I’ve had a couple of people say my characters are real and relatable… I’m worried that they’ll be too real and there won’t be much fiction to the characters. How do I make sure I stay true to my characters as they are, but make sure they still seem fictional?
It makes sense, but I’m wondering if you even need to worry? Real and relatable isn’t a bad thing. Did anyone say they didn’t enjoy the characters? If not, then I wouldn’t worry. We want characters that feel real and pop off the page, even in fiction.
No, nobody has said otherwise but it did make me wonder. In my other writing, I write from the heart; it’s raw, relatable and powerful.. I know I carry that through in my fiction work too.
I don’t think it’s a bad thing, the last thing I’d want is for someone to turn round and say it’s not fictiony enough 😆 you can’t please everyone, I know!
For non-fiction, I think you actually do need to have a nice following. Or at least enough of a following to prove that you are an expert in your field and you are the one that should write this book and also you know how to market and sell it. I only really work on fiction, so take this with a grain of salt but that’s my two cents.
Hey, Kristen.. I have a question for you. Can I ask on this post?
Sure!
I’ve had a couple of people say my characters are real and relatable… I’m worried that they’ll be too real and there won’t be much fiction to the characters. How do I make sure I stay true to my characters as they are, but make sure they still seem fictional?
Oh my gosh, does that even make sense?! 😆😆
It makes sense, but I’m wondering if you even need to worry? Real and relatable isn’t a bad thing. Did anyone say they didn’t enjoy the characters? If not, then I wouldn’t worry. We want characters that feel real and pop off the page, even in fiction.
No, nobody has said otherwise but it did make me wonder. In my other writing, I write from the heart; it’s raw, relatable and powerful.. I know I carry that through in my fiction work too.
I don’t think it’s a bad thing, the last thing I’d want is for someone to turn round and say it’s not fictiony enough 😆 you can’t please everyone, I know!
Well, I wouldn’t borrow worries. If no one is complaining, don’t worry about it!
Thanks, Kristen! ☺️🩵💙
Great questions & responses! Does your first answer apply to only fiction or non-fiction, too?
For non-fiction, I think you actually do need to have a nice following. Or at least enough of a following to prove that you are an expert in your field and you are the one that should write this book and also you know how to market and sell it. I only really work on fiction, so take this with a grain of salt but that’s my two cents.
That's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure I was understanding correctly. ;)