Others say...

"It takes time to find the gold"
Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card

Reading this book was like eating soup that had bursts of flavor in it. To find the flavor, you had to eat a lot of soup that was tasteless. After reading this book, I felt it was suited more for the novice who knows little to nothing about the structure of a book and developing the characters in that book. A novice in my opinion is someone who wants to be published and famous but wasn't willing to put in the time reading while they were young a to learn the literary skills taught in English literature in high school/college. It is my opinion that this book digresses and has too much fluff and could have been written in fifty to seventy-five pages instead of the one hundred and seventy-three that it is. Although the book offers valuable insight into the development of characterization, it did not need to run on as long as it did. When I read Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood, it didn't take long to finish the book. Hood's book was packed with information and examples and did not digress like Card's book did. On the other hand, it took me five times as long to read Card's book because of the digressions. However, I do not think that Hood's book was written for the novice. Card's book takes the reader by the hand and leads him/her gently toward an understanding of developing characterization along with plot and other structural elements that are required to write a story that has a chance to see print. Hood's book, on the other hand, leaps in and roars ahead without taking the time to develop the necessary skills. I felt that Hood's book took for granted that the reader would know the things that Card teaches them in his book. I have four more books on characterization by four other authors and I plan to read them all. I know what my main weakness is in developing a narrative--characterization. After reading Hood and Card, I feel it is important to have a diverse perspective on the topic of developing characterization. One book may not be enough to understand what it takes to bring people to life on the flat page filled with black print.


"Valuable, entertaining little book"
Somehow, Orson Scott Card has a way of making anything an enjoyable read. This is true with his book on Characters and Viewpoint. He places his knowledge in the package of his well developed prose so that it is fun to read and easy to understand. But Card also likes to give his readers special treats and this book is no exception. Readers find the special treats in the stories Card shares of his many writers bootcamps and workshops including anecdotes from such well read authors as Gene Wolfe. This helps the reader understand that Card is not just drawing off his knowledge, but that of many other authors just as talented as he is. Most certainly worth multiple reads.

"A writer's notebook"
If you desire to write stories full of imagination, as well as fact, then I suggest you read this book. It is chock-full of explanations, viewpoints, instructions, as well as entertainment. As a budding writer, I am constantly seeking for the one book that will propel me to stardom. I find this one to be a definite step-up in that direction.

"Characters and Viewpoint"
Orson Scott Card makes informative and lasting insights into the creation of--and following the Point of View of--each character. This is not the STEP A to STEP Z version of writing instructions that make for a clear-cut pattern. Instead, it is a deeper instruction, breaking down the elements of writing that hide from so many want-to-be writers.
It is filled with cute little anecdotes and slap-you-in-the-face wake-up calls. ANY writer, no matter how experienced, would benefit from this book. Its an excellent referrence that forces the reader to THINK.

"Starting point for wannabe writers"
This was the first of many, many books I bought to attempt to help me in my quest to finally write the novel I'd been mulling around for quite some time. It was an excellant starting point. Obviously, the first thing you need to write a novel is great characters. Orson Scott Card teaches you how to do this wonderfully. When you read this book it will make you say "Why didn't I think of that??!!!" more than once. Despite your preferred genre this is a top book on characterization. The fact that he uses examples from popular books and movies from all genres was extremely helpful. Reading this book will show you how to create dynamic, complex, lovable (or hated!), dimensional characters whom your readers will either root for, or boo depending on your preference! If you're at all interested in writing fiction, this book is a must-have.