Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Joyce Carol Oates on Characters

This is topic Joyce Carol Oates on Characters in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=005382

Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :

Thought some of you might find this useful.

This is a link to a YouTube video: http://www.libertyhallwriters.org/2009/01/joyce-carol-oates-on-writing-characters/

Here's some info on the lady: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Carol_Oates

Posted by Cheyne (Member # 7710) on :

But, but she's a (shudder) a literary author.

Posted by C L Lynn (Member # 8007) on :

Cute, Cheyne, but I'm sure Oates knows what she's talking about. And a memorable character is a memorable character whether literary or SFF.

The most valuable advice she gives in this video clip, however, isn't so much about characters, but to keep writing, even through the rough discouraging weeks when you think your work is going nowhere. Push through and find the story's direction, finish it, then worry about revisions and the fine details.

Way to go, mikemunsil.

Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :

Thanks for the link, Mike. I enjoyed hearing her thoughts.

Posted by Cheyne (Member # 7710) on :

I am a big fan of her works; I was merely giving a common hatrack response to any author from the literary genre.

Besides the link didn't work for me. Youtube is blocked at work.

Posted by C L Lynn (Member # 8007) on :

Don't count me as common, then. Hurray!

My shelves are filled with literary works, many I've loved, some I couldn't force myself to finish. Though I loathe David Copperfield, sad to say, he'll live on while Jon Snow and the rest of my favorite GRRM gang will likely wither away into obscurity, given another hundred years. I'd still choose Dante and Hemingway and certainly Austen over much of the SFF drivel on the shelves these days.