Okay, here I am, with my first advice. And it's on characters, because I can't really think of anything else right now! Okay, here we go:
This might just be me, but I have an arsenal of characters stored away in my head. (You know, I should probably write them all down...I will once I'm done with this.)
But anyway... Characters need to have faults. They can't be perfect, or it won't be realistic. They need to have at least one major fault and two minor ones, preferably more. (e.g., unforgiving, anger issues, social problems, etc.) These faults will help with the plot, (let's face it, we need as much help as we can get) and make them more likable to other characters in the story (and to your readers). I know that seems weird, but it's kind of how it works. If you have a character that is completely flawless, it seems to me like you'll begin to turn your other character's hate upon them.
Although these flaws in a character's personality are mandatory, many of these may and should be fixed by the end of the story. However, your characters may discover that they have other faults not realized at the beginning. In general, just try to be realistic with your plot and people, and have fun.
Allons-y,
Amber Shipp
This might just be me, but I have an arsenal of characters stored away in my head. (You know, I should probably write them all down...I will once I'm done with this.)
But anyway... Characters need to have faults. They can't be perfect, or it won't be realistic. They need to have at least one major fault and two minor ones, preferably more. (e.g., unforgiving, anger issues, social problems, etc.) These faults will help with the plot, (let's face it, we need as much help as we can get) and make them more likable to other characters in the story (and to your readers). I know that seems weird, but it's kind of how it works. If you have a character that is completely flawless, it seems to me like you'll begin to turn your other character's hate upon them.
Although these flaws in a character's personality are mandatory, many of these may and should be fixed by the end of the story. However, your characters may discover that they have other faults not realized at the beginning. In general, just try to be realistic with your plot and people, and have fun.
Allons-y,
Amber Shipp
Hey Amber,
ReplyDeleteI agree, except I don't think that the fault necessarily needs to be remedied, but it needs to be reined in. Also, physical disabilities are useful because at the end the people around your hero learn to be accepting and at the same time so will your readers. Mental flaws are good, however I think that if at the last second you use this flaw (anger, social problems etc.) against the villain, the hero will eventually see that these problems either should be dealt with, or lived with.
Another thing. I like to model my heroes after myself. I know I'm not perfect, so, naturally, my hero won't be either. Just a tidbit.
Annabelle
Yeah, it doesn't necessarily have to be remedied. But you're right Amber! A character with no faults is no character at all. And Annabelle, I based my main character in a novel I wrote last fall on myself, and he has many faults.
ReplyDeleteBut he is still my darling Julius. XD
You based Julius off of yourself? How sweet! I love Julius. Mercedes seemed a bit like you too.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did. He is so like me sometimes it is scary.
DeleteMercedes is a little like me, but I didn't pour myself into her as much as I did Julius.
I forgot to mention this, the other reason I write my hero like myself is because, duh, it's really hard to write from the point of view of another type of person.
ReplyDeleteFor example: It's really hard for me to write from the point of view of a boy who has no siblings, a lot of friends and is really athletic and popular at school. It's easy for me to write from the point of view of a girl who has at least one sibling, a few very close friends, and can't run because of a breathing problem (or shouldn't, at least ;).
Annabelle
I get that. I can write from the point of a girl with serious issues (I scare myself when I write in that point of view, because I feel like I have serious issues after it.)
ReplyDelete