how many character is to many? - Authors.com2024-03-29T15:53:45Zhttp://www.authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A4167&feed=yes&xn_auth=noDearest Crystal, and all:
My…tag:www.authors.com,2010-02-10:3798404:Comment:55512010-02-10T15:37:08.000ZMark A. Santomierihttp://www.authors.com/profile/MarkASantomieri
Dearest Crystal, <i>and all</i>:<br />
My readers and editors often say that I tend to have somewhat "over-populated" work. But since all of my fiction tends to be character generated/driven, this is not necessarily a bad thing. I agree that if there are <i>needless</i> characters in a plot or a theme thread, eliminate them post-haste. However, if one writes fiction and utilizes past experiences, one ultimately knows that there are often <i>many</i> folks in life's best stories. The number of…
Dearest Crystal, <i>and all</i>:<br />
My readers and editors often say that I tend to have somewhat "over-populated" work. But since all of my fiction tends to be character generated/driven, this is not necessarily a bad thing. I agree that if there are <i>needless</i> characters in a plot or a theme thread, eliminate them post-haste. However, if one writes fiction and utilizes past experiences, one ultimately knows that there are often <i>many</i> folks in life's best stories. The number of characters in one's work should be determined by the story that needs be told and the world one is creating. That, of course, is in my humble opinion.<br />
Pink said it correctly; as long you can manage them to the benefit of the story telling, there is no limit to how many heads you can hop!<br />
My Best and Write On!<br />
M. Thats very true!! I agree ver…tag:www.authors.com,2010-02-04:3798404:Comment:53192010-02-04T01:43:14.000ZViviana Arteagahttp://www.authors.com/profile/VivianaArteaga
Thats very true!! I agree very much with yous!<br />
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<cite>Pink Asassin said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?id=3798404%3ATopic%3A4144&page=2#3798404Comment4929"><div>I think it's not the how many, but whether they fit; if all the characters feel like they belong, and you can keep up with them, then I think there is no limit to how many you can have. :)</div>
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Thats very true!! I agree very much with yous!<br />
<br />
<cite>Pink Asassin said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?id=3798404%3ATopic%3A4144&page=2#3798404Comment4929"><div>I think it's not the how many, but whether they fit; if all the characters feel like they belong, and you can keep up with them, then I think there is no limit to how many you can have. :)</div>
</blockquote> I think it's not the how many…tag:www.authors.com,2010-01-28:3798404:Comment:49292010-01-28T05:11:41.000ZPink Asassinhttp://www.authors.com/profile/PinkAsassin
I think it's not the how many, but whether they fit; if all the characters feel like they belong, and you can keep up with them, then I think there is no limit to how many you can have. :)
I think it's not the how many, but whether they fit; if all the characters feel like they belong, and you can keep up with them, then I think there is no limit to how many you can have. :) LOL! :) Good!
Kay Elizabeth…tag:www.authors.com,2010-01-11:3798404:Comment:43672010-01-11T00:29:29.000ZCallie Leahhttp://www.authors.com/profile/CallieLeahDewees
LOL! :) Good!<br />
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<cite>Kay Elizabeth said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A4358&xg_source=msg_com_forum#3798404Comment4357"><div>Errr, I know. I was agreeing with you. LOL. :) Glad we're on the same page there! (No pun intended.)<br></br><br></br><cite>Callie Leah said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4228"><div>The descriptions of those characters…</div>
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LOL! :) Good!<br />
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<cite>Kay Elizabeth said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A4358&xg_source=msg_com_forum#3798404Comment4357"><div>Errr, I know. I was agreeing with you. LOL. :) Glad we're on the same page there! (No pun intended.)<br/><br/><cite>Callie Leah said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4228"><div>The descriptions of those characters were just an example of what NOT to do in your book. And you see what I mean, I'm sure. If you tried to do that, most of the people who bought or checked out the book, wouldn't finish it.<br/><br/><cite>Kay Elizabeth said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A4208&xg_source=msg_com_forum#3798404Comment4208"><div>Callie, that's what the article I mentioned earlier talks about. Keeping less important characters faceless means the reader doesn't waste time attaching too much significance to them and doesn't miss what's really going on with the story.<br/><br/>Your descriptions for example of Kasey, Marrie and Lara would make my head spin trying to remember which one was the z student in case it was significant later on in the book. I'd surmise that because you mentioned it, I'd need to remember it when the reality is you may never refer to them again. Make sense?<br/><br/><cite>Callie Leah said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4200"><div>I thought of something. You can also disguise huge characters as meaningless nobodys. Someone like a girl who gives the main character an idea that changes the entire book. Like if the main character needed to find a plant that could cure an infection, then someone sat by them at school or a restuarant or something, and said something like, "Hey, did you know that there's a plant that cures such and such disiese? It's called so and so." And you could make it where that happens in the beginning before the main character even knows they need to know that. I know it has nothing to do with the subject, but I just thought it might be helpful.</div>
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</blockquote> Ten? I don't know, ten is a h…tag:www.authors.com,2010-01-10:3798404:Comment:43582010-01-10T23:58:14.000ZKay Elizabethhttp://www.authors.com/profile/Kay
Ten? I don't know, ten is a high number to me. Then again, when you take into account all the minor ones perhaps not. I need to go look at the novel I'm reading and see how many have appeared so far just for the sake of research. It's Shimmer by David Morrell (creator of Rambo).<br />
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<cite>Betty Damil said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4316"><div>too many charcters could easily kill the entire book.<br></br> just the fact creating…</div>
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Ten? I don't know, ten is a high number to me. Then again, when you take into account all the minor ones perhaps not. I need to go look at the novel I'm reading and see how many have appeared so far just for the sake of research. It's Shimmer by David Morrell (creator of Rambo).<br />
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<cite>Betty Damil said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4316"><div>too many charcters could easily kill the entire book.<br/> just the fact creating the characters wil eventually confuse the reader...<br/>
As..the charactrs pile up, so do all the 'different' personalities.<br/>
that must cooperate with each person.<br/>
..as well as their looks and signature presence.<br/>
Hw the heck can the reader keep up with that? lol<br/>
I say...the highest shall be up to .....<br/>
...hmmm...shall I say 10? sound fair?</div>
</blockquote> Errr, I know. I was agreeing…tag:www.authors.com,2010-01-10:3798404:Comment:43572010-01-10T23:54:54.000ZKay Elizabethhttp://www.authors.com/profile/Kay
Errr, I know. I was agreeing with you. LOL. :) Glad we're on the same page there! (No pun intended.)<br />
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<cite>Callie Leah said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4228"><div>The descriptions of those characters were just an example of what NOT to do in your book. And you see what I mean, I'm sure. If you tried to do that, most of the people who bought or checked out the book, wouldn't finish it.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Kay Elizabeth…</cite></div>
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Errr, I know. I was agreeing with you. LOL. :) Glad we're on the same page there! (No pun intended.)<br />
<br />
<cite>Callie Leah said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4228"><div>The descriptions of those characters were just an example of what NOT to do in your book. And you see what I mean, I'm sure. If you tried to do that, most of the people who bought or checked out the book, wouldn't finish it.<br/> <br/>
<cite>Kay Elizabeth said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A4208&xg_source=msg_com_forum#3798404Comment4208"><div>Callie, that's what the article I mentioned earlier talks about. Keeping less important characters faceless means the reader doesn't waste time attaching too much significance to them and doesn't miss what's really going on with the story.<br/><br/>Your descriptions for example of Kasey, Marrie and Lara would make my head spin trying to remember which one was the z student in case it was significant later on in the book. I'd surmise that because you mentioned it, I'd need to remember it when the reality is you may never refer to them again. Make sense?<br/><br/><cite>Callie Leah said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4200"><div>I thought of something. You can also disguise huge characters as meaningless nobodys. Someone like a girl who gives the main character an idea that changes the entire book. Like if the main character needed to find a plant that could cure an infection, then someone sat by them at school or a restuarant or something, and said something like, "Hey, did you know that there's a plant that cures such and such disiese? It's called so and so." And you could make it where that happens in the beginning before the main character even knows they need to know that. I know it has nothing to do with the subject, but I just thought it might be helpful.</div>
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</blockquote> too many charcters could easi…tag:www.authors.com,2010-01-09:3798404:Comment:43162010-01-09T05:44:03.000ZBetzy Crypthttp://www.authors.com/profile/BetzyCrypt
too many charcters could easily kill the entire book.<br />
just the fact creating the characters wil eventually confuse the reader...<br />
As..the charactrs pile up, so do all the 'different' personalities.<br />
that must cooperate with each person.<br />
..as well as their looks and signature presence.<br />
Hw the heck can the reader keep up with that? lol<br />
I say...the highest shall be up to .....<br />
...hmmm...shall I say 10? sound fair?
too many charcters could easily kill the entire book.<br />
just the fact creating the characters wil eventually confuse the reader...<br />
As..the charactrs pile up, so do all the 'different' personalities.<br />
that must cooperate with each person.<br />
..as well as their looks and signature presence.<br />
Hw the heck can the reader keep up with that? lol<br />
I say...the highest shall be up to .....<br />
...hmmm...shall I say 10? sound fair? So am I Vivi. I'm too lazy to…tag:www.authors.com,2010-01-09:3798404:Comment:43082010-01-09T03:51:29.000Zscribblerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/scribbler
So am I Vivi. I'm too lazy to have that many running around in my brain. I'm not fond of books with a multitude of characters. It's better to have two strong characters than six weak ones.<br />
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<cite>Viviana Arteaga said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4217"><div>I usually have 2 to 3 main characters and then sub characters for each one.<br></br> And if you do chose to have more you do have to keep them organized.<br></br> Like the writer…</div>
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So am I Vivi. I'm too lazy to have that many running around in my brain. I'm not fond of books with a multitude of characters. It's better to have two strong characters than six weak ones.<br />
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<cite>Viviana Arteaga said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4217"><div>I usually have 2 to 3 main characters and then sub characters for each one.<br/> And if you do chose to have more you do have to keep them organized.<br/>
Like the writer for the Blue Blood series she has soo many characters but she seems to keep them all straight which is awesome.<br/>
I dont think I can do that, I'm a messy person... =D</div>
</blockquote> The descriptions of those cha…tag:www.authors.com,2010-01-05:3798404:Comment:42282010-01-05T01:37:49.000ZCallie Leahhttp://www.authors.com/profile/CallieLeahDewees
The descriptions of those characters were just an example of what NOT to do in your book. And you see what I mean, I'm sure. If you tried to do that, most of the people who bought or checked out the book, wouldn't finish it.<br />
<br />
<cite>Kay Elizabeth said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A4208&xg_source=msg_com_forum#3798404Comment4208"><div>Callie, that's what the article I mentioned earlier talks about. Keeping…</div>
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The descriptions of those characters were just an example of what NOT to do in your book. And you see what I mean, I'm sure. If you tried to do that, most of the people who bought or checked out the book, wouldn't finish it.<br />
<br />
<cite>Kay Elizabeth said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many?commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A4208&xg_source=msg_com_forum#3798404Comment4208"><div>Callie, that's what the article I mentioned earlier talks about. Keeping less important characters faceless means the reader doesn't waste time attaching too much significance to them and doesn't miss what's really going on with the story.<br/><br/>Your descriptions for example of Kasey, Marrie and Lara would make my head spin trying to remember which one was the z student in case it was significant later on in the book. I'd surmise that because you mentioned it, I'd need to remember it when the reality is you may never refer to them again. Make sense?<br/><br/><cite>Callie Leah said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://authors.com/forum/topics/how-many-character-is-to-many#3798404Comment4200"><div>I thought of something. You can also disguise huge characters as meaningless nobodys. Someone like a girl who gives the main character an idea that changes the entire book. Like if the main character needed to find a plant that could cure an infection, then someone sat by them at school or a restuarant or something, and said something like, "Hey, did you know that there's a plant that cures such and such disiese? It's called so and so." And you could make it where that happens in the beginning before the main character even knows they need to know that. I know it has nothing to do with the subject, but I just thought it might be helpful.</div>
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</blockquote> I usually have 2 to 3 main ch…tag:www.authors.com,2010-01-05:3798404:Comment:42172010-01-05T00:50:47.000ZViviana Arteagahttp://www.authors.com/profile/VivianaArteaga
I usually have 2 to 3 main characters and then sub characters for each one.<br />
And if you do chose to have more you do have to keep them organized.<br />
Like the writer for the Blue Blood series she has soo many characters but she seems to keep them all straight which is awesome.<br />
I dont think I can do that, I'm a messy person... =D
I usually have 2 to 3 main characters and then sub characters for each one.<br />
And if you do chose to have more you do have to keep them organized.<br />
Like the writer for the Blue Blood series she has soo many characters but she seems to keep them all straight which is awesome.<br />
I dont think I can do that, I'm a messy person... =D