tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post2596241851527816587..comments2024-03-08T20:57:25.380-08:00Comments on Julie Musil, Author: Creating Heroes We Care AboutUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-72453783901419334792011-12-10T21:16:24.871-08:002011-12-10T21:16:24.871-08:00Thanks so much -- this is really helpful to me, as...Thanks so much -- this is really helpful to me, as I've been missing this key element and have thus suffered a great deal of stagnation in my writing. Keep them coming!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-11724723506973986902011-10-07T16:11:05.251-07:002011-10-07T16:11:05.251-07:00Really interesting post- thanks for sharing.Really interesting post- thanks for sharing.KatOwens: Insect Collectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12228171304170449979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-83622751240445214362011-10-07T12:43:00.171-07:002011-10-07T12:43:00.171-07:00This is such great advice. I love her examples. Th...This is such great advice. I love her examples. Thanks for this!Ghenet Myrthilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12621168379560585094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-8847787482511056612011-10-07T05:49:17.449-07:002011-10-07T05:49:17.449-07:00These are great tips, thanks so much for sharing!These are great tips, thanks so much for sharing!WritingNuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16326756274887055685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-4194945515251360422011-10-06T07:56:27.793-07:002011-10-06T07:56:27.793-07:00What a great post with wonderful examples. Thanks ...What a great post with wonderful examples. Thanks so much!Julie Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477115458570906449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-36124452200376126382011-10-05T15:30:41.695-07:002011-10-05T15:30:41.695-07:00Hi, guys. Blogger is still wonky and won't le...Hi, guys. Blogger is still wonky and won't let Veronika comment :( Here are more of her thoughts:<br /><br />"Carol: Sometimes your PTD scene doesn't have to be in the beginning; there are times when it can occur in the middle or even climax of the story. Basically, whenever your character needs a little rounding out. Good luck with finding yours!"<br /> <br />"Cynthia: Thanks for commenting! I appreciate the support from an expert. :)"Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-74007922430030374692011-10-05T09:43:39.447-07:002011-10-05T09:43:39.447-07:00Ha! I never thought of that, crying or feeling bad...Ha! I never thought of that, crying or feeling bad when the MC gets to kill off the bad guy. That's very interesting! Now I have to go ponder whether I have any pet-the-dog-type scenes for my current MC...and if they happen soon enough in the story to generate that sympathy. Thanks for the information, Veronica (and thanks Julie)!!Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-40083116347355686942011-10-05T09:18:52.101-07:002011-10-05T09:18:52.101-07:00Such a great post. Thanks Julie and Veronika. Wond...Such a great post. Thanks Julie and Veronika. Wonderful tips that you've made clear and concise.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-34262647507721733722011-10-05T07:03:40.629-07:002011-10-05T07:03:40.629-07:00Thank YOU everyone for visiting!
From Veronika Wa...Thank YOU everyone for visiting!<br /><br />From Veronika Walker:<br /><br />""I'm so glad you all found the post helpful! That just made my day. :) Keep going forward; find a way to make yourself fall in love with your character all over again. Trust me, the answer's there...somewhere.<br />Thanks again for having me, Julie!"<br /><br />Thank you, Veronika!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-87748678792151015272011-10-05T05:03:13.468-07:002011-10-05T05:03:13.468-07:00Thanks for breaking this down, Veronika. Everyone ...Thanks for breaking this down, Veronika. Everyone says to do this, but no one really tells you how. And thanks, Julie, for hosting!<br /><br />Becca @ The Bookshelf MuseBecca Puglisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08945707666707799601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-78996750745811264092011-10-05T03:17:23.423-07:002011-10-05T03:17:23.423-07:00I love well developed characters with strong motiv...I love well developed characters with strong motivations. :) Those save the cat scenes are important too, but I agree, hard to do well.Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-44613103553819933422011-10-04T20:57:15.854-07:002011-10-04T20:57:15.854-07:00Julie and Veronika... fabulous post. Thank you bot...Julie and Veronika... fabulous post. Thank you both. It never gets old remembering how to pet the dog, and the more examples we get... the better. Thank you for helping make my writing stronger.Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-79799250773763004222011-10-04T19:52:25.714-07:002011-10-04T19:52:25.714-07:00Thanks, guys. It's a tricky thing to balance, ...Thanks, guys. It's a tricky thing to balance, right? I've struggled with it myself.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-27540176332401909352011-10-04T19:46:15.366-07:002011-10-04T19:46:15.366-07:00Wow! This post is just awesome and so helpful! I w...Wow! This post is just awesome and so helpful! I was just trying to figure this out for my new wip, and now I see ways to make it happen! Thanks to both of you:)Michele Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16768815750264631798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-40587242736837545962011-10-04T19:11:50.309-07:002011-10-04T19:11:50.309-07:00This is great because I am having a seriously bad ...This is great because I am having a seriously bad moment with my MC. He's hell bent on revenge so much so that I've lost the ability to love him. Thanks for this!Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-49077003121363342042011-10-04T14:51:54.923-07:002011-10-04T14:51:54.923-07:00Awesome post, I love it! I really needed this beca...Awesome post, I love it! I really needed this because I'm struggling to make my MC sympathetic - she's an assassin so it's not easy.Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-49448998941978058992011-10-04T13:59:53.668-07:002011-10-04T13:59:53.668-07:00Terrific post. I do think our characters reveal th...Terrific post. I do think our characters reveal themselves in those little moments - great advice!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-61298540645383870282011-10-04T13:51:37.813-07:002011-10-04T13:51:37.813-07:00Great post! But I would add that if you made them...Great post! But I would add that if you made them a good guy you also have to make them a bad guy. We all have a mix of evil and good, so for the character to be 3 dimensional we need to see save the cat and kick the dog, I guess. Although I would stop reading a book if the hero kicked a dog. Other person, fine...dog? no. But you get the idea.Mary Kate Leahyhttp://www.houseoflaoch.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-44262130161406318392011-10-04T11:04:10.754-07:002011-10-04T11:04:10.754-07:00Great advice from Veronika. So true, it really is ...Great advice from Veronika. So true, it really is in the little things! Thank you both for this excellent guest post.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-70006101609150853022011-10-04T10:32:46.688-07:002011-10-04T10:32:46.688-07:00More thoughts from Veronika Walker:
"P.W.: T...More thoughts from Veronika Walker:<br /><br />"P.W.: Thanks! I agree; any kind of one-to-one connection you can make for your readers is super beneficial to the MC. It will make him/her real and full-bodied and, most importantly, memorable in the minds of your readers."<br /> <br />"Lisa: The classic definition of a hero IS someone who is flawed through and through. I would agree, any fictional hero has to have great qualities about them as a person, even if they're skewed because of the situation. Or, on the flip side, a hero can also be an MC who's actually a "bad dude" but who eventually has his one GOOD trait brought out of him. Both are great ways to sculpt those characters."<br /> <br />Don't forget, gang, to go check out <a href="http://inkworkservices.com/2011/10/04/applying-writing-lessons-learned-guest-post-from-julie-musil/" rel="nofollow">Julie's article</a> too!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-5361138033994931652011-10-04T10:11:44.290-07:002011-10-04T10:11:44.290-07:00Awesome guest post!! Great tips. I think a hero is...Awesome guest post!! Great tips. I think a hero is someone who is flawed but does the right thing anyway. Or maybe the wrong thing for the right reasons.Lisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-65104799665505035962011-10-04T10:08:23.490-07:002011-10-04T10:08:23.490-07:00Great concept and techniques Veronika. A lot of ti...Great concept and techniques Veronika. A lot of times the details can be far stronger than the overt pieces but the 'pet-the-dog' can take any aspect to the next level. Driving the 1:1 connection is always the best approach. Great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01046515540256155412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-1087661809129706562011-10-04T09:16:18.319-07:002011-10-04T09:16:18.319-07:00Since Veronika can't post her comments, I'...Since Veronika can't post her comments, I'll do it for her. Here goes:<br /><br />"Thanks, everyone, for reading and commenting. Sorry I'm having such trouble getting to you all..."<br /><br />"Barbara's comment got me thinking: Can you all, after reading this post, picture your MC 'doing' something similar? It should pretty much jump right out at you, the one thing your MC could or should do to solidify"<br /><br />"Their pet-the-dog/save-the-cat moment. What came to mind as soon as you finished reading the post?"<br /><br />"Rachna: Absolutely! Like Barbara previously, who is also working with a young female MC, you do need to find the nice girl in her...or she'll wind up being like Bella. (Yes, I just totally burned Twilight. :D ) If you yourself are having trouble with her, then I guarantee your readers will. You have to be able to enjoy her character and personality before your readers can.<br /> <br />Thanks for the comments!"<br /><br />(And I'll second that...thanks so much for the comments, guys!)Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-56041750243882026402011-10-04T09:03:34.607-07:002011-10-04T09:03:34.607-07:00Thanks Veronika for this great post. I loved the t...Thanks Veronika for this great post. I loved the tips. I was currently trying to make my MC (a 10 year old girl) a bit of a good girl (she is a complete prankster). This post will be immensely helpful.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-29572316147758557592011-10-04T08:52:08.529-07:002011-10-04T08:52:08.529-07:00Veronika Walker is trying desperately to comment o...Veronika Walker is trying desperately to comment on this post, but Blogger is giving her a heck of a time. Sorry, Veronika! I know you're not the only one who has had problems with this.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.com