At A Moments Notice...
First of all... comments are back? Stopthemadness!
This is a hot button with me, Chris and I think the tendecy for black authors to "overdescribe" and poeticize their characters can be linked to at least two reasons.
For auch a long time, we didn't have positive characters to identify with. We were slaves, butlers and mammies. Now that we have more opportunity to create our own images, their is a predisposition to create them in the most positive and beautiful way possible (in print and tv/film). As a realist, I'm irritated by this trend and wonder what sort of reception my writing will receive from the black community as I tend to focus on deep character flaws and fewer glamour folk - but I digress.
Also, as a writing collective, we lack deep imagination when it comes to reading and writing. Describing our characters through actions, personality and methaphor is foreign for many of us. A remedy for this is for us to read more non-black literature.
I could go on but I'd be taking over your spot - heh.
First of all... comments are back? Stopthemadness!
This is a hot button with me, Chris and I think the tendecy for black authors to "overdescribe" and poeticize their characters can be linked to at least two reasons.
For auch a long time, we didn't have positive characters to identify with. We were slaves, butlers and mammies. Now that we have more opportunity to create our own images, their is a predisposition to create them in the most positive and beautiful way possible (in print and tv/film). As a realist, I'm irritated by this trend and wonder what sort of reception my writing will receive from the black community as I tend to focus on deep character flaws and fewer glamour folk - but I digress.
Also, as a writing collective, we lack deep imagination when it comes to reading and writing. Describing our characters through actions, personality and methaphor is foreign for many of us. A remedy for this is for us to read more non-black literature.
I could go on but I'd be taking over your spot - heh.
And another thing - *dead* - Karamo is the ONLY reason I'm watching TRW this season. I'm not ashamed to say it. And it's not for his deep, political monologues, either (as I clearly stated last week).
And another thing - *dead* - Karamo is the ONLY reason I'm watching TRW this season. I'm not ashamed to say it. And it's not for his deep, political monologues, either (as I clearly stated last week).
* pinches myself... taps the screen... is this thing on???? *
My 10 Cents - I read (and enjoyed) you book, not because I know you, but because I could actually read it . As for the characters, I would wager that each person will visualize the characters based on their own perceptions, experiences, and whatnot. For me, I ascribed physical attributes to the characters based on their similarities to people I know in real life.
But then again, I am creative person, one who daydreams even while working, so my imagination often takes hold when reading, filling in scenery, smells, faces, ect. I wonder how much this works for others?
But I am rambling. I agree that physical beauty cannot be denied in our lives. To deny that it rules allof our what and who we are atracted to, would be a flat out lie. And YES! I am watching RRP to Karamo's ass.. so what.. LOL
* pinches myself... taps the screen... is this thing on???? *
My 10 Cents - I read (and enjoyed) you book, not because I know you, but because I could actually read it . As for the characters, I would wager that each person will visualize the characters based on their own perceptions, experiences, and whatnot. For me, I ascribed physical attributes to the characters based on their similarities to people I know in real life.
But then again, I am creative person, one who daydreams even while working, so my imagination often takes hold when reading, filling in scenery, smells, faces, ect. I wonder how much this works for others?
But I am rambling. I agree that physical beauty cannot be denied in our lives. To deny that it rules allof our what and who we are atracted to, would be a flat out lie. And YES! I am watching RRP to Karamo's ass.. so what.. LOL
First of all, I try not to air certain laundry in people's comments because I hate it when people do that to me, but considering this particular post, it might be proper to.
You and I need to talk shop. You know how to get in touch with me.
About the character description thing, it's up to the writer. I've been accused of not describing a severely minor character just because the person reading it didn't have enough imagination to assign her a look. Her personality came through, but for some reason he was concerned over how this catty old lady looked. Incidentally, this was another writer.
I try to describe my characters based on priority.
Another thing, describing a character's physical attributes in a half-page long paragraph is boring. Sometimes writers are so in love with the way their main characters look, we feel we have to go into grave consecutive details about their appearance. But there's a way to do it so that it's not so heavy-handed.
As for the issue of people not "seeing themselves" in the book because the characters are too "beautiful", that's bullshit. I don't write about ugly people anymore than I date them.
Just kidding.
But no, seriously.
First of all, I try not to air certain laundry in people's comments because I hate it when people do that to me, but considering this particular post, it might be proper to.
You and I need to talk shop. You know how to get in touch with me.
About the character description thing, it's up to the writer. I've been accused of not describing a severely minor character just because the person reading it didn't have enough imagination to assign her a look. Her personality came through, but for some reason he was concerned over how this catty old lady looked. Incidentally, this was another writer.
I try to describe my characters based on priority.
Another thing, describing a character's physical attributes in a half-page long paragraph is boring. Sometimes writers are so in love with the way their main characters look, we feel we have to go into grave consecutive details about their appearance. But there's a way to do it so that it's not so heavy-handed.
As for the issue of people not "seeing themselves" in the book because the characters are too "beautiful", that's bullshit. I don't write about ugly people anymore than I date them.
Just kidding.
But no, seriously.
People need to understand that when a person says "he was fine", is does not mean he looks like Shemar Moore. He could look like 2 Shaq or DMX. I know some who people think Shemar is average in looks.
Everyone has their own perception of beauty. Shit every fine man would look like Denzel now if it was up to me!!!! LOL, BUT DEAD SERIOUS.
So if the writer does not give you specific details or even celebrities has models then use your mind and create that beautiful being. Leave the story telling to the writers.
Its good to see that your back CDavid. KEEP BLOGGING.
People need to understand that when a person says "he was fine", is does not mean he looks like Shemar Moore. He could look like 2 Shaq or DMX. I know some who people think Shemar is average in looks.
Everyone has their own perception of beauty. Shit every fine man would look like Denzel now if it was up to me!!!! LOL, BUT DEAD SERIOUS.
So if the writer does not give you specific details or even celebrities has models then use your mind and create that beautiful being. Leave the story telling to the writers.
Its good to see that your back CDavid. KEEP BLOGGING.
For me, it's all about the character traits. Let the reader do some work and decide how they think the character should look based on how I've described them. I've found where I've done pieces about arrogant, selfish men, that readers have automatically assumed they were devilishly handsome. 'sup with that?
I think about how so-called friends of mine have described my current beau to me. Dumpy. Ugly. Loser. Fat. In reality, he's anything but and he makes me happy and I could give two shits about what anyone else thinks about him. But sometimes the gimmicks are hard to sway. I mean, look at all the advertising we're bombarded with on a daily basis (porn, novels, series like Noah's Arc, etc.). It's easy to buy into.
And Kamarammo? Psssh...I don't see what all the fuss is about. I just want to see Willie push his buttons one good time.
Nonsexually, of course.
For me, it's all about the character traits. Let the reader do some work and decide how they think the character should look based on how I've described them. I've found where I've done pieces about arrogant, selfish men, that readers have automatically assumed they were devilishly handsome. 'sup with that?
I think about how so-called friends of mine have described my current beau to me. Dumpy. Ugly. Loser. Fat. In reality, he's anything but and he makes me happy and I could give two shits about what anyone else thinks about him. But sometimes the gimmicks are hard to sway. I mean, look at all the advertising we're bombarded with on a daily basis (porn, novels, series like Noah's Arc, etc.). It's easy to buy into.
And Kamarammo? Psssh...I don't see what all the fuss is about. I just want to see Willie push his buttons one good time.
Nonsexually, of course.
Oh yeah, can we do something for you about getting an RSS feed? The Bloglines crowd grows ever restless!
Oh yeah, can we do something for you about getting an RSS feed? The Bloglines crowd grows ever restless!
Chris...I feel your pain! As a cartoonist, I get something similar; why are all of my characters so buffed?
Well, partly, 'cus I spent most of my life as a cartoonist drawing superheroes (its hard to come down off of that). Secondly, I'm sure if there were a television show out with all dumpy people and that had nothing to do with the premise, people would be like, "what the hell is this?"
I will admit, I have slimmed my characters up because they are not all supposed to be that buffed. And I've also found that what is buffed to some is not buffed to me!
As far as my writing goes, the thing I've heard lately is "I don't like the way it ended! I wanted ______ to happen!" Sorry, I didnt write the book to perpetrate happy endings! That stuff rarely happens. I write to help
And to J. Brotherlove, I for one, would appreciate your kind of writing, but I'm not your "average reader." And I wholeheartedly agree with your comment about how we are now depicted as perfectly positive. The one thing people have told me they like about my writing is that it is believeable.
To all, I say, WRITE FROM YOUR HEART and it will show in your work. Everyone's a critic!
Chris...I feel your pain! As a cartoonist, I get something similar; why are all of my characters so buffed?
Well, partly, 'cus I spent most of my life as a cartoonist drawing superheroes (its hard to come down off of that). Secondly, I'm sure if there were a television show out with all dumpy people and that had nothing to do with the premise, people would be like, "what the hell is this?"
I will admit, I have slimmed my characters up because they are not all supposed to be that buffed. And I've also found that what is buffed to some is not buffed to me!
As far as my writing goes, the thing I've heard lately is "I don't like the way it ended! I wanted ______ to happen!" Sorry, I didnt write the book to perpetrate happy endings! That stuff rarely happens. I write to help
And to J. Brotherlove, I for one, would appreciate your kind of writing, but I'm not your "average reader." And I wholeheartedly agree with your comment about how we are now depicted as perfectly positive. The one thing people have told me they like about my writing is that it is believeable.
To all, I say, WRITE FROM YOUR HEART and it will show in your work. Everyone's a critic!
Yes Karoma is the reason I watch The Real World. I am not gone lie he is most definitely a good piece of eye candy to look at. As I watch the show the personality is interesting also.
Yes Karoma is the reason I watch The Real World. I am not gone lie he is most definitely a good piece of eye candy to look at. As I watch the show the personality is interesting also.
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