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Bring Your Characters to Life

7/26/2021

17 Comments

 
By Sharon Giltrow
As a reader, think about one of your favourite books... What do you remember the most? The plot or the characters? For me it is often the characters. The characters take me on a journey through the story. When I read a story, and connect with the characters, that is when the magic happens.

As a writer, you need to connect to your characters too. But how? Interview them. Here are some questions your can ask your characters. Get to know them better, and uncover their unusual and funny traits. Does your character...
  • have any peculiar behaviours?
  • have a unique self-image?
  • have any unusual talents?
  • have any competing personalities?
  • follow the rules?
Bring your characters to life, then take them, and the reader on a journey.
Picture
Written by: Rory H. Mather
Illustrated by: Shane McG
Published by: Scholastic Australia July 1st 2021
There were pirates in the paperbacks, a bear in fantasy.
Then I saw a smiling cat, staring straight at me.
Why are all thee book characters on the loose? They need to get back in their books.

In the hilarious story, GET BACK IN YOUR BOOKS, author Rory H. Mather has literally brought his characters to life. He has taken well-know characters, and made them break a very important rule - stay in the book.

Here are two of Rory's favourite and funny pages. See if you can recognise any of the characters.
Picture
R- “The 'Puff!!!' spread is probably my favourite in the book because not only has Shane McG done an amazing job of the illustration, but it is also a flow on spread where the last line on the previous spread has ended with . . . and you need the page turn to finish the rhyme/line. I have always loved those and try to incorporate them whenever possible.
Picture
R- “My second favourite spread - to be honest I love EVERY spread in this book because Shane and the design team at Scholastic have made a masterpiece - is this one. It has the text that appears on the back cover of the book and I just love the layout and the characters.

Well, that’s it from me this month, see you in August, with another great Aussie book.

Share a laugh, and connect with someone today.
GIVEAWAY
For a chance to win a copy of GET BACK IN THE BOOKS
1.    Comment on this blog post
2.    Share this blog post on social media
3.    Follow Sharon on twitter
4.    The winner will be announced on twitter on Monday 2nd August

BIO:
Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. Sharon has taught for all of her career. Previously a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, she now teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her humorous debut PB BEDTIME DADDY! released May 2020 through EK books. Sharon’s humorous follow up PB GET READY, MAMA! Is due to be released through EK books in 2022. She was awarded The Paper Bird Fellowship for Writers in 2019, during this time she wrote her early middle grade book SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILITY BELT, which will be released in 2021 through Clear Fork Publishing’s new imprint &MG. She was recently awarded a U-15 K Arts Grant to further develop her early middle grade series – THE UTILITY BELT.

CONNECT:
https://www.instagram.com/sharongiltrow1/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/sharongiltrowwriter/
https://twitter.com/sharon_giltrow
https://sharongiltrow.weebly.com/


Picture
Picture
17 Comments
Dani Duck link
7/26/2021 01:43:06 pm

This is a lovely post and will help me think more about my characters. I feel like I know my characters when I write them, but then sometimes I struggle to figure out what they say. I'll keep these questions in mind. Thanks Sharon!

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
7/27/2021 01:52:16 am

Thank you Dani. I feel interviewing your characters and getting to know them deeply gives them a voice, and you some dialogue to write :-).

Reply
Kitty Black link
7/26/2021 08:03:02 pm

Character draws me in immediately! I love the questions you’ve suggested to really dive into getting to know a character you’re writing about. I’ll definitely give them a go! Thanks Sharon :)

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
7/27/2021 01:53:31 am

Thanks Kitty. You have created some amazing characters. Keep up the great work.

Reply
Terena Boniwell
7/27/2021 04:13:04 am

I love these character questions Sharon. They are different to some of the standard questions I have seen. Off to brainstorm about my characters . . . Thank you!

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
7/29/2021 06:27:21 am

I'm glad I could be of help. Thanks for reading!

Reply
Norah Colvin link
7/27/2021 04:24:50 am

I have read so much about Rory's book. I look forward to reading it.

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
7/29/2021 06:33:30 am

It is a great book. You will love it!

Reply
Roseanne link
7/27/2021 04:32:30 am

This is so good to know! I just gave this advice to someone. I was editing their manuscript and their characters were undefined. I’m so glad I was in the right track!

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
7/29/2021 06:32:14 am

Glad I could be of help, and depth to characters everywhere :-).

Reply
Cindy S
7/27/2021 06:48:04 am

Irresistible character can make a book come alive. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
7/29/2021 06:30:57 am

Love that you love characters too.

Reply
Alexandra Guest
7/29/2021 12:17:51 am

Love this idea! Thanks for the great tip for developing characters.
PS. Love Bedtime Daddy - we read it regularly!

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
7/29/2021 06:29:01 am

You're welcome Alexandra, and so great to hear that BEDTIME, DADDY! is a favourite.

Reply
roberta abussi
7/31/2021 12:47:16 pm

This book looks amazing! Congratulations! I can't wait to read it

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
8/1/2021 06:58:58 pm

Thank you Roberta it is amazing!

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
8/1/2021 07:04:49 pm

Congratulations Roseanne you have won the giveaway. I will DM you :-).

Reply



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    We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our  awesome bloggers!!

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  • Home
  • WRITING
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      • 2023 Mastering Graphic Novels Registration
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
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      • 2022 Palooza Program
      • 2022 Palooza Faculty
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • NEW!! Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books Instant Access
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  • About Us
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    • Come Play With Us!
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    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships
      • Larissa Marantz Merit & Need Scholarship