isn't entirely the same thing, is something that a few readers seemed to enjoy. I kind of weave the characters from separate stories into others, almost like cameo appearances. They're never big roles or anything. It kind of makes my stories seem like the take place in the same universe, at least the ones that make sense to.

It's a little nod to the few fans I have here. Sometimes its just a pop in spot by a particular character that would stand out to those that know them, sometimes its merely a mention of a particular person with the same result. Dunno that it really makes an impact, but I thought it was pretty neat.

That's a trick I have thought about doing, but so far the opportunity has not presented itself. I'm also thinking of doing some stories where minor characters in one story become lead characters in another. It's not high on my list of priorities, but something with which I may experiment in the future.

 

[oggbashan]

A small trick I pull, which isn't entirely the same thing, is something that a few readers seemed to enjoy. I kind of weave the characters from separate stories into others, almost like cameo appearances. They're never big roles or anything. It kind of makes my stories seem like the take place in the same universe, at least the ones that make sense to.

It's a little nod to the few fans I have here. Sometimes its just a pop in spot by a particular character that would stand out to those that know them, sometimes its merely a mention of a particular person with the same result. Dunno that it really makes an impact, but I thought it was pretty neat.

I don't put in cameo parts by characters but sometimes sheep appear in my stories.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Sure, why not. I have done it. The tales of John Abernathy. All the main characters are the same in each book, but different.

 

[oggbashan]

Sure, why not. I have done it. The tales of John Abernathy. All the main characters are the same in each book, but different.

I have written The Silverbridge Chronicles and other series postings, but I don't think they count.

They were intended to be many linked stories around the same characters instead of reusing characters in different stories as I understood from the original post.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I have written The Silverbridge Chronicles and other series postings, but I don't think they count.

They were intended to be many linked stories around the same characters instead of reusing characters in different stories as I understood from the original post.

Actually, each of the stories about John Abernathy were different stories, just the theme was the same. He always found a way to time travel. It wasn't until the I had finished most of them that I found I could actually use them kind of like a series, but not. The only connection to each story is via the one book - The Lives of John Abernathy. That one pulls them together, in a way.

The character, even though almost exactly the same, act slightly differently in each story, except John. John is really the only constant in all six books.

 

[SecondCircle]

That's a trick I have thought about doing, but so far the opportunity has not presented itself. I'm also thinking of doing some stories where minor characters in one story become lead characters in another. It's not high on my list of priorities, but something with which I may experiment in the future.

It wasn't ever something I planned. It just kinda happened once, and now if the opportunity presents itself, I'll throw it in. One of my stories just seemed to take place in a similar setting, and I never gave any city name or anything like that so I thought "hey, why the hell not? They coulda lived in the same neighborhood." Hence, she sees a character from one of my other stories, who is easily recognizable as she was a strong lead, and gives the tiniest sentence of thought on the other woman.

I think two readers noticed it, very few indeed, but I think I like the idea now.

 

[sr71plt]

I do it, yes. Recurring settings too. I haven't had readers comment on it--other than an occasional "can we have more stories with X in them?" request. (Got one just yesterday asking for more stories with the count from my recent "Satin Sleigh Ride" in them. I don't always repeat such a character upon request but it does get my muse working on the possibility of doing it.)

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

OMG We've had a Seymour Skinner sighting. Can Edna be far behind?

 

[49greg]

A small trick I pull, which isn't entirely the same thing, is something that a few readers seemed to enjoy. I kind of weave the characters from separate stories into others, almost like cameo appearances. They're never big roles or anything. It kind of makes my stories seem like the take place in the same universe, at least the ones that make sense to.

It's a little nod to the few fans I have here. Sometimes its just a pop in spot by a particular character that would stand out to those that know them, sometimes its merely a mention of a particular person with the same result. Dunno that it really makes an impact, but I thought it was pretty neat.

I have planned to do much the same thing, just haven't pulled it off yet. Although most of my stories take place (In my mind anyway) in either of two places, and in one case a main character in one story is a minor character in another, however I never put names to the characters in the story she is a star in, so that probably doesn't count. I did do a spin-off into an alternate reality with a few characters but my head was in a weird place and it didn't work out nor was it well received.

I do have outlines sort of half-assed done that do include places for cameo type appearances. Where a character from one story makes an appearance, or a minor character becomes more important.

 

[sr71plt]

I did that weaving together for four stories entered into a Winter Holidays contest here a few years together (all of the story titles started with "Second"). They did really well in the contest and are still holding up well over time.

 

[oggbashan]

...

One of my stories just seemed to take place in a similar setting, and I never gave any city name or anything like that so I thought "hey, why the hell not? They coulda lived in the same neighborhood." ...

It can get out of hand.

My Silverbridge Chronicles were based on a constructed map of Trollope's Barsetshire.

But then I had to draw a mental map of Silverbridge and put locations in context. The 'real' Silverbridge is far too small, even in the 21st Century, for all the places I needed. A couple of years ago I visited the real place, just because I had used it in my stories.

I used to drive through it in the 1960s. It is still a pleasant village now with modern estates developed on the edges, but the main street is still recognisable from what it would have been like in Trollope's time.

But my Silverbridge has grown and grown as I add more stories.

 

[SecondCircle]

Yeah it can get really crazy. I guess I just limit the "cameos" to minor appearances, just mentions really. Until one character would serve a good enough role in another character's story, that is. Then I guess I would go full fledged with it.

I have been toying with the idea of doing ... dammit I forget what it's called... well its sort of where several stories overlap and connect into a central plot or theme, while being entirely different in themselves. Something like Pilot was talking about with his contest entries.

They did this in the movie "Trick or Treat" (which is an excellent pick for this particular holiday season BTW). They had four different stories going on Halloween night, each telling a different tale while weaving the four together both thematically and chronologically. It sounds a bit confusing, but it turned out awesome.

Not sure if I would make several different submissions, or a chaptered series, or all one story with scene breaks. Ah the possibilities.

 

[sr71plt]

In case you're interested, this is what authors often do with an anthology they're trying to get published. Publishers bite better on collections where there's a mega story overarching the individual stories.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I spent yesterday playing with the synthesis of 3 series into one. I like noir, trailer park decadence, and true crime.

About as far as I got was selecting a trailer for my PC to reside in: a 1966 Airstream Sovereign model I remodeled/improved in my head.

http://www.airstream.com/service/specifications/


And a vehicle: a 1950 Willys-Overland Panel Delivery (Jeep) with 4 wheel drive and later model engine and 12 volt electrical system. 50 mph was the top speed on the Jeep L-134 flathead 4 motor. On the other hand you could use the truck to dig a 5 foot deep trench @ 300 feet per hour. But who needs that in 2013! So I changed the gears in the differential to add speed and decrease farming utility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxXzwWyy7_M

 

[sr71plt]

So, your recurring characters are trailer homes?