tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post206424270186830998..comments2023-05-28T07:56:03.418-08:00Comments on Alaska Romance Writers of America: FLAWED AND FANTASTICJackieIviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483781395559710572noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-66830577787143098502011-03-07T10:15:54.763-09:002011-03-07T10:15:54.763-09:00Out of the mouth of babes, Mikelynn! And get read...Out of the mouth of babes, Mikelynn! And get ready for your mother's fortyish life style. You might need therapy.Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-21300228079345617872011-03-07T10:14:34.635-09:002011-03-07T10:14:34.635-09:00Kerrigan! So good to see you.
Sometimes those &...Kerrigan! So good to see you. <br /><br />Sometimes those "unforgivable" flaws are the most interesting to overcome. You write really strong characters. No wimpy flaws for them. <br /><br />That's another blog post. The stronger the character, the bigger the flaw. What do you think?Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-84956031348231619892011-03-07T10:11:02.348-09:002011-03-07T10:11:02.348-09:00Kris, ice cream and cantaloupe is an interesting c...Kris, ice cream and cantaloupe is an interesting combination. My grandmother also showed me how to fry cheese in the mircowave. Both of us loved cheese crisps. But then I had to go and ruin it by catching the mircowave on fire. She took the blame, I was nine. Maybe I'll make some fried cheese for lunch. <br /><br />It's going to be so fun to teach my future grandchildren all the things she taught me. But I'll probably leave getting stitches out of it.Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-68802903789694017432011-03-07T10:02:43.970-09:002011-03-07T10:02:43.970-09:00T.H. great comment! Just to let the rest of you k...T.H. great comment! Just to let the rest of you know, this blog inspired T.H. to write her own. Check it out. It's awesome! <br /><br />http://yafictionauthor.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-we-love-characters-with-flaws.htmlTiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-46604795653198203392011-03-07T10:00:03.647-09:002011-03-07T10:00:03.647-09:00Anita, I remember the first time I saw Phantom of ...Anita, I remember the first time I saw Phantom of the Opera. I feel in love with the Phantom. I wanted her to be with him not that wimpy guy. But then she couldn't really be with him because he killed people. Not the best husband material, but even or maybe because of his flaws, I loved him. He was hero material just crazy.Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-2276835631657685602011-03-07T09:54:57.874-09:002011-03-07T09:54:57.874-09:00Donna, I think the world would be a "sweeter&...Donna, I think the world would be a "sweeter" place if we had ice cream for dinner more often. Maybe that's what I'm fixing tonight.Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-66682707207764452702011-03-07T09:53:31.685-09:002011-03-07T09:53:31.685-09:00Every great book is built on amazing characters. H...Every great book is built on amazing characters. Having just attended a writer's conference and been hit over the head how important all the "bad" things are in a character, otherwise you get flat people on the page!<br /><br />I love the bit about the after forty lifestyle. Hopefully I'll have some characters that rise off the page now. <br /><br />Thanks for the inspiration!<br /><br />Thanks for theMikelynn Helmernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-16863903776394098362011-03-07T09:45:42.115-09:002011-03-07T09:45:42.115-09:00I envy you your grandmother, she seems like an exc...I envy you your grandmother, she seems like an exceptional lady. <br /><br />I have a hard time with flaws in my characters. I like to try to find the ones that are forgivable or surmountable. Hopefully I succeed, but sometimes, I forget about them and them my characters are unrealistic. So... this really reminded me to focus on their humanity. <br /><br />Great post!Kerrigan Byrnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15296288609720058796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-15899751857364463132011-03-07T08:28:02.043-09:002011-03-07T08:28:02.043-09:00My grandma used to let me ice cream and cantaloupe...My grandma used to let me ice cream and cantaloupe for breakfast, so I can safely say our grandma's would've been friends!<br /><br />Flawed characters are the best. I, too, believe that their flaws are what make them endearing to the reader. Their flaws are what drive them to do their best and overcome their issues.<br /><br />Great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00694966948181862580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-67450442313468296532011-03-07T08:19:15.707-09:002011-03-07T08:19:15.707-09:00Awesome post! Writing the flaws first is a great s...Awesome post! Writing the flaws first is a great suggestion.<br /><br />In order for characters to be interesting and believable, they have to have flaws. No one is perfect. As a writer and reader, I believe the best characters are the ones that make you feel. Like Liz said, "perfect is boring." You may not agree with the character's POV or actions, or even like the character, but this is what creates the most interest, evokes emotion, keeps you engaged, and thinking about the character long after you've finished the book.<br /><br />I just finished reading Delirium and remember wanting to yell at the main character, even jump into the book, shake her and say, "What are you thinking?" I liked this book so much because it had a uniquely fantastic storyline with interesting characters.<br /><br />Btw - You have an amazing Grandma and I'm looking forward to reading your book! :)Taryn Browninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04721540555433372451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-22748706382605057392011-03-07T07:34:14.416-09:002011-03-07T07:34:14.416-09:00Great post, Tiffinie. I love your grandma. What a ...Great post, Tiffinie. I love your grandma. What a wonderful character. A real life character. I'm working on the third book in my series and still developing the characters. I'm going to think more about the flaws. YOu're so right. They're interesting and so important to the character.Anita Clenneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08121439834252671730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-88480510046971554382011-03-07T07:31:28.128-09:002011-03-07T07:31:28.128-09:00This is so great--I'm now a fan of your grandm...This is so great--I'm now a fan of your grandma because of the ice cream for dinner. :)<br /><br />I hadn't really considered creating the flaws first. Maybe it hasn't happened because my characters show up with their best behavior--trying to seduce me into telling their story. It's only later I find out how troublesome they can be. LOLDonna Cummingshttp://www.AllAboutTheWriting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-27783928946425053752011-03-06T21:04:16.395-09:002011-03-06T21:04:16.395-09:00Liz, I can't wait to read your book. Isn'...Liz, I can't wait to read your book. Isn't your heroine also a food critic? I love that she can't cook.Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-62334339394881518112011-03-06T20:17:29.447-09:002011-03-06T20:17:29.447-09:00Great post, Tiffinie. I love flawed characters, be...Great post, Tiffinie. I love flawed characters, because let's face it, perfect is boring. I always make sure my important characters never take themselves too seriously and can laugh at themselves occasionally. <br /><br />My current heroine pops Hostess Ho Hos like they were prozacs, and like your Grandma, she can't cook a lick. <br /><br />Fun post. And kudos to Lance for overcoming addiction.Liz Lippermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01807045909635613933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-76440991822018508532011-03-06T19:00:53.035-09:002011-03-06T19:00:53.035-09:00Lizbeth, here's to getting old and eccentric! ...Lizbeth, here's to getting old and eccentric! And go Lance! I know there are some that don't want him to win again, but I love how he has beaten the odds.Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-64746905007098188492011-03-06T18:54:20.912-09:002011-03-06T18:54:20.912-09:00Tamera, I love the "six things that need fixi...Tamera, I love the "six things that need fixing!" I'm going to have to add that to my character development. Thanks!Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-35773120068804632932011-03-06T18:52:22.983-09:002011-03-06T18:52:22.983-09:00Thanks, Boone for the FB and Twitter yell out! My...Thanks, Boone for the FB and Twitter yell out! My grandmother was a great teacher in life after kids. She never gave herself limits, and I plan on being just like her.Tiffinie Helmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501337858216520081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-19770795467283449832011-03-06T15:28:59.312-09:002011-03-06T15:28:59.312-09:00Hey Tiffinie,
Really fun post. My grandma and now...Hey Tiffinie,<br />Really fun post. My grandma and now my mom sound like your grandmother--what a great lady! I've always said I want to be like that when I grow up.<br /><br />As for character flaws--I have a huge problem making my hero and heroine flawed enough. They have quirks and, perhaps, one mistake to overcome, but an honestly loveable flaw is harder for me to create. So, I love your suggestion about writing the flaws first!<br /><br />And, go Iditarod mushers--I'm a huge Lance fan! Thanks for the post.<br />LizLizbethSelvighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14068753571254601527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-40139468237032924982011-03-06T13:14:30.052-09:002011-03-06T13:14:30.052-09:00Great post! I think all too often writers focus so...Great post! I think all too often writers focus so much on making a character likable, they forget how important flaws can be. I always have the "six things that need fixing" in my novels, and they always include character flaw.<br />BTW - I wanna be just like your grandma and mine! Mine was tackling email at the ripe age of 80.Tam Linseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07010215535013536200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782401287764864195.post-11395716939239717452011-03-06T11:45:40.510-09:002011-03-06T11:45:40.510-09:00Awesome post,Tiffinie. Whoo Hoo to women over fort...Awesome post,Tiffinie. Whoo Hoo to women over forty! You have an amazing grandmother and great take on character development. Gotta FB and Twitter this one:)<br /><br />Great job.<br />BooneAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13826814528264162746noreply@blogger.com