READER’S FORUM

April 30, 2022 at 11:46 am Reply

Aiden Finken

Hi, Gordon Korman.

Some of the characters in your books have very interesting personalities.

Have you ever had a character inspired by someone you knew in real life?

Thanks,

Aiden
April 30, 2022 at 06:13 pm Reply

Gordon Korman

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Hi, Aiden,

Have I designed a character from someone I know? All the time!

Mostly, I take bits and pieces of people I know and incorporate them into a composite character. And there are standards -- e.g. everybody knows someone whose Mom or Dad is really important, and who thinks that makes them right up there too. And we all know the guy who will do anything for a laugh, or the sourpuss person you can't get a smile out of if you stand on your head! Plus the person who will do anything for you, and the opposite guy who wouldn't give you the time of day. Really, creating characters is the best part of being a writer!

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Hi, Aiden,

Have I designed a character from someone I know? All the time!

Mostly, I take bits and pieces of people I know and incorporate them into a composite character. And there are standards -- e.g. everybody knows someone whose Mom or Dad is really important, and who thinks that makes them right up there too. And we all know the guy who will do anything for a laugh, or the sourpuss person you can't get a smile out of if you stand on your head! Plus the person who will do anything for you, and the opposite guy who wouldn't give you the time of day. Really, creating characters is the best part of being a writer!

-----GK-----