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I wish "Archetypes for
Writers" could have been a much better book,
instructive it may be. For all its interesting
tidbits about getting to understand your character,
and stripping down their personalities, it also
manages to truly delve into endless exposition into
Arkelogy, and archetypes, and constructing practices
about archetypes, and the like. And it also manages to
state the obvious. The writer knows the characters
more than most people. Doy. A writer's characters
are combinations of the writer's personality, fears,
desires, and inhibitions. Thanks for reminding me. I
seriously didn't understand that. But Van Bergen's
aspirations are fascinating. She's not only seeking
to explore the notion of archetypes, but she also
hopes to help the writer use this pit fall to their
advantage, while re-defining the concept of
archetypes and help their writing flourish. I just
wish it was a much better book. While the overall
product is fascinating, there are more misses than
hits in terms of tone and instruction. The endless
explorations into the meaning of archetypes is
awfully tiring, and I sadly just had to skip onto
section two. Which is saying
a lot because I'm a very patient man. At 270 pages, it's a
tight but fascinating read if you're not completely versed
in the world of writing and its little tinkerings. |
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Characterization is a difficult thing, and avoiding
archetypes, both obvious, and cliché is a problem for even
the best of us, and Van Bergen attempts to help the writers
topple this obstacle. "Archetypes for Writers" states the
obvious more often than I care for, but for writers who
aren't aware of what certain workings of the writing world
can offer, than by all means, look for "Archetypes for
Writers."
This book can be
bought anywhere from Amazon to Michael Weise Productions.
-
Felix Vasquez Jr.
4/16/07
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