Today, we discuss what’s most important in a novel. Your idea of what is most important may be different from mine. For me, I think characters are most important.
You need characters you care about. If you don’t, the reader won’t. Characters need to be interesting - even the bad guy. Characters need to be different - a book of clones with the same personalities would be boring. You need protagonists your readers can relate to. Characters have flaws, just like real people. Characters have goals and setbacks and friends and quirks and secrets, goals, flaws, hopes, pasts and even things they would kill to protect. Even characters who are best friends or twins will be unique.
Characters carry the story. They shape it, manipulate it, become it.
They live in the writer’s head until the writer brings them to life on the page. Then they become part of the life of the reader.
Helen I agree that in novels everyone has different things that are important. While I like a story to be well paced and plotted, stories that have memorable characters with intense emotions/motivations are the ones that stay with me the longest.
ReplyDelete(Win one of five unique prizes from South Africa by entering the easy Christmas contest on my blog)
This year I've noticed I need a balance between positive and negative in my books. I've put down several books that were too sad because I thought "I hope the ending is worth all this unhappiness." And then the ending was sad too.
ReplyDeleteI need, as you so awesomely put it on Wednesday, some hope. :)
I couldn't agree more: Characters carry the story!
ReplyDeleteI can forgive many things - weak plots now and then, or the occasionally boring expository passage - but if I don't like, can't relate to the character, then I'll put the book down.
I think a strong, appealing character is crucial in mystery fiction (which is what I read & write, so I can't comment on other genres). So many mysteries are series, so when you get to know and like the sleuth, you can look forward to the next installment and the next and the next (think Sue Grafton and the ABC... now U series).
As a mystery writer, if you can create something like Grafton (or Evanovich or Parker and others) then you'll be able to build a strong and loyal fan base for years to come.
Cheers, Jill
"Blood and Groom" is now in stores!
www.jilledmondson.com
I agree with you. Characters that people can relate to are the most important.
ReplyDeleteI agree too. Characters are what's fascinating about a story and a book. They are the ones that elicit our emotions and remain in our minds.
ReplyDeleteI went to a book club a couple of nights ago (I'm blogging about it today, actually) and the entire GROUP didn't like the protagonist. Consequently, they just didn't care if she lived or died and didn't like the book. Some of the members didn't even finish reading the book.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
I cast my vote with characters too. A book can have an amazing plot, but if the reader is not sympathetic in some way to the characters, they just plain won't care about the characters' journey.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I'll be clicking over to find out about that book!
ReplyDeleteJill, it's hard to believe Grafton is up to U! Wow.
I can see that there might be a plot or subject matter that really holds your interest, but like all of you, characters are what keep me reading.
I love characters as well. Plot and voice will attract me, but its the characters who keep me :)
ReplyDeleteI have to like the characters, too. They're not the only thing that keeps me reading, but they're the first.
ReplyDeleteCharacters are most important to me as well! They are the drive of the story, the heart if you will.
ReplyDeleteThis certainly tells us what our major focus should be (not the only focus, though).
ReplyDeleteI don't have to 'like' a character, but I do have to believe in them and respect them. If they're one-dimensional, I can't follow them thru a story. If they are fleshed out, but make consistently stupid choices and never learn, I don't want to go down ANY road with them. But I need strong characters before I need a compelling plot.
ReplyDeleteCharacters are the most important part of the writing for me. Since my work is mostly character driven it works out well for me.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I watch a Survivor faithfully and we find ourselves always rooting for the villian! Crafting the bad as well as the bad is vital.
yep, the folks in the books hold me or lose me. Nothing else. Not scintilating plots because I'll read a really slow book if I like the characters - not even gorgeous writing - because if it is gorgeous but there aren't any people in it I care for then phhhhtt! It's all humans or at least very compelling basket balls.
ReplyDeleteCharacters are the backbone of a book. Without them the story would be weak.
ReplyDeleteTamika, you and I are probably cheering for opposite folks on Survivor!
ReplyDeleteI, too, think Characters are key. Interesting characters that struggle can carry a pretty flat plotline. Bad characters can ruin a good plot. I think you said it best, "Characters carry the story. They shape it, manipulate it, become it." How true.
ReplyDeleteBest, Galen.
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I'm with you on the fact that characters are most important, at least for me. All of my books and screenplays and plays have started because a character came to me almost fully drawn from the beginning. It was almost like another person taking up residence in my mind for a while. Maybe that's why some folks think we writers are a bit off the old rocker. LOL
ReplyDeleteCharacter, for me, as well. However, all the elements really have to be there for me to keep reading. Of course, usually if I like the charater, she/he carry me into the plot. Setting is important to me too. If setting isn't there, I don't feel like I'm a part of the story. Survivor--at first we really didn't like the person that Tamika and her husband like, but the further we've gotten into it, that person seems the only one really playing the game.
ReplyDeleteI hate to agree, Sylvia, but you're right. He does know how to manipulate, which is a big part of playing the game. I would be the first one off Survivor.
ReplyDeleteMaryann, being off your rocker is a requirement for writers.
I like some fun and crazy characters.
ReplyDeleteSteamy Darcy
Characters are who we identify with mostly.. and the reasons we read on, they pull us in and tie it all up for us..They are a very important ingredient.
ReplyDeleteBM