tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post1261183028631702460..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: Are You the Main Character, or Are You Along For the Ride?Chemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-88482950239926176832015-11-22T11:38:22.584-05:002015-11-22T11:38:22.584-05:00A really good book can draw me in so that I feel w...A really good book can draw me in so that I feel what the main character feels, but yes, I'm along for the ride. However -- the characters in my own writing? I sometimes act out those parts in my head to get them right, so I guess in a way I become them for awhile.Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-12757147297776162222015-11-20T18:59:14.989-05:002015-11-20T18:59:14.989-05:00I'm a big fan of Randy Ingermanson. His Snowfl...I'm a big fan of Randy Ingermanson. His Snowflake Method was one of the first story structure systems I ran across, and to this day, it is the one that makes the most sense to me.<br /><br />Although the quote doesn't leave much room for interpretation ("you must create in your reader the illusion that..."), I believe Randy is really talking about full story immersion. I think of full story immersion as those times when the hours fly by and the "real world" melts away while I'm reading. I literally squirm in my seat as I follow the story and have no awareness of the many pages I'm turning.<br /><br />But I never feel like I *am* the POV character. I'm there in the scene. I'm seeing the action. I've got a direct line to the POV character's experience. The more real that experience feels, the more immersed I am in the story and the better I like it. A well-written book is even better than a movie, IMO.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01159361726781299314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-52367246626241709482015-11-20T04:14:10.170-05:002015-11-20T04:14:10.170-05:00Maybe Randy's theory isn't as literal as i...Maybe Randy's theory isn't as literal as it seems. I figure he just means that it's like you have to think your reader will become your main character, rather than that they will actually think that way. If a reader does think that, as they read, they'd need to see a shrink, so that's probably not what he means.<br /><br />Naturally, we're going along for the ride. I always feel like I'm riding on the shoulder of the main character and have a chord plugged into their brain so I can hear their stream-of-consciousness thoughts as they are thought, as well as experience everything they experience right along with them. That's why fiction is the most unique medium of storytelling. Knowing they're thoughts, too, makes it the most intimate way to share an experience.Cathy Keatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356112948372149785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-59730436659363791322015-11-19T11:23:13.339-05:002015-11-19T11:23:13.339-05:00Lisa Cron's Wired for Story addresses that phe...Lisa Cron's Wired for Story addresses that phenomena using science and psychology and teaches writers how to use it to craft their story. It's an awesome book and it explains how readers interact with stories much better than I can ;)Dawnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01634103910786618206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-61410787021207842642015-11-19T10:15:58.771-05:002015-11-19T10:15:58.771-05:00I just read my first zombie book, by Heather Graha...I just read my first zombie book, by Heather Graham, her Krewe of Hunters series. Was a lot better than I thought it would be. This one, too, sounds good.Computer Tutorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00938856237984732342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-43402920493972714332015-11-18T15:57:47.796-05:002015-11-18T15:57:47.796-05:00Hmm. I don't think I've ever thought of my...Hmm. I don't think I've ever thought of myself as the MC. But when something is written in first person, I do think I see what they see and feel what they feel. Still, I don't *become* them. Weird because I've never really thought about it, about inhabiting a world versus a particular character. I'll have to pay more attention to the next book I read and see.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13464393340517511305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-67794163517648350752015-11-18T14:03:48.149-05:002015-11-18T14:03:48.149-05:00My husband tells me that's how people read too...My husband tells me that's how people read too. Not me. I'm watching the movie unfold in front of me. Unless I'm writing it. Then I'm living it. BUT my point is, I don't think writers are quite that way.Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-25857317199888146932015-11-18T13:07:06.199-05:002015-11-18T13:07:06.199-05:00Congratulations, David!
I feel the same way. It...Congratulations, David!<br />I feel the same way. It's like watching a movie. I don't feel like I'm the main character. I don't even feel that way when I write!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-8001874661163725292015-11-18T12:03:58.272-05:002015-11-18T12:03:58.272-05:00I'm along for the ride. I think if I actually ...I'm along for the ride. I think if I actually considered myself the main character, I'd wonder about my mental health. But I do get submerged, as if I'm in that world. Maybe that's what he meant. Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.com