Bring Your Characters to Life: Advanced Live Training on Character Creation
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2024
- SAVE YOUR SPOT AT THE LIVE TRAINING 👉 mailchi.mp/abbiee/advanced-ch...
I’ve had a lot of writers ask me for a more advanced character creation training, diving even deeper into the nuances of crafting realistic, layered, and flawed characters who feel just as believable and complex as real people. (Characters that make you genuinely forget that they aren’t actually real people!) As you probably know, I’ve talked a lot about character creation on this channel... but I know some of you want to go even deeper and take your characters to that next level of complexity. That’s why, this Sunday, I’m hosting a special live training diving even deeper into the topic of advanced character creation. This training is for the serious writers out there who want to make their stories the best they can possibly be-and take their writing to the next level!
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My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.
Story isn’t about “what happens” - it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel - and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!
My issue with character creation is... When I start a story, I dont know who they are. They are interesting enough I want to know them, but until the first draft is done I don't know the details of the character.
Try to write a back story just for yourself to have an idea how they would act
Same. I understand the importance of the back story, enneagram, etc . . . But, I found for me it's easier to write it out first.
Then go back and fix, fleshout, and delete. Then try and get everything perfect before I put pen to paper.
I can't agree more. I don't know my characters until they interact with the world a few times. One side character interacted with a person. Just for fun I named the person. 3 months later that random person has become integral and has had 3 chapters devoted to them. I've moved backwards and changed some of the earlier writings to include them.
As a few others have pointed out here, you can work out your characters as you write. That's what I do. You might not know who they are at first, but you'll figure it out over time. Then, once you've finished your story, you can go back and flesh that character out more.
You might be a discovery writer research that because same girl.
I have been praised by my peers for my character writing. I usually start by heavily outlining and plotting my protagonist, and discovery write my plot around them
Congratulations! I love this channel! Yes, and is it even necessary to have a lot of side characters? Maybe, in some stories, one side character will do to show the main character's inner conflict, especially if the writing style for that book involves the main character's musings and comical mutterings (not too revealing or understanding, oc) in the style of Charlie Kaufman's Adaptation? I know he's a genius, and this style won't work for most writers, but I'm just thinking out loud.
Hey Abbie, could you ease make a video for all who can't make it to your live training? It woukd really help all of us in the back
The character turns the story.
The character is teetering between both sides of their dilemma.
The plot is just the character's choices, described in order.
Your video on Captain America (really on deep perspective!) is one of my touchstones when I need some inspiration.
Implementing parts of myself as a character, the negative and the positive, helps me connect deeply to them and makes them feel complex. Wonder if other people feel the same😂
Thank you so much Abbie! I cannot wait. I signed up for Sunday. This will help "flesh" my characters as they seem to be "flat" to me.
yay! I'm stoked to see you on Sunday, I think you'll get a lot out of this one! 😁💜
Hey, I'm early for once! Just wanted to take this chance and say a quick thank you. Your videos are really helpful, I love the examples you give and the way you explain topics, and that bookshelf is just- 😍 This video looks wonderful too; I haven't seen it yet, will update my comment once I do. I love character creation though, so I'm excited to dive into this!
Edited: Aw, man! I don't have money of my own and can't sign up on Patreon. Well, I guess I'll just stick with the free courses for now. They're great too.
I'm so happy my channel has been helpful and inspiring to you! That means so much to me 🥹💜 That brightens my day x1000!
@@AbbieEmmons Glad I could make you happy, you deserve it😃
Wait- editing a comment removes the creator's heart from it? That's so sad 😭 I don't think it's pinned now either, and all to fix a spelling mistake...
Thanks for the heart and reply anyway, I didn't expect it, so you made my day much better too! ❤️
So excited!
Thank you! Love this channel! And this is even easier when you "write your life" or a story from your life with a moral for others in that point of their journey. Then, this tends to happen naturally, bc every character has hopes, fears, a personality, and his or her own thing going on that is parallel to and weaves into the main character's story and issues. Boom!
1
Imagine a powerful MC whose reaction and voice are different from one situation to another. How can I maintain consistency in the MC's voice?
2.
A character ( who doesn't have any transformation) he takes the decision was also good at the end of the novel.Then he is the villain or hero in subjective POV.
3.
how you release the trailer of the book?
Thank you. Very helpful. I took a lot of notes and I am going to re-examine my MC. :)
Abbie can you please do a video explaining how to do that, please? I would really like to be there but I can't make it and I would like tips of you explaining that, I hope you understand.
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I would recommend starting with this video will help you a lot: ruclips.net/video/k1W5DSOlPrw/видео.html&pp=ygUeYWJiaWUgZW1tb25zIGNoYXJhY3RlciBwcm9maWxl
Love these vids!!!
So good!!!
This literaly came at the PERFECT time lol
Yesss
I have no idea what Abbie will say but I’m replying to your comment to get on the thread so that I’m notified when she answers you 😂
I have not yet started my first WIP yet because I want to get more proficient at some specific skill sets first. There are also some specific concepts about story structure that I want to understand.
I feel like I’m in the grocery store with an overflowing cart; but whenever I head toward the checkout, I always see something else I think I might like and then I have to look at the label and evaluate if I should put it in my cart 😂. There are so many times that things have popped up in my feed that I’m super glad came my way because I didn’t even know to search for them.
As a matter of fact, Abbie’s channel just popped up in my feed! Forever grateful for that and being exposed to her channel’s content has been the single most motivating event for me to learn craft and decide to write and complete at least one proper novel in my lifetime.
I’ve been looking at various story structures to lay on top of three act - because I know I will benefit from additional structure while outlining, at least until I further develop my inner storyteller when it will all just come naturally 🙄😂
At this point my reasons to wait are concrete enough that I don’t feel like I’m just procrasti-planning; but I am on alert because trying something new like this is scary!
Exciting and worthwhile as I feel it to be, it will take a conscious decision and a leap of faith that I’m ready to start my novel. I’ve started outlining but I’m still developing my process to create and craft my story. So I’m making progress.
As someone less prepared than you, from my vantage point you seem objectively prepared enough to start especially if you have an outline that’s working!
Maybe give yourself permission to continue to learn as you go if there are skill sets you don’t feel strong enough on yet.
Maybe pick your favorite story beat or any scene from your outline that you are looking forward to writing and just do that scene to get your feet wet. If you have to edit it or even rewrite it later, so what?
You might find that writing the scene you’re most excited about will set you off! Remember no one has to see your first draft so it’s a safe space. Just set a goal to write one scene, set a date to do it and see how it goes. Worst case scenario you throw it away. Best case it gets you excited enough to go whole hog or maybe it illuminates to you why you are hesitating.
Take care and good luck. I hope Abbie answers you.
Hi abbie! I had asked you about the limited edition otherworld copies in the last live which you said you'd make an announcement on your website, i don't have the link to your website, so would you mind sending me the link? Or is there any direct way to order the signed copies?
Ughhhh I need to make $$ so I can join the patreon. Just got my first job so hopefully soon because currently I am brokeeee
Hey Abbie, love your videos. I am writing a book. I am an artist, so I can draw my characters with every detail. I LOVE character creation. I have an awesome backstory for my pirate OC Ariana! She has lost many loved ones. Everyone fears her. No, she isn't cringey. I hate making cringey characters. I like a character who is lovable and motivating. I think that everybody will love Ariana. She has a very interesting backstory. And, my book is FULL of plots. It is a mix of humor, tragedy, romance, violence (yes, it might have ALOT of violence 😅). I have two villains. I am not gonna tell alot because the book might be more interesting than you think. So far, chatgpt thinks that it is quite intriguing. Don't worry, it will have VERY crispy grammar and dialogues. I hope that everybody will love it ❤
his this for first the first sunday of december or the second??
1:51 Well, several of the character I have created would argue with me about plot points with while writing.
I missed the live training! : (
Has she done a video on hiw to make a character playlist
#AskAbbie
In the novel I've started, 5 characters are intriduced in the first chapter - but I feel like that's fine because 1 is simply called 'Grandmamma' and the other 4 are sisters called Winter, Summer, Spring and Autumn. I think that because they are all so similar, the reader will expect them to be 4 as soon as they hear that there are 2. Do you think it's fine or should I change it?
(Love your videos by the way they've helped me become a much better writer)
I'm writing a novel, and i've completed my 3 act structure outline, and in total, with my notes and brain dump section, it turned out to be 3000 words. I have my character sheets and ideas and everything, but i still don't feel ready to begin my manuscript. When do I know i've done enough outlining, and how much is too much? Any advice?
As someone who doesn't outline practically at all before beginning (I find the story as I write it, changing it over time and coming up with ideas, when it eventually grows into a somewhat full outline) it really depends on how you function. How you personally work best. If you're like Abbie and need to have a perfect outline, with each scene and its impact all figured out, then do that. Scene cards. But if not, if you're more like me and you only need a vague idea before you can jump in, then do that.
I outlined for two days when I first came up with the idea for my novel. I figured out the character dynamics, the basic idea for the plot, and obviously their personalities and vague backstories, and then I jumped right in. It wasn't perfect, in fact I had to do a full rewrite (and I did, and it turned out amazing; I expect to have to do another one in the near future before this novel is finished), but that's to be expected if you don't have absolutely everything planned out before you write. But it works better for me personally, and helps keep me inspired and motivated.
So the takeaway from this is, do what works for you; if you don't feel ready to begin your manuscript, maybe think about why that is. Are you uninspired? Do you feel like something is still missing? Are you afraid of writing and then not liking what you write, and having to rewrite it? Or are you simply overthinking and wondering if there's some specific amount of outlining you should do before beginning? Because the answer is up to you; it could be any amount from absolute 0 to a full 100.
And in the end, rewriting is inevitable. There's a reason people talk about first drafts, then seconds and thirds, maybe even fourths, until finally you get to the final draft. I didn't understand for a long time, but I finally do. You will NEVER write something perfect on the first try. There is ALWAYS editing, no matter how big or small. For some it's big, like the plot and the characters needing overhauling and entire scenes needing to be scrapped or replaced with something else entirely, while for others it's small, like the grammar, pacing, description, and overall delivery needing some work.
What matters is that you love what you write, that you pour your heart and soul into it. Because if you don't love it, it WILL show, and by extension your readers will find it mediocre at best. So do what keeps you inspired and motivated; do what keeps you in love with your story, so you're in the mindset where you can create something that others will love too. Don't be afraid of rewriting.
Stephen King and George R.R Martin are well known discovery writers or 'gardeners' aka pantsers. You can totally just have a light outline showcasing just the pivotal, key plot points in the 3 act structure, and go from there. I do that, while heavily plotting and outlining my main protagonist, including everything about them like characterisation, their narrative arc, backstory and more besides, as well as one or two supporting characters and the antagonist.
If you want to learn how to be a plotter, go learn from Brandon Sanderson, who is known for doing very detailed and intricate outlining before writing his novels
I wish I could pay individually for the sessions instead of committing to $15 monthly. This session sounds interesting
You can cancel after one month payment and get access to the live training for this month, if that's your preference 😁
I’ll do that and check out the previous live trainings too. If it helps my writing it’s a good investment
Does anyone know if she has a video on punctuation? And can you tell me what it’s called?
Or how do I use this thing “ -“ I think I understand from other books but I want to be sure before I use it
I don't have a video on this, but this article might help: www.liveabout.com/punctuating-dialogue-properly-in-fiction-writing-1277721#:~:text=Periods%20and%20commas%20go%20inside,from%20Raymond%20Carver's%20short%20story
That's an emdash. I use it a lot in my writing, hehe. Speaking from personal experience, I think it's similar to a colon in terms of usage. It can emphasise something, add extra information, join two clauses, etc. This is all just my way of using it though - I might have read some articles about it, but I don't really remember them now - so it would better if you read up about it. (See? I included an example too 😉)
Thank you both so much!!!
@@mossfeather7984you're welcome, have fun learning about it :)
My problem with characters is that I feel as if they have no personality. all of these characters are based off another fictional character, and whenever I write, I have to think, “How would __ respond to this?” They are all interesting and I’m already head-over-heals for my MC, Ashley. Wasn’t able to make it to the live, but any tips on getting personality?
I'm writing 2 fantasy thriller novels and I want the reader to care about my characters like I do. I do struggle with introducing main character prologue without resorting to flash backs. I hate those.
My problem is my characters, I think, are a bit too complex-
why is it paid?? I’m only eleven I CANT AFFORD THIS AGGHHHH
i miss when you used to make informative videos and not invites for live trainings
Do you read people work because I need someone to read it
And I’m to embarrassed to so someone