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rhonawestbrook asked:
"What do you keep in mind while creating a sympathetic character? Are there any tiny nuggets of wisdom you'd have the time to pass down to a beginner? Is there a list of things you are very very careful not to do?"
Disclaimer: this is merely how I work. It is not to be considered The One True Anything. The writer reserves the right (and left) to change her M.O. at any time.
For me, it's difficult to break down into a list of instructions, because characters don't so much get created as they come to visit like the Cheshire Cat, grin (or sentence of dialog) first. Everything grows from that bit of voice.
"It was bitter cold in the attic, but I preferred being there to mingling at the party downstairs. It was too warm down there. Too warm, and too much perfume."
And there you have...someone. A very real someone -- s/he has already indicated clear likes and dislikes that have to be respected and supported. The more they talk (and I type) the more depth and shadings they develop. I suppose that's why I don't do character sketches, as such -- trying to create them apart from the story itself doesn't work; they are a part of their world, and their world informs who they become.
That doesn't mean that trying to do a separate character workup isn't a good idea -- just that it's not how I do it.
(and by character sketch I mean sitting down and writing out pages of details about the character, their lives, their description, etc. Once a character is firmly ensconsed, I have been known to gather details and elaborate on facts, but that's afterward.)
And that's the only real wisdom I have: respect your characters. Trust them. Support their motivations with history and quirks. Don't try to force them into actions that aren't true to their voice. If they aren't working well with the plot, then they may not be the right character for that plot, and the plot may not be the right vehicle for the character.
For me, Character drives the bus, not plot.
A list of things I'm careful not to do? Hrm... not really. There is a delete key on every keyboard, and an eraser on every pencil. This is by design. Fiddle and see what works. If it doesn't, make it go away.
As to making them sympathetic... The trick to remember, I think, is that any character can be sympathetic, so long as you give the reader a road into their damage. We may be fascinated by something we don't understand, but we can't alway ssympathize with them. Given a peek inside? Bingo. Especially if what we see inside is cluttered and messy and has lots of frayed edges just begging to be tugged apart.
Or maybe that's just me. *grin*
More to come, as my brain ticks over. Or feel free to pick and prod for response...
rhonawestbrook asked:"What do you keep in mind while creating a sympathetic character? Are there any tiny nuggets of wisdom you'd have the time to pass down to a beginner? Is there a list of things you are very very careful not to do?"
Disclaimer: this is merely how I work. It is not to be considered The One True Anything. The writer reserves the right (and left) to change her M.O. at any time.
For me, it's difficult to break down into a list of instructions, because characters don't so much get created as they come to visit like the Cheshire Cat, grin (or sentence of dialog) first. Everything grows from that bit of voice.
"It was bitter cold in the attic, but I preferred being there to mingling at the party downstairs. It was too warm down there. Too warm, and too much perfume."
And there you have...someone. A very real someone -- s/he has already indicated clear likes and dislikes that have to be respected and supported. The more they talk (and I type) the more depth and shadings they develop. I suppose that's why I don't do character sketches, as such -- trying to create them apart from the story itself doesn't work; they are a part of their world, and their world informs who they become.
That doesn't mean that trying to do a separate character workup isn't a good idea -- just that it's not how I do it.
(and by character sketch I mean sitting down and writing out pages of details about the character, their lives, their description, etc. Once a character is firmly ensconsed, I have been known to gather details and elaborate on facts, but that's afterward.)
And that's the only real wisdom I have: respect your characters. Trust them. Support their motivations with history and quirks. Don't try to force them into actions that aren't true to their voice. If they aren't working well with the plot, then they may not be the right character for that plot, and the plot may not be the right vehicle for the character.
For me, Character drives the bus, not plot.
A list of things I'm careful not to do? Hrm... not really. There is a delete key on every keyboard, and an eraser on every pencil. This is by design. Fiddle and see what works. If it doesn't, make it go away.
As to making them sympathetic... The trick to remember, I think, is that any character can be sympathetic, so long as you give the reader a road into their damage. We may be fascinated by something we don't understand, but we can't alway ssympathize with them. Given a peek inside? Bingo. Especially if what we see inside is cluttered and messy and has lots of frayed edges just begging to be tugged apart.
Or maybe that's just me. *grin*
More to come, as my brain ticks over. Or feel free to pick and prod for response...
