Indie and Proud discussion

I prefer character over plot...even in my own book.
British author and blogger Steve K. Smy recently gave my novel, The Guilty, a five star review on his site: (http://imagineerebooks.wordpress.com/...).
What made this review different from so many others that I've received is that he intentionally makes no mention of the dramatic trial scenes in the book, or the surprises in the plot. He talks mainly of the characters, and the conflicts, particularly internal, that they are caught up in.
Now I think my book contains a pretty gripping murder trial, and the plot packs a few good twists and turns. And, obviously, when I'm called on to promote it this is what the focus is primarily on. But, the truth is, when I wrote this book all that mattered to me were my characters, especially the protagonist Robert Bratt. Of course, things happened to them; the kind of things that happen in all our lives, as well as things that would only happen to defense attorneys, some in the beginning of their careers, others at the end of their tether. But what I cared most about was how they dealt with these highs and lows in their lives, their joy at success, their fear of failure. Because these characters were real to me, so their feelings were real, and I wanted to make them real to the readers as well.
I knew I had succeeded, at least for one reader, when I read the following from Mr. Smy's review:
"If you’re looking for a Perry Mason or other similar fictional lawyer, then you’ll be disappointed. There’s a disturbing ring of honesty about the portrayed lawyers’ defects. You’ll find those you can happily despise, but you’ll also be confused by those who exhibit more humanity than you would expect. They are complex people. They have lives. You could, with little effort, imagine how they live their lives away from the spotlight of the story."
In the constant debate about whether plot or character is more important, I must simply say that the most exciting plot would never hold my attention if I didn't care or believe in the characters involved. Certainly, everybody enjoys a clever plot, but when a reader says, as Mr. Smy does, "I genuinely regretted the book ending," I know this is because the characters mattered, and it is they that the reader will miss. And it's at that point that I can truly feel a sense of accomplishment.

Here, here. I totally agree with you. I don't care how great a plot is, if I don't love the characters, I'm done.

A good character is fascinating even when he or she isn't even doing anything.

What does it take for a character to become "three-dimensional"? This is a question I've been wrestling with for most of my writing career.

One of the main compliments (and my favorite compliments, too) are when my readers tell me how fleshed out, detailed, and realistic my characters are.

I do this by writing heavily inside their heads, and letting the reader experience, by proxy, what the character is. None of them are all good or all bad. They have bad habits and uncharitable thoughts and insecurities. They all have specific patterns of speech and predictable behavior. They do not all react the same way or think the the same things. They bicker and tease each other.

I want the reader to feel the character breathing, if that makes sense.

It takes a lot of description to do that, and you don't want to pile it on all at once. You want it to unfurl it as the reader spends with the character. So while you never want to stop the action for description, you want to never stop describing as you go. It's an indulgent, sensuous way to write, but my readers seem to like it. It really makes them care about the characters.

Regina wrote: "One of the main compliments (and my favorite compliments, too) are when my readers tell me how fleshed out, detailed, and realistic my characters are.

I do this by writing heavily inside their he..."

I'm with Regina 100% on that. I know for me, when I write, my characters are there and real, and they speak through me. And going along with what you said (and I agree, your characters are awesome, even though I've neglected them for too long :P) that's why I much prefer character driven stories to plot driven ones. Though my favorite kind of story ever are ones where the characters are not sacrificed for the sake of the plot.