Header PromotionMichael Jackson died. A guy whose life, had it been fictional, would never have made it past an editor. A guy who embodied the line: Truth is Stranger than Fiction.
It’s been interesting listening to his fans talk about what Michael meant to them. For most, his music was the soundtrack to the big occasions in their lives. One couple met over a love for ‘Thriller’, exchanged vows to ‘The Girl Is Mine’ and even had a life-size cut-out of Michael at their wedding.
I hope their marriage survives his passing.
Since I’ve been published I’ve discovered that fiction writers have to write ‘truer’ than real life. That means no coincidences, no phone calls interrupting the love-making and definitely no third party assisting a happy ending. Things that happen in real life all the time.
One of my favourite reader comments came on my last Superromance, Second-Chance Family. This reader loved the realism of all the characters but felt one – a three-year-old – didn’t ring true.
You guessed it. Cassie’s the only character I’ve ever written based on a real-life person - my niece - with all her toddler’s quirks and mannerisms.
So who’s your favourite fictional character – the one more real than the people you live with? For me, it’s Scarlett O’Hara (Gone With The Wind), Holden Caulfield (Catcher In The Rye) and Scout (To Kill A Mockingbird).
Like Father, Like Son, Superromance Nov 09
What The Librarian Did, Superromance March 10
I totally agree. You must
I totally agree. You must be channeling Erica Orloff. She always says this on her (writing) blog. No favorite character. I find it very strange that MJ's pasing brought people out of the woodwork. I was sad for his family, but I'm really not affected by his death. I was more affected by the murder of John Lennon.
"Saving the future, one presidential edict at a time."
March's Member of the Month--2008
More real than real life
I couldn't honestly tell you why, but Rob Sutter from Rachel Gibson's The Trouble with Valentine's Day is one of the most real characters to me. I suppose it's because he had some life lessons he had to learn the hard way, which all of us do, and though he's pretty good at resisting temptation for a long time, in the end he just can't. I can see him in my mind's eye just as clearly as if he were someone I know, and I appreciate his sense of humor, the way he feels about his daughter, and the way he treats people.
Adopt a shelter pet. Save a life; gain a best friend for life.
View my DD's very public video acting debut at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E-v05kMucw.
July 2009 Member of the Month
I just finished a book by
I just finished a book by Amy Andrews and her Izzy is one of the most 'real' characters I've read. What is it that authors do to make characters seem real? IMO it is the authors that have done awesome character development and show their emotional responses to each other that make them so real. Jo March and Scarlet O'Hara are a couple characters from classics that seem to have that 'real' feel, but there are many more. Character development is the key.
Nancy
January 2009 Member of the Month
Participant in Date with Destiny 2009
Participant in Pass the Plot Spring 2009
Characters
Karina--did I see in Margaret Watson's Keeper blog that you like Larry McMurtry? He's one of my favorite authors, in fact, when I was doing my creative writing degree, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to write like him. I found my own voice later, but that early study of his dialogue and pacing is still very useful to me.
I think he creates memorable characters even though I don't find them very realistic. I think with McMurtry it's partly the dialogue. His characters really come to life through their speech. My (current) favorites are Texasville and Lonesome Dove.
I also love the boys S.E. Hinton wrote in Tex and The Outsiders. Again, I don't think they are completely realistic, but they really lived for me as characters. They had a huge impact on my high school writing. I took a creative writing class in high school and the teacher tried very hard to get me to write from a female point of view. He felt a girl couldn't write an authentic boy voice. I held onto my S.E. Hinton library and persevered. Look at what I'm doing now?
(And I still think my men are easier to write than my women.)
Another all-time favorite character is Cameron Quinn from Nora's Chesepeake Bay trilogy. Love that guy. Again, great dialogue and internalization (in my opinion).
As for M. Jackson--I know exactly where I was when the "Thriller" video had it's MTV debut. A girl in my class had a party and we all gathered around her TV to watch--probably 50 kids. I was delighted because my mom wouldn't allow MTV at our house. It was rare for me to be pop-literate.
Cheers,
Ellen
www.ellenhartman.com
Blog: www.romancenovelsblog.blogspot.com
Plan B: Boyfriend Superromance December 2009
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May 2009
I feel sad for the life wasted and the fact that money and
talent weren't "enough" for MJ to lead a happy balanced life. I'm shocked at his mother asking for custody of the kids because when we see what a mess she made of some of her kids, why would a court give her more kids to mess up? I'd be happier for the kids if Janet or one of his brothers got custody.
I haven't been following the tabloids though I have seen references to the nanny selling her story - I'm sad that this tragic occasion is being milked for all it's worth
Hopefully in time people will remember his talent and forget the weirdness
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Response
FakeFrenchie (cute). I'll check out Erica's blog. Thanks for the reference. I guess Michael means more to me than Lennon because he's just a couple of years older (sadly). I grew up with him. One of my coolest memories was running at night through Regent's Park in London when I was on my OE (overseas experience) listening to Beat It on my walkman. He did great jogging music.
JV, Sheandeer - I love getting book recommendations, especially of fellow Harlequin writers. Thanks for that.
Ellen. Larry McMurtry as a writer (sigh). I want to write a western historical one day just because he inspires me so much. The weird thing is I looked at how he did setting and there's very little actual detail - all his settings are revealed through character. And what characters..and he does point of view head-hopping. Go, Larry.
Try Duane's Depressed just for the scene where Duane has a conversation with his grandson who's glued to TV.
My 'men' are easier to write too but I never made the connection before. Thanks!
And you like S.E Hinton. This is getting spooky. If any of you out there have teens - That Was Then, This Is Now - is a classic book by this great writer. And she was only eighteen or something when she wrote it.
I have read one of Nora's trilogy and keep meaning to read more so thanks, that's a spur.
Sadhhh, And now Michael's dad is getting in on the act.
Hopefully someone will act in those kids best interests.
Karina
Like Father, Like Son, Superromance Nov 09
What The Librarian Did, Superromance March 10
Karina, I'm in complete
Karina, I'm in complete agreement with you about truth being stranger than fiction. I don't know how many times I've read an article in my local paper and said to my husband that if I wrote that event into a book, it would never work because it's too unbelievable
As for favorite, real fictional characters I found Sugar Beth in SEP's Ain't She Sweet? to be very real - heartbreakingly so. Her journey from spoiled princess to a caring, mature woman was at times difficult to read but all the more poignant for Sugar Beth's determination to become a better person.
HIS SECRET AGENDA ~ October 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.bethandrews.net
www.romancebandits.blogspot.com
Sugar Beth
You're right, she was a great character...only Susan Elizabeth Philips could carry off such a transformation. And yet I have talked to readers who didn't like Sugar Beth as much as SEP's other heroines.
That's another thing I've noticed since I've been writing. Romance readers have much higher standards of behavior for heroines than heroes. Maybe because the heroine is the reader's stand-in...only she's our fantasy self, which means she has to be kinder, smarter, slimmer, better-looking etc. Whereas the hero's more of an exciting challenge if he needs redemption in some way. We just like to fix men I guess.
Like Father, Like Son, Superromance Nov 09
What The Librarian Did, Superromance March 10
Living with fictional people
What a great question, Karina! I, too, have known people I wouldn't dare to put in a book, because no one would believe them!
And yet, some of the wildest characters in other books are my favorites. I think the ones who stick with me are the ones I needed, at one time or another.
Nero Wolfe from the Rex Stout mysteries has been a friend of my heart since I was a little kid. He carves out his personal time according to a very strict schedule, and he won't let anyone interfere with it. When I was trying to write with kids in the house, I always imagined I was Nero!
And in my favorite Georgette Heyer novel, THESE OLD SHADES, Leonie was so real to me as a teenager I used to use her as inspiration, too. She's very plucky, so if I were nervous, I'd think...pretend you're Leonie!
I even used one of my own heroines the same way. In The Redemption of Matthew Quinn, the heroine was quirky, happy and very brave. I loved writing her, because I had to think brave, think happy...and a little of it rubbed off!
Kathleen
FOR THE LOVE OF FAMILY, October Superromance
TEXAS TROUBLE, May '10 Superromance
Inspiring characters
You're right, Kathleen, the best characters are always inspiration in your own life. And writing a happy heroine does rub off. Note to self: write more...leave the hero as the tortured one.
Karina
Like Father, Like Son, Superromance Nov 09
What The Librarian Did, Superromance March 10
He had faced several
He had faced several controversies that destroyed his character as famous personality in Hollywood. One of these controversies was the case regarding child molestation. Anyway, those who spent money on the upcoming London concerts will no miss the chance to see Thriller live, along with missing the man who made it possible. Michael Jackson will be sorely missed, but perhaps the one thing that he is known for to so many people is his album Thriller. Thriller was recorded in 1982, and what Jackson had in mind was an album in which every song was a hit – and he succeeded. It has sold over 50 million copies, and estimates for actual sales are over 100 million, which makes it the most successful album of all time. On top of legendary songs, guest artists on the record include Paul McCartney and Eddie Van Halen.
Michael as hitmaker
You're right, Esperanza A, his musical contribution was huge and Thriller remains one of my favourite albums. What's extraordinary about that achievement was that he was 27 in 1982. I guess if you've got it, you've got it.
Karina
Like Father, Like Son, Superromance Nov 09
What The Librarian Did, Superromance March 10