Comments on: Learning to Write XXXI http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxxi/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:37:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Thomas McCay http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxxi/comment-page-1/#comment-96721 Thomas McCay Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:44:37 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxxi/#comment-96721 <p>I recently had a very bitter experience with the subject of this post. When I doggedly finished my first detective novel I found that the lead character was the least interesting character in the book. I didn't actually care what happened to him. The villains and the side kicks were much more interesting than the main character. I and my couple of readers cared more about the hero's driver than we did about the bloody 'hero'.</p> <p>I fear I kilt my baby and buried it in a deep dark drawer. I did not make the same mistake with my second baby. Many new mistakes but not that particular one. Characters must pay their way and they must have a solid reason for hanging on as more than 'background performers'.</p> <p>New Reader, love this blog thanks.</p> <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Thomas, thanks for the contribution. It's true that there's no better teacher than experience, though he can be a very hard master sometimes. I recently had a very bitter experience with the subject of this post. When I doggedly finished my first detective novel I found that the lead character was the least interesting character in the book. I didn’t actually care what happened to him. The villains and the side kicks were much more interesting than the main character. I and my couple of readers cared more about the hero’s driver than we did about the bloody ‘hero’.

I fear I kilt my baby and buried it in a deep dark drawer. I did not make the same mistake with my second baby. Many new mistakes but not that particular one. Characters must pay their way and they must have a solid reason for hanging on as more than ‘background performers’.

New Reader, love this blog thanks.

jb says: Hi Thomas, thanks for the contribution. It’s true that there’s no better teacher than experience, though he can be a very hard master sometimes.

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