book inc writer Liz Jannuzzi and Jen Gaites trade craft advice on character repetition, showing how a recurring gesture only works when it reveals something true about a character.
"The goal is for your character’s habits to feel lived-in, not worn out." So good! Having just sprinted through a novel first draft, I'm uncomfortably aware of some of my tics... and I'm sure I'll notice even more in revision. Thanks for this guide on how to handle them :)
Great post! And very timely as revision lab starts today, and this is something to watch for during as we read our manuscripts. Thank you for the post. :)
Yes, the patterns (usually unconscious) of a character can be endearing or overplayed. Often for the writer, it can be hard to know when you cross that line! That’s when I really depend on the beta readers, while also keeping my fingers crossed that they love every little bit of what I’ve written (which is never the case!).
This reminds me of Hercule Poirot tending to his mustache!
"The goal is for your character’s habits to feel lived-in, not worn out." So good! Having just sprinted through a novel first draft, I'm uncomfortably aware of some of my tics... and I'm sure I'll notice even more in revision. Thanks for this guide on how to handle them :)
Great post! And very timely as revision lab starts today, and this is something to watch for during as we read our manuscripts. Thank you for the post. :)
Yes, the patterns (usually unconscious) of a character can be endearing or overplayed. Often for the writer, it can be hard to know when you cross that line! That’s when I really depend on the beta readers, while also keeping my fingers crossed that they love every little bit of what I’ve written (which is never the case!).