Comments on: Character or Plot? http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/character-or-plot/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:06:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christine Coleman http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/character-or-plot/comment-page-1/#comment-111762 Christine Coleman Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:27:24 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=3554#comment-111762 What an interesting post! I’ve often been asked that type of question – I really like the conciseness of your response, “Character is plot.” In my first published novel all the characters were completely fictional, but many of the settings are based on real places, so I was intrigued to read that Eliot used her own visit to a prison as a scene in Adam Bede. I’ve got a scene in a police cell and interview room in my novel, based on notes I took after accompanying a woman who came to literacy classes at an adult education centre where I worked. I’ll be putting a post on my site soon, quoting from a real-life collection of love-letters from the 1920s in China, which I’ve adapted for one of the story threads in my new novel. I found the process of plundering someone else’s life rather weird. (I’ve changed names dates and venues, so they would be unrecognisable to anyone) What an interesting post! I’ve often been asked that type of question – I really like the conciseness of your response, “Character is plot.”

In my first published novel all the characters were completely fictional, but many of the settings are based on real places, so I was intrigued to read that Eliot used her own visit to a prison as a scene in Adam Bede. I’ve got a scene in a police cell and interview room in my novel, based on notes I took after accompanying a woman who came to literacy classes at an adult education centre where I worked.

I’ll be putting a post on my site soon, quoting from a real-life collection of love-letters from the 1920s in China, which I’ve adapted for one of the story threads in my new novel. I found the process of plundering someone else’s life rather weird. (I’ve changed names dates and venues, so they would be unrecognisable to anyone)

]]> By: Boxofficegirl http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/character-or-plot/comment-page-1/#comment-111752 Boxofficegirl Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:09:45 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=3554#comment-111752 I agree John, character and plot are interwoven and one will not do without the other. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the reference to Adam Bede too which I haven't read for years. I shall read with new eyes next time. <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Tracey. Good to see you here again. Maybe 'next time' will be soon? I agree John, character and plot are interwoven and one will not do without the other.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the reference to Adam Bede too which I haven’t read for years. I shall read with new eyes next time.

jb says: Hi Tracey. Good to see you here again. Maybe ‘next time’ will be soon?

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