If all my characters acted and reacted like me, they would be pretty danged boring. Luckily, author Mike Nettleton does not write himself in every character and his characters are far from predictable.
Mike Nettleton co-authors books with his wife Carolyn J. Rose (who
stopped by Straight From Hel last month). Together, they’ve written
The Big Grabowski and its sequel
Sometimes A Great Commotion and several other books. Mike grew up in Bandon and Grants Pass, Oregon. A stint at a college station in Ashland led to a multi-state radio odyssey with on-air gigs in Oregon, California, and New Mexico under the air name Mike Phillips. In 1989 he returned to the Northwest and in 1994 joined KEX Radio in Portland. His hobbies are golf, pool, Texas hold-em poker, and book collecting. Now, instead of hearing Mike’s voice on the radio, you can read it in his books.
But Mike knows the difference between the author’s voice and his character’s voice. Tomorrow, he’ll be here to talk about that difference.
Feel free to say “hi” to Mike and come back tomorrow with questions.
Also, today I’m over on
Glynis Jolly’s blog explaining some of my editing “rules” for bloggers. If you have time, zip over and tell me one of your rules.
Hi Mike!
ReplyDeleteAnd my characters certainly weren't me! Been boring as well.
I don't know, Alex. From what you put on your blog, your life seems pretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteI write in my own voice, but that does not mean my characters are me. I have two groups, one in Boston and one in Southern California. So I need to keep diversity at the forefront when developing each one.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you Mike!
I'll be interested in seeing the difference between author voice and character voice ...
ReplyDeleteJoanne, since I'm blogging and commenting almost every day, you can pretty much pick up my voice. But I can write a character who has a different voice. I'm not sure I could write a New Jersey voice, but I could do a Southern voice. To me, the voice not only includes regional phrases, but attitudes, beliefs, politics, etc. I can also do fanatics - those bad guys who make you quiver. I've "channeled" some scary characters.
ReplyDeleteWill be back tomorrow to hear his take on it.
ReplyDelete"Channeled" is a great word for it, Helen! :)
Popping over to read your editing rules
ReplyDeleteJudy(South Africa)
I've done characters like me and ones the total opposite. While the latter are tough, it actually makes for a better story.
ReplyDeleteI'm sort of the opposite, Diane. I think characters totally unlike me are easiest. Of course, characters just like me would be pretty dang boring.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mike!
ReplyDeleteI don't think readers would be very interested if my characters turned out like me. :P
Your avatar is pretty interesting, The Golden Eagle.
ReplyDeleteChanneled is great, Helen. Sometimes that's how it feels. I try not to make any of my characters sound like me.
ReplyDeleteI was over to the other site to read your guest post. I'm breaking your rules sometimes (rule #1). Most of the time I listen to you, Helen, but not always. That's just the way I am, my spouse, my friends and my boss would probably say the same. In general I prefer to see rules as nothing more than recommendations >;)
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
Uk is not my primary language, yet I can fully understand this when using the google translator. Beneficial article, keep them coming! Appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven, you're right. Those should have been "recommendations." I believe rules are meant to be broken, though.
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad my characters are not me and I’m sure the feeling is mutual!) I’m looking forward to reading what Mike has to say on the subject.
ReplyDeleteI'd be scared and sad if my characters were all me - Boring!!! :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to this. One of my biggest worries is that my characters are too much like me...
ReplyDeleteI like to live vicariously through my characters. They do so many things that I can't or wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteI'm socially awkward, as my hero is. But that's about the only thing we have in common.
ReplyDeleteHi Mike, is that your garden or some secret locations from yuor book?
Fire and Cross