tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post269502292344156919..comments2024-02-22T10:58:09.776-05:00Comments on Author Expressions: Keeping Track of All Those CharactersJoyce Elson Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08761334760088495024noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-18383046141897461442012-08-17T13:29:02.392-04:002012-08-17T13:29:02.392-04:00I keep three documents on my clipbboard for easy a...I keep three documents on my clipbboard for easy access. The first is the draft of the novel. The second is a brief summary of each chapter in sequence so that I can review elements of the story without having to search through the ms. The third is a journal where I list the characters to remind me of details like what kind of car they drive, and where I post discussions about the plot and analyses of the characters. The third is a big grabbag containing stuff I've deleted from the draft but might go back to. It also contains stuff relating to clues.Jim Ingrahamhttp://jimingraham.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-68239024206882651012012-08-04T08:43:12.951-04:002012-08-04T08:43:12.951-04:00Hi Susan---I use notecards a lot for all sorts of ...Hi Susan---I use notecards a lot for all sorts of things. I haven't actually used them yet to keep up with character traits, though--good idea! Funny you should mention the eye color thing since I did that in my LONE STAR DEATH novel. Eeek. Makes me feel better knowing that Doyle did it, too. LOL. bobbi c.Bobbi A. Chukran, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16678371925926783260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-39431421092511183312012-08-03T20:29:21.381-04:002012-08-03T20:29:21.381-04:00Susan, I always just made a Word document with eve...Susan, I always just made a Word document with everything about the novel I am writing (and sometimes a short story) thrown into it. Each character has their own paragraph, and I add eye color and other facts as I think I might need to remember them later. But I never thought it was a great system--easy enough to make the document, but harder to use it later. A friend of mine uses a spreadsheet, listing names (which, like with index cards can be sorted) and has columns for different characteristics, such as eye color, etc., which can also be sorted. So, four ways--as some have suggested Scribner, your way with the cards, my friend with the graph, and mine--just throw it all into a document. I am very tempted to try the other three. Thanks for this post.Jan Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027877440748580764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-51756484637375719212012-08-03T17:04:15.699-04:002012-08-03T17:04:15.699-04:00Susan,
I like the idea of using a notecard system...Susan,<br /><br />I like the idea of using a notecard system. I usually keep a separate file on my word processor for character traits. I started doing this after I noticed that I had changed the spelling of one of my character's names half-way through a story. Oops!susan furlong-bolligerhttp://www.sfurlongbolliger.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-63293338191973846422012-08-03T16:02:40.226-04:002012-08-03T16:02:40.226-04:00Try Scrivener. It is a "word processor"...Try Scrivener. It is a "word processor" designed for the novelist. You write in scenes and chapters and that's how your work is broken up in the program. Very easy to use & full of features. It also has ways to keep track of characters and attach other media like pictures to your research materials. Works with PCs and Macs. I love it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-61088147189564602802012-08-03T15:53:34.441-04:002012-08-03T15:53:34.441-04:00I realized I had to have a more sophisticated syst...I realized I had to have a more sophisticated system than my haphazard notes when I couldn't remember how Joe took his coffee. I never thought about keeping track of that sort of thing.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-72390358562259912972012-08-03T12:20:29.559-04:002012-08-03T12:20:29.559-04:00Hi, Susan,
I really like your idea and think I wi...Hi, Susan,<br /><br />I really like your idea and think I will use it in the future. And yes, I do have some difficulty keeping my characters straight.<br />I generally just use a notebook where I write the info for each character. But your idea makes more sense to me.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com