Iraella of Elmanaha An interview Author: So, Ira, you’re name means death, correct? Ira: Umm….Didn’t you already know that? Author: What makes you say that? Anyway—how would you react if you were confronted by a leviathan, and what would you do to slay it? Ira: Well, I would probably try to run away, first of all. I’ve never been one for blood and slaying. But if I was trapped and had no choice, I would try to stab its underbelly. Author: But leviathan’s hide is like armor. Only it is completely impenetrable. Ira: Well I don’t know much about them, okay! I guess I would try to stab its mouth? Author: Well, I don’t know much about them either. So I guess that would be the best option. What would you do if there was a feud within your family? Ira: I’m not sure. My family gets along very well with one another. I suppose I would try to bring everyone together, which would of course be disastrous, but I would try anyway. Author: If you fell into danger and couldn’t find a way out, and had the option to contact friends and family, what would you tell them? Ira: I would tell them not to worry about me, not to come after me, and that I’ll be fine. Of course, they would never listen….. Author: What do you care about more than anything in the world? Ira: The welfare of my family, and of my people. Author: If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? Ira: Nothing, absolutely nothing. What is life without some form of struggle? Author: If faced with the death of either of your parents, how would you react? Ira: Okay, I won’t lie here. I would be devastated. It would be excruciating to go on with my life. I might not even make it. Author: If you could choose what kind of animal you would be, what animal would it be? Ira: That’s a weird question. I would want to be a swan. Author: Why? Ira: Swans are beautiful and free. Worriless. No death on their shoulders, because they are too beautiful to kill. Author: What is your ideal mount? Ira: Most definitely a horse. Griffins and unicorns are difficult-and never try a giant….. Author: What is your favorite food? Ira: Why are you even asking these questions?! Well, I really like my mother’s butternut squash stew. Author: If you could choose between owning a griffin or a pixie, which would you choose? Ira: Oh, definitely the griffin. Pixies are devilish! Author: What is your most prized possession? Ira: I have several. I loved Anteei’s cloak, but since that was lost at, er, lake…..But I also have a bejeweled necklace that was my great grandmother’s, which I love but only wear on special occasions. Also, there is the sundress I first met Baeddan in, from when I was only nine! Author: What do you want your image to be with the readers? Ira: Well, obviously I want it to be good. I hope that they see me in a good light, and I hope they think that I have made the right choices. I know I have some bad moments, where I behave very immaturely, and I regret that. I changed. And, um, I hope….Well…..Well….I think I’ve said I hope for enough things, and I hope that you don’t think this sounds too desperate! Author: Well, I suppose we’ll see if readers have any questions! Well, this was very random. Many of you may be asking what in heck I'm talking about when speaking about the first question. It is a part of the second draft of our tale of Iraella and Baeddan. I may post the prologue on here (maybe). If anybody have any questions for Iraella, please comment and I will have her reply to you as soon as possible. Oh, and I will be interviewing Mabon, Baeddan and Barden soon too. And everybody should make an interview with their characters! It helped me get to know Ira better for sure!
Comments
Ira: Well, not on
Ira: Well, not on purpose.....
Thanks! It was actually my mom who gave me the idea, she said that a creative writing professor from when she was in college would have interviews with his characters, and he would play with them, and put them in different scenarios that might even be completely different from the story they were originally in. I think it's awesome. You should try it!
"You were not meant to fit into a shallow box built by someone else." -J. Raymond
Pro writers interview their characters a lot
In fact, I've recently started doing a complete character sketch of my protagonists and antagonists, ranging everywhere from their looks to their favorite weapon to their favorite thing to say. I usually try to do an interview with them in there too.
One book that I read recently that I LOVE is Brandilyn Collins' Getting Into Charcter: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From an Actor. It talks about going in depth with your character so they seem like real people. To non-authors, that sounds really strange!! :0) But it's fun, like you said.
Glad you're doing this, I think you'll notice a huge improvement in your writing if you continue.
God Bless!
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And now our hearts will beat in time/You say I am yours and you are mine...
Michelle Tumes, "There Goes My Love"
cool idea!
I've always loved character interviews!! You like Cornelia Funke, right? She has some good ones of her characters on her website.
Hmmm.... you've inspired me to do some interviews of my own... mwahaha!
Oh, and on the subject of interviews... I have a question for you: How do you think up so many names for people and places? And their meanings? That's a talent, I'd say. :)
I interview my characters
I interview my characters all the time. I love digging really deep to find what they care about, what they want, how their mind works. And yes - Brandilyn Collins' book "Getting Into Character" is invaluable!
Interviews make it so much easier, when your character gets into a tough situation, to answer the question "How would he/she really react to this?" Just look back at your interview! If you were really thorough, 9 out of 10 times you'll find your answer right there.
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Brother: Your character should drive a motorcycle.
Me: He can't. He's in the wilderness.
Brother: Then make it a four-wheel-drive motorcycle!
Thanks everyone! Yeah, I'll
Thanks everyone! Yeah, I'll be doing a more detailed one of everbody and keeping it in the file. Hannah: I just randomly make up the names! Some of them I find on the internet, if I'm stuck (Nasia, Baeddan and Eamon), but the rest of them I made up!
"You were not meant to fit into a shallow box built by someone else." -J. Raymond
A question for Iraella:
A question for Iraella: Aren't you ever bad on purpose?
And I think an interview with all the characters is a good idea, Erin. (But I might not post them all on here.)
"I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth. Then I ask myself the same question." - Harun Yahya