tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post231987241531626785..comments2023-10-12T03:20:53.815-05:00Comments on Susan Fields: Too Many CharactersSusan Fieldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433408456603462774noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-41323687521265934272012-10-01T10:38:27.835-05:002012-10-01T10:38:27.835-05:00I'd better check the number of names in my fir...I'd better check the number of names in my first few chapters, too! That novel revision retreat sounds so amazing. 4 other novelists got to read your ENTIRE manuscript???!!!Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-79546630848745357352012-09-29T22:13:30.842-05:002012-09-29T22:13:30.842-05:00Now that's interesting. I don't think I ha...Now that's interesting. I don't think I have that many characters, but I'd better go check!Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-64546672362590099062012-09-28T21:51:29.235-05:002012-09-28T21:51:29.235-05:00I always add too many characters to my memoirs and...I always add too many characters to my memoirs and it drives me nuts. It's very confusing to figure out who is who. This is one of many things I need improvement in my writing: less characters and more personality :)Livia Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059335917756643684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-29489190138975908512012-09-27T20:52:03.082-05:002012-09-27T20:52:03.082-05:00I'm so glad you took something away from the r...I'm so glad you took something away from the retreat. :) I'm sure you will be sharing more wisdom with us.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-23132379465402057912012-09-27T10:32:55.212-05:002012-09-27T10:32:55.212-05:00I've done this at times. Actually, my first pu...I've done this at times. Actually, my first published book starts out with a family of seven kids rushing to the dinner table. There, I think all the names added to the chaotic effect. At least, my editor didn't ask for changes. Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-20669293192316080632012-09-26T23:14:55.865-05:002012-09-26T23:14:55.865-05:00I did that in my earlier writing, but I'm care...I did that in my earlier writing, but I'm careful not to do it anymore. I read books that have character dumping in the beginning and it's confusing, enough to make me put the book down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-40040890945326178362012-09-26T19:36:03.441-05:002012-09-26T19:36:03.441-05:00I've done that too--removed characters that do...I've done that too--removed characters that don't actually play a major role in the story.Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-15613266338320073442012-09-26T10:18:27.092-05:002012-09-26T10:18:27.092-05:00I think it's something everyone does at some p...I think it's something everyone does at some point, Susan. We get so enthusiastic about our characters and their lives that we forget the reader has no idea who they are yet! <br /><br />That's good that you were able to correct the problem though. Good luck with the continued revisions.<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-50941623802624753322012-09-25T20:25:57.323-05:002012-09-25T20:25:57.323-05:00Oh, my, I've been through that too many charac...Oh, my, I've been through that too many characters problem more times than I would like to remember. I think I've finally got that problem solved. Good luck in your revisions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-52721358147191146212012-09-25T19:02:36.902-05:002012-09-25T19:02:36.902-05:00At least you weren't using hard to pronounce f...At least you weren't using hard to pronounce fantasy names, right? Those are always the worst. I was totally lost when reading The Hobbit. <br /><br />I've had to kill off a few unnecessary characters in my first chapter before. It's hard when the chapter takes place in a classroom and the mc is going to know everyone's names. She can't just refer to them as the girl behind me, unless she really don't know the girl behind her. Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-53176705490619936342012-09-25T17:54:02.926-05:002012-09-25T17:54:02.926-05:00I'm going to have to check. In the ms I'm ...I'm going to have to check. In the ms I'm currently revising, I'm pretty sure I'm good - but the one that's marinating right now will probably have some issues with that! Thanks for the tip!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-18926189863652798812012-09-25T15:42:01.630-05:002012-09-25T15:42:01.630-05:00Good luck with the rest of your revisions. :)Good luck with the rest of your revisions. :)Romance Reader https://www.blogger.com/profile/10633164931292182035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-49255517528624301042012-09-25T15:06:48.545-05:002012-09-25T15:06:48.545-05:00Susan, it's great you caught it and fixed it. ...Susan, it's great you caught it and fixed it. I'm working on a YA 3rd person omniscient. It's from the POV of 4 sisters. I need to introduce them all in the first chapter + the mother. Not easy to get in their minds enough to add depth right from the get-go. Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-74795395770589814392012-09-25T14:33:40.331-05:002012-09-25T14:33:40.331-05:00Glad you could look at your MS objectively and see...Glad you could look at your MS objectively and see those mistakes, sometimes it takes an outsider to point them out to you.<br />The lovely Micheal Di Gesu checked over my eBook MS and pointed out some things that needed amending and to him I am most grateful, as they just did not leap from the page until he highlighted them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-17149815649698668482012-09-25T14:00:44.040-05:002012-09-25T14:00:44.040-05:00My problem is more of a lack of description. I hav...My problem is more of a lack of description. I have a picture in my head but it doesn't always get put down the way I want it to.Tess Julia https://www.blogger.com/profile/17850176812284692371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-15867889431179228142012-09-25T13:33:30.166-05:002012-09-25T13:33:30.166-05:00Lovely Susan!!! I'm currently reading The Cons...Lovely Susan!!! I'm currently reading The Constant Gardener by John Le Carre and I've lost count as to how many characters pop in and out! LOL!! But he holds the narrative together by setting up a most intriguing mystery on the outset and that's what's keeping me reading! So I don't really know about whether it's the amount of characters per se so much as the set up! It certainly seems to be with this book!! Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-82944678975628259072012-09-25T12:59:51.529-05:002012-09-25T12:59:51.529-05:00Oh, wow! Good thing to check in a manuscript. I...Oh, wow! Good thing to check in a manuscript. I'm revising today, and I am going to count characters! Thank you for the tip!Kelly Polarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10968381456100611120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-17595819345754816762012-09-25T11:59:40.035-05:002012-09-25T11:59:40.035-05:00Ough, I've recently translated a book called O...Ough, I've recently translated a book called ONE WEEK IN DECEMBER which also had way too many characters so it was also very difficult to follow them all. Glad you've managed to solve the problem, Suzie!DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-57539184322216183502012-09-25T10:13:14.009-05:002012-09-25T10:13:14.009-05:00I try to keep the characters to a minimum, and the...I try to keep the characters to a minimum, and the lesser ones don't get mentioned until they appear. I ended up writing this way because as a reader I dislike too many characters. I loath having to go back because I can not remember who somebody was.<br /><br />You have made the right decision in my opinion.Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-69293571467372619932012-09-25T10:11:36.617-05:002012-09-25T10:11:36.617-05:00Susan,
As few characters as I have in my own work,...Susan,<br />As few characters as I have in my own work, I do sometimes discover one that just doesn't do enough and can be eliminated. Or who takes up too much space in a crucial scene. Dad's presence will be greatly reduced in Rat Race. I want to see how the change with Dad is reflected in the whole before I make a decision about Ryan. Decisions, decisions!<br />--SueBESueBEhttp://suebe.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-32339767323008775192012-09-25T10:08:40.553-05:002012-09-25T10:08:40.553-05:00This has never seemed to be a problem for me. But ...This has never seemed to be a problem for me. But I suppose that could change! :DBish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-55521780193317668262012-09-25T10:00:36.384-05:002012-09-25T10:00:36.384-05:00I tend to only focus on a couple of characters at ...I tend to only focus on a couple of characters at a time. I guess that's a good thing. Carolyn Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780443388339294502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-87750886316026585282012-09-25T09:57:38.060-05:002012-09-25T09:57:38.060-05:00I also am guilty of trying to introduce too many c...I also am guilty of trying to introduce too many characters at once. I also go overboard making sure my readers know how they are related to one another too. <br /><br />Happy Revising!Bossy Bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12568355839499622409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-89946189874803186212012-09-25T09:08:40.706-05:002012-09-25T09:08:40.706-05:00That was some very nice advice, especially for tho...That was some very nice advice, especially for those of us who confuse easily!Brian's Home Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08809631273441407139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413062903651514093.post-41673879178800694332012-09-25T09:08:07.421-05:002012-09-25T09:08:07.421-05:00I think the story arch/type really dictates the nu...I think the story arch/type really dictates the number of characters that can be supported. If it's a massive and complex story (like George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones/Ice & Fire series), you can really run wild with lots of characters. If it's a basic murder mystery, etc. too many will water things down.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00273059558675234923noreply@blogger.com