Comments on: JWAM reader request no. 7: The storyless character http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/01/11/jwam-reader-request-no-7-the-storyless-character/ writing, reading, eating, drinking, sport Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:42:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve Buchheit http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/01/11/jwam-reader-request-no-7-the-storyless-character/comment-page-1/#comment-74849 Steve Buchheit Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:10:43 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/?p=3011#comment-74849 Dahlia, about five years ago I had this character, a guy in a really nice linen suit sitting midday in a coffee shop. I had no idea why or who he was, but every so often he'd show up and look at me meaningfully, expecting me to know. Who was he, what the heck was he doing in a coffee shop, mid day, in a suit? It drove me insane. No story lines worked, he was obstinate about it. Then about two years ago I was IMing with a friend, joking about a link he had sent me, getting real silly, driving a thought to it's most absurd conclusion. Then he made a comment about something else completely off topic. And that's when his story came to me. I knew exactly what he was doing, why the suit, why the coffee shop, why the middle of the day. And now I'm finally writing that novel. It just took being exposed to two new ideas and mixing them together. Dahlia, about five years ago I had this character, a guy in a really nice linen suit sitting midday in a coffee shop. I had no idea why or who he was, but every so often he’d show up and look at me meaningfully, expecting me to know. Who was he, what the heck was he doing in a coffee shop, mid day, in a suit? It drove me insane. No story lines worked, he was obstinate about it.

Then about two years ago I was IMing with a friend, joking about a link he had sent me, getting real silly, driving a thought to it’s most absurd conclusion. Then he made a comment about something else completely off topic. And that’s when his story came to me. I knew exactly what he was doing, why the suit, why the coffee shop, why the middle of the day. And now I’m finally writing that novel.

It just took being exposed to two new ideas and mixing them together.

]]> By: Dahlia http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/01/11/jwam-reader-request-no-7-the-storyless-character/comment-page-1/#comment-74817 Dahlia Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:57:30 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/?p=3011#comment-74817 Thanks for answering my question, Justine. That post was really helpful. Come to think of it, I only have one character, so I'll definitely have to try adding more people and see where it goes. Thanks again. :) Thanks for answering my question, Justine. That post was really helpful. Come to think of it, I only have one character, so I’ll definitely have to try adding more people and see where it goes. Thanks again. :)

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