Judy Schneider's Writing Lab

Sometimes cliches are the best and only way to describe something or someone. Which is not to say that you shouldn't be creative. For example, what better way to describe a big busted female character in your story than this: "Rosemary was Dolly Partoned, thinking she'd attract the first rich bastard with eyes just as big."

Great post, Judy! Lots of good ideas. I try really hard not to stereotype in my writing. I think a good looking villain is much creepier because people don't expect it.

Hey Judy, nice post. I try to do this in my writing, but for me, it requires a layered creation deeper than the way someone looks. That's the part that I have to dig for to get the result I want. However, I like to start with a good visual. Thanks so much for the thoughtful analysis!

i like this post judy;

it's amazing how we even as seasoned writers (or so we characterize ourselves) need to be reminded of crucial tricks of the trade such as this one. if you were to ask your circle of writers how many people have heard this before, many hands would go up; if you then ask how many of us actually applied this principle in the lateset piece we're working on, i'm sure a lot of hands would go down. thanx for the booster shot.

Click, click all around on the above comments!

TC, I love the guy whose eyes are as big as Dolly's most prominent feature! Very funny AND memorable!

Joyce and Vanessa, I agree that many of us try to avoid these stereotypes in our character profiles, but how many times have we seen the intelligent, conservative librarian or the Gladys Karvitz-type nosy neighbor? Again, again, and again. So let's vow to stay fresh, writers. Fresh is good!

And Kathie, how right you are that full character creation is a layered process! In fact, the core of my protagonist has remained constant, but I have changed her from blonde to brunette to...hmm. Maybe I should have her be bald!

Thanks to everyone for the great comments!

I had to laugh at the Thelma comment. When I was in the 6th grade, I wrote a story, "The Haunted House Mystery," that I thought was utterly brilliant. Of course, in retrospect, it was remarkably like a Scooby Doo episode! Oh, well . . .

Kelly, that's okay. My first novel read like the Hardy Boys meet Nancy Drew, and I was a lot older than 6th grade!

Great post Judy, and very true. People seldom fit nicely into the roles we have assigned them. There are so many layers to a human being, the first being only the start. And of course, as we start peeling back the layers we discover that the deeper we go, the further a person departs from the stereotype.

Furthermore, a person may even assume a stereotypical "look" to hide who they really are underneath.

There are so many things to consider as ponderers and recorders of the human condition. Thanks for bringing up a crucial aspect of the contemplation!

Developing my characters has been my biggest challenge in my current manuscript. Twisting stereotypes is a great way to fix that problem. Thanks for the reminder and the tips!

Kelly and Joyce, your Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew stories made me laugh. Similarly, I wrote a story in grade school that was much like the then-popular (and still so) Beverly Cleary's Runaway Ralph. But hey, isn't that the first step -- to study and imitate the masters?

Rebekah, thanks for your thoughtful post. You are right that the layers of the human character are so complex and often unpredictable. I can't tell you how many times I thought I knew someone well and then, wow, they took me off guard and assumed another persona entirely. Amazing, fascinating stuff. If we can capture it and bring it back to life in our characters, we win!

Thanks to all!

Kristine, developing believable characters with realistic motivations is the goal (one you've likely accomplished). The twist you're adding now is just the thing that will make them unique and memorable. Good luck!

Hey Judy, I finally made it back to go to all the links...very funny. Love the Mercedes add. Those ad execs must have been doing the happy dance when this commercial came to be. Wouldn't it be fun to work in that collabortive environment??? Thank goodness for writers who don't mind popping their heads out of the gopher hole every once in a while, right?

Oh, Kathie, I agree! I think the collaborative environment is so conducive to explosive creativity! It would be my dream to work with a team of writers on a TV drama. What would be better than waking up every day, grabbing a stiff cup of cappuccino, and brainstorming on character and plot developments? Then working off of each other to make the dialogue sharp and poignant would be fantastic. When creative minds get together, the possibilities are limitless. Wow, I'd just love it!

That's funny Judy, I dream of that, too--I mean it's my fantasy job. But I wouldn't mind writing for a 30 Rock, Scrubs, The Office, Earl or a good drama. I often think of the fun--the utter and continuous hilarity that must ensue in that environment. Or it's complete hell. I'll just tell myself that it is.