Chapter 4 of The Modern Library Writer's Workshop

Chapter 4 Making Characters Live from Stephen Koch’s book The Modern Library Writer’s Workshop is all about making your characters come to life on the pages of a book. The chapter covers the typical character vs. situation/story battle. Some authors find that characters are created and then the story enfolds around the characters, while some authors use a story and fill the stories with characters. I really don’t know which the right answer is, but I will say I like books where the characters are created first. I really enjoy book series because I like to continue reading something that I enjoy. It is always difficult for me to find a new book to read. I would rather depend on a book series and continue reading about different adventures/situations that my favorite characters go through. I am almost positive that most book series are character based rather than story based.

Another topic that was brought up in Chapter 4 was flat and round characters. I never really noticed round and flat characters before this chapter, but now I do. Round characters have a history, a story, a motive, passions, they want to succeed, and they are “equipped with purpose.” Flat characters usually only have one things that truly defines them. When I read a book, I want round characters. I want characters who develop throughout the story. An example of a round character I enjoy is Katniss from the popular book series Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I feel that most books should have round characters where audiences can see a transition in the characters behavior, attitude, or lifestyle. However, when I am watching TV shows I enjoy flat characters mainly because like The Modern Library Writer’s Workshop suggests “flat characters can go on and on and on, having an endless sequence of adventures.” I believe I like the ‘flat’ characters on TV shows for the same reason I like book series. I come to love the characters and I want continue to watch/read about their lives/adventures.

** Side note: I have never really been drawn to write my own novel or short stories. I agree it would be fun to be an author, but I have it has never really appealed to me. I do, however, enjoy writing journal entries, notes/reactions to novels, lists, and reflections from Bible passages. In my writings, I do not ever develop characters or plots. I may jot down an idea or two in my journal, but rarely do I go back to the ideas. After reading Chapter 4 Making Characters Live, I realized why I am not a big character developer/writer. I am not a character developer because I do not have the creative imagination and experiences needed to create characters that are full of life.