Character Development

[mizkit]

A while back, I put forth a general call for questions about writing that people might want to ask me, and, er, I just remembered that I had the list stored, so I thought I’d answer one! :)

Heather asks: Character inspirations - from whom did you draw the personality traits of Joanne, Gary, Morrison, Margrit, Alban, Janx, Daisani, etc.

This one’s

Comments

[msagara]

I have based two characters in books on people I know in real life. And one of them read all the books and didn’t recognize herself; her friend, otoh, came into the store after reading the first two SUN SWORD books to ask me directly if, in fact, the Kalakar was based on her. And I said: “Yes, and she’s never noticed.”

[chrysoula]

I've had that happen...

[kirbyk]

What about Cyrano the Coyote?

[mizkit]

Obviously named for certain persons of our acquaintance, yeah, and that's actually the one case where I intended that name all along. :)

[deborahblakehps]

I love all those characters :-)

On of my favorite bits about being an author is how many of the characters just seem to create themselves. When I wrote Barbara, my first Baba Yaga (ahem, nudge), I knew I wanted to have a protagonist who wasn't a "good guy," necessarily. Not bad, not evil, but more that she did good because she felt like it at the moment, not because it was her general nature. And other than that, I didn't know much about her. So she told me. Assertively.

[irishkate]

I am still so honoured..And it never dawned on me at the time that that was where you got the name until you said.

[bard_linn]

Every time I recommend the Negotiator trilogy I have to mention Janx, Daisani and Margrit. They absolutely made that series shine.

[mizkit]

Thank you. ♥ :) I have to say, Janx and Daisani are always fun to write. :)