Fiction Factor article

[ostarella]

Latest article from Fiction Factor, one of the stronger articles I've read:

Does Your Novel Have a Pulse? by Holly Lisle

http://www.fictionfactor.com/guests/pulse.html

There are things mentioned in this that might seem hard - or even needless - in fanfic, but then again, part of the enjoyment of fanfic is "fleshing out" the characters, so I think this would still be appropriate (and it "vindicates" certain actions JFM portrayed in "Cabin Fever", damn it :D)

Comments

[beckyblack]

Thanks for that article. I always love Holly Lisle's advice.

(and it "vindicates" certain actions JFM portrayed in "Cabin Fever", damn it :D)

I always say me and Holly Lisle are on the same wavelength. ;-)

It's a challenge in fanfic of course, in a long story, or series to make the characters develop and therefore change to some extent without them ending up OOC by the end. I suppose it's a case that if you can write it so that if they'd acted that way at the start they'd have been OOC, but you've made their development logical in the story so that what they do later is in character for that story, then you've got it right.

As long as the reader can see that character having the potential for that inside them in those circumstances, then it works. As I call it "out of character in an in-character way".

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

As I call it "out of character in an in-character way".

Very good way to put it. ;-) The more I think about CF, the more I wonder if my discomfort with those parts was really because I couldn't see them doing it - or because I knew they could/would and I didn't *want* them to be that way. Which, considering what I've written, is rather...DUH! :D

[beckyblack]

I did tone the blackmail scene down a tad in the editing, so they weren't quite as mean. :D I added a bit more regret that they had to do this. But they still did it. I still love Decker's rant at them for their annoying habits and flaws, because it's fun to have someone say all that stuff to remind us at that point that they are only human, even if they are the heroes.

And then of course, Face later gives the tape to Shila to hide or destroy, so Hannibal could never actually follow through on the blackmail. :D So I hope that was a little redemption.

I know in the series Hannibal is usually fairly light hearted, but sometimes we glimpse a scarier side of him, and I'm sure after his experience in two wars he has it in him to be as ruthless as the situation dictates, with some regret, sure, but not flinching from doing it.

Right, I have stuff to do! Back later.

[bevimoo.livejournal.com]

That was a great article, thanks Star. Going to add that to my bookmarks actually, really useful site. :)

[billy-shriner.livejournal.com]

thanks for sharing... She has some good advice. :D Hoping I'll get motivated and start writing soon :D