Comments on: character arc 6: Backstory

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:23:42 +0000

Ahhh I haven’t put it up yet, Jan. I’m going to closer to the book’s release in October.

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:16:46 +0000

Where is the ‘extra’ scene? Is it on here? Am I blind?

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:50:24 +0000

Hi Lizzie! All of my books since 2006 except for one have been in the first person, so I can’t agree that they don’t sell. Adele Parks and Carole Matthews write in first person, don’t they? And Marian Keyes, in multiple first person.

I think it’s probably all in the execution and there’s no hard and fast rule.

The downside of first person is that it can be really easy to slip into telling rather than showing. That backstory issue rears its ugly head—in first person, it’s very tempting to let your character just talk and talk and talk and explain herself, instead of getting on with the story. It’s more difficult to show other characters’ development and growth and perspective. Third person often seems less limited, and some people really like to have the hero’s point of view, too.

I like first person, though, because it really allows me to get into my heroine’s head and live as her for a little while. And I like the extra challenge of showing the reader things that the heroine can’t see herself.

By: Lizzie Lamb

Lizzie Lamb — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:38:45 +0000

Hi Julie, I find it easier to write in the first person but its been pointed out to me that agents/editors aren’t too keen on first person narratives in rom coms. Waht’s you take on that ? Dont know why I’m coming through as ‘anonymous’!!!!

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:31:14 +0000

They all hang round the bus stop! Just ask!

By: Kate Johnson

Kate Johnson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:44:34 +0000

I, er, don’t really know any teenage girls. Except for my cousin Esther who is WAY WAY smarter than I’ll ever be and hasn’t read teenage fiction since she was about ten; and who lives in Sheffield besides.

Probably the library’s easier…

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:48:22 +0000

Hi Anonymous-Who-I-Believe-Is-Lizzie-Who-Asked-The-Question-In-The-First-Place,

I’m glad it’s helpful and the comments have been great, haven’t they? Good luck with your backstory…mine is killing me at the moment…

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:46:50 +0000

Yay, Kate! I’m glad you got to keep what you need. And I’m totally happy to read your stuff if I can help. Why don’t you find a random teenage girl and ask to borrow her Twilight books? I have them all, it’s a pity you don’t live closer.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:43:14 +0000

Michelle, I loved your interview! A lovely positive piece and you obviously gave the journalist a lot to think about. And crows of doubt, too…good work!

Using the chapter 15 rule as a reminder to yourself sounds like a good idea. I’m not sure it can work on every book exactly, but it’s a great rule of thumb to keep the past back until you’re well into the present.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:08:43 +0000

Hi Julie, just logged on and found this. Had a great read of the other items on your blog. Brilliant. I can see I’m not the only one who struggles with this paritcular aspect of writing. I’ll be checking it out on a daily basis and sharing the info with my friends who are also yet-to-be-published Many thanks to you and your contributors.