Maine Writers Conference - part 3: Creating 3-D Characters

During the Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers conference in Belfast, Maine this summer I attended  a workshop on Creating 3-D Characters presented by award winning author Susan Page Davis. Susan shared how to develop dynamic characters.  She is an expert at this, having written over 20 novels.  She has graciously allowed me to share with you my notes from her workshop.

Remember what Steinbeck said:  Poor fiction works like early westerns.  Get rid of those sterotypical black and white hats.


Find a system that works for you in keeping track of characters' stats and oddities.  But don't forget, some characters are meant to be flat (Or, as fantasy author Teryy Brooks, puts it, "Some characters are only there for cannon fodder.") 

Susan recommends creating character index cards to keep track of traits for use during the writing of a book as well as for later reference.

Five (overlapping) elements of the Character:

Maine Writers Conference - part 2

At the Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers conference that I attended in July in Belfast, Maine,  award-winning writer and editor, Elin Lee, presented "Oh, Dear! Fiction of Non-Fiction?"   She discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using fiction or non-fiction to show your story.  I really enjoyed this workshop and Elin's insights. 

In one of her handouts, Elin shared some "Characteristics of Creative Nonfiction".  Literary critic Barbara Lounsberry in her book The Art of Fact suggests four characteristics of the genre.

1. Documentable subject matter chosen from the real world as opposed to 'invented' from the writer's mind.
2.  Exhaustive research which allows writers "novel perspecitves on their subjects" and "also permits them to extablish the credibility of their narratives through verifiable references in their texts."
3.  The scene, describing and revivifying the context of events in contrast to the typoical journalistic style of objective reportage.
4.  Fine writing:  a literary prose style, revealing the "the goal all along has been literature." 

Maine Writers Conference

This summer I had an opportunity to attend my very first writers conference which was put on by the Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers.  It was located on the downeast coast in beautiful Belfast, Maine. What a wonderful experience, and I got to share it with my best friend, Daphne.  The conference lasted the day and was filled with a variety of sessions and workshops. I was thrilled about this opportunity. 

The conference was a big step for this shy writer as I was going to have to share some of my writings with my peers.  One chance to do so was in a "Live Writers Society" at the end of the day where the attendees got to read their work in timed 3 minute segments.  I read a poem I wrote years ago, "Lamb of God, Shepherd Sweet".  When the conference was done many of us headed over to the Weather Vane for some delicious Maine seafood.

OWH Veterans Day Bloghop

The Homefront Blog is hosting a bloghop on Sat., Nov. 14th.  Participating blogs are displaying some of the cards that they have created for Operation Write Home.   Operation Write Home's mission is to support our nation's armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them. Groups and individuals around the country create handcrafted cards for deployed heroes. So far 246,076 cards have been sent.

The bloghop starts at the  Homefront Blog  where you'll get a complete list of participating bloggers.  Many of them are holding giveaways so be sure to sign their comment boxes.  And while you are here please sign mine for a chance to win my giveaway!

A few weeks ago I went to a card making party and had a super time making cards with about a dozen of my friends.  We cut, glued, stamped, embelleshed, etc. and created well over 100 cards in just an afternoon.  We plan to get together again in January and I can hardly wait.  It's so much fun, but the best part is that it blesses and honors our military and their families.