Houston We Have A Problem.

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Thumbing thru my personality text I see that my personality is very cognitive and little emotive. As are my male characters. We're vigilant and sensitive. We feel with our cocks.

So how do you overcome your personality biases when you write?

Most LIT characters seem to be what I call HISTRIONIC, that is they wear their hearts on their sleeves. I think most LIT writers are histrionic, too.

 

[RoyceConnors]

Thumbing thru my personality text I see that my personality is very cognitive and little emotive. As are my male characters. We're vigilant and sensitive. We feel with our cocks.

So how do you overcome your personality biases when you write?

Most LIT characters seem to be what I call HISTRIONIC, that is they wear their hearts on their sleeves. I think most LIT writers are histrionic, too.

I write my characters the way I believe them to be. I don't use any of myself, or what I believe in. I'll write in total opposition of my own self and do my best to create an original character with their own traits. Everyone is different, so I try to make all my characters that way.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I write my characters the way I believe them to be. I don't use any of myself, or what I believe in. I'll write in total opposition of my own self and do my best to create an original character with their own traits. Everyone is different, so I try to make all my characters that way.

And its not you doing the writing. I see.

 

[Recidiva]

It's good to do and not explain. I do like dialogue, but I don't like too much exposition or lecturing. I want a good story.

There does have to be some variety in the characterization or you get a character monoculture. An example for me of that is Salinger or Woolfe. "Jesus, man could you stop talking about the same person all the time" and "C'mon lady, stop talking about yourself all the time."

That's where research comes in. You either observe other people and portray that, people not you, or you ask lots and lots of people invasive questions and hope some of them answer in an entertaining or accurate fashion.

 

[SecondCircle]

I use only hints of my own personalities in my characters. Real subtle ones. Past that, I have a knack for being able to place myself in someone else's shoes. So that's what I do when I write. I become that character, almost like an actor would, and do what they would naturally do, say what they would naturally say.

But I do think we all write what we know best. It just happens that way. Naturally.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It's good to do and not explain. I do like dialogue, but I don't like too much exposition or lecturing. I want a good story.

There does have to be some variety in the characterization or you get a character monoculture. An example for me of that is Salinger or Woolfe. "Jesus, man could you stop talking about the same person all the time" and "C'mon lady, stop talking about yourself all the time."

That's where research comes in. You either observe other people and portray that, people not you, or you ask lots and lots of people invasive questions and hope some of them answer in an entertaining or accurate fashion.

By GOOD STORY I assume you mean an interesting-clever-relevant-significant dramatization of a challenging issue or event, with characters who have impressive but not implausible qualities and talents, that is, their super powers are limited, like in real life, and their faults aren't fatal. And the end is worth the read even if the end isn't endorsable.

Your comments gave me an idea for a story. Thank you.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I use only hints of my own personalities in my characters. Real subtle ones. Past that, I have a knack for being able to place myself in someone else's shoes. So that's what I do when I write. I become that character, almost like an actor would, and do what they would naturally do, say what they would naturally say.

But I do think we all write what we know best. It just happens that way. Naturally.

Let me put it another way. Even if you speak French fluently youll always color it with your own personality. So how do you tone down your flavor to write well?

 

[Recidiva]

By GOOD STORY I assume you mean an interesting-clever-relevant-significant dramatization of a challenging issue or event, with characters who have impressive but not implausible qualities and talents, that is, their super powers are limited, like in real life, and their faults aren't fatal. And the end is worth the read even if the end isn't endorsable.

Your comments gave me an idea for a story. Thank you.

Yup.

Otherwise you have a monoculture with no real opposing voices, just a drum beat.

You can tell a preachy story because there's a struggling hero and just cardboard cutout bad guys and friends that are there to prop up the fantasy fulfillment.

Another actor's observation that applies to writing as well. You can tell when a writer or an actor is portraying something they don't know or they don't believe or can't get behind.

Kevin Kline is a good actor, but if he doesn't like who he is playing, he is almost playing along with the audience in his subtext. "Look at this guy, what an asshole, right people?" (a la "A Fish Called Wanda")

If you can't do it straight and believe in it, don't act it or don't write it.

Oddly enough I had this insight crystallize from listening to Brendan Fraser talk about commitment in his filming of "Encino Man." He had to remind himself. "Don't laugh. If you laugh, you've lost them. If you're committed to what you're doing, you've got the audience."

Enjoy writing!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Yup.

Otherwise you have a monoculture with no real opposing voices, just a drum beat.

You can tell a preachy story because there's a struggling hero and just cardboard cutout bad guys and friends that are there to prop up the fantasy fulfillment.

Another actor's observation that applies to writing as well. You can tell when a writer or an actor is portraying something they don't know or they don't believe or can't get behind.

Kevin Kline is a good actor, but if he doesn't like who he is playing, he is almost playing along with the audience in his subtext. "Look at this guy, what an asshole, right people?" (a la "A Fish Called Wanda")

If you can't do it straight and believe in it, don't act it or don't write it.

Oddly enough I had this insight crystallize from listening to Brendan Fraser talk about commitment in his filming of "Encino Man." He had to remind himself. "Don't laugh. If you laugh, you've lost them. If you're committed to what you're doing, you've got the audience."

Enjoy writing!

I was just thinking about Miley Cyrus. If she played Mary, Mother of God, she'd make people think the Nativity was the backseat of a Chevy parked at the drive-in. She makes everything seem like the backseat.

 

[Recidiva]

I was just thinking about Miley Cyrus. If she played Mary, Mother of God, she'd make people think the Nativity was the backseat of a Chevy parked at the drive-in. She makes everything seem like the backseat.

Yes, there are typecast writers as well as typecast actors and performers.

 

[RoyceConnors]

And its not you doing the writing. I see.

No, it's not me, it's the writer writing it. I stop my personal feelings on things and write what the character would do in a situation. It doesn't reflect me in any way, only the character.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

No, it's not me, it's the writer writing it. I stop my personal feelings on things and write what the character would do in a situation. It doesn't reflect me in any way, only the character.

I get DISSOCIATION. But when we do the writing our flavor colors what we write.

 

[Recidiva]

I get DISSOCIATION. But when we do the writing our flavor colors what we write.

When I had an acting teacher he would stop me.

"What the hell is that?"
"What"
"Who are you pretending to be?"
"Oh, this girl in school I knew."
"Nobody cares about that girl. You look like an idiot being that girl. Find a way to make it you or get off the stage."

It's terrifying to realize that when you act you have to find a way to be whatever is called for. Druggie? Murderer? Find it. Come up with a motivation, give your character flaws, depth, volume, make it real.

It's got to be you.

I understand the feeling of it not being me and having a character do something, but it's not based on ether. It's based on character and situation choices and the shape of that mind.

 

[slyc_willie]

Personally, I don't think I can write a main character that doesn't have some of my own preferences and biases. What I try to concentrate on are the personality quirks, affectations, and things of that nature, which I often borrow from people I've observed. So my main characters, especially if male, are a little bit me and a little bit someone else. I write them with the story in mind, making them as suitably emotive, deductive, stoic or amiable as is necessary to keep the ball rolling.

With my detective character in TnT, for example, I based him a little on myself (from my years as a military investigator), a little on my then partner/mentor (who was about fifteen years older than I), and a little on the classic hard-nosed gumshoe trope. He was what the story called for, to balance out the emotional naivete of his partner in the story.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

When I had an acting teacher he would stop me.

"What the hell is that?"
"What"
"Who are you pretending to be?"
"Oh, this girl in school I knew."
"Nobody cares about that girl. You look like an idiot being that girl. Find a way to make it you or get off the stage."

It's terrifying to realize that when you act you have to find a way to be whatever is called for. Druggie? Murderer? Find it. Come up with a motivation, give your character flaws, depth, volume, make it real.

It's got to be you.

I understand the feeling of it not being me and having a character do something, but it's not based on ether. It's based on character and situation choices and the shape of that mind.

I love that sort of thing. Its popular at mental health conventions; theres always some genius eager to show us bumpkins how to make rapport with assholes. The absolute best assholes in the world are me, and a black lady named Gwen. We know how to do asshole.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Personally, I don't think I can write a main character that doesn't have some of my own preferences and biases. What I try to concentrate on are the personality quirks, affectations, and things of that nature, which I often borrow from people I've observed. So my main characters, especially if male, are a little bit me and a little bit someone else. I write them with the story in mind, making them as suitably emotive, deductive, stoic or amiable as is necessary to keep the ball rolling.

With my detective character in TnT, for example, I based him a little on myself (from my years as a military investigator), a little on my then partner/mentor (who was about fifteen years older than I), and a little on the classic hard-nosed gumshoe trope. He was what the story called for, to balance out the emotional naivete of his partner in the story.

You do it well!

Why is that old Monkee song suddenly in my head?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B87yRfzwlrQ

I HATE THE MONKEES! WILLIE GET THEM OUTTA MY HEAD!

 

[49greg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B87yRfzwlrQ

I HATE THE MONKEES! WILLIE GET THEM OUTTA MY HEAD!

My wife used to live in Vegas, there was this burrito place that ran ads constantly:

Burritos in the morning,
Burritos at night,
Super Burritos, we do it right.
Super Burritos, Super Burritos, we do it right.

Whenever my wife has something going on in her head, I can get it out by just starting the first line of that jingle. Then she gets pissed 'cause she can't get THAT out of her head. I once texted the first line on her cell 'phone and she had it in her head all day!

Yes, it's cruel. But she thinks I'm cute.

 

[slyc_willie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B87yRfzwlrQ

I HATE THE MONKEES! WILLIE GET THEM OUTTA MY HEAD!

Jim, you make the strangest connections. I think I'll base one of my characters in my Halloween story on you.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Jim, you make the strangest connections. I think I'll base one of my characters in my Halloween story on you.

I blame Lateral Thinking Training.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_thinking

 

[slyc_willie]

I blame Lateral Thinking Training.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_thinking

You outta try Lumosity.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You outta try Lumosity.

OK but Laurel will hold you responsible for the damage I do. I checked it out. Will look at it later.