[stylist] Omitting characters?

[helene ryles]

Robert: Thanks for your input. I have wittled down all the lesser
important characters. There were 7 step children at first (now there
are only 3) whom are important to the plot.

The main characters are Nadia and Liza who are also the narrators. The
others all connected to the main characters in some way.
Is it just too many main characters or do you feel the same way about
minor characters too?

Helene



On 15/08/2009, Robert Newman <newmanrl at cox.net> wrote:
> Helene
>
> Keeping a normal appearing blind character for comparison- first, and here I
> will speak of my personal feelings (yeah, you were asking for this, I know),
> but I really get bogged down in a book that has too many characters. And as
> to what constitutes "too many characters" for me, is when I have to work at
> remembering who they are, who do they belong too, what is their purpose, and
> all that.  And especially if the plot of the story is set somewhere where
> the culture has a different set of names than what I am use to hearing; yes,
> I can hold onto a number of new names, but not too many before I get lost.
> So if the character isn't important, don't load us down with a potentially
> non-important character. And as for "conceptually" this character in
> question, being "normal" appearing according to how we usually experience a
> blind character and should you keep him for contrast, Well --- if that is an
> important point in your story? Yes, if it isn't, then don't expect we will
> notice that point.
> ,
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of helene ryles
> Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:19 PM
> To: A private list for authors; bookel; krouthorn; Rebecca MacDonald;
> Scif3fan at aol.com; Tamara Smith-Kinney; Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: [stylist] Omitting characters?
>
> I have been going through my work omitting all the unneccessary characters.
> So all the characters that are left have a definate role to play.
>
> One of my characters which I am thinking of omitting is Ashok Parvesh, one
> of Liza's step children. She's got four blind step children. The other 3 are
> all powerful and gifted witches. They more or less take the limelight and
> they all have definate roles to play in the plot.
> Ashok is just an ordinary blind boy. He is an independant but doesn't do
> magic like his siblings so has to do without various magical props that his
> siblings use such as a seeker stone that will lead them to whatever they
> want, knowing summoning charms, and using their long canes to ride on like
> broomsticks. I was thinking of Omitting Ashok altogether since his 3
> siblings tend to take the limelight with their antiques. On the other hand
> it might be good to keep an ordinary blind character there for contrast.
>
> What do others think?
>
> Helene
>
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