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Random Writing Tips - Creating Characters by Dennis Murphy
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Random Writing Tips - Creating Characters |
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Education
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So you're writing your first novel. Your story should be character driven, in which case you will find that the situations which start to form in your mind already come from what those characters are 'about.' All novels, whether they be thrillers, romances, Science Fiction, or whatever, should reflect life in that they deal with what happens when person A, with a certain agenda, meets with person B, with his particular motivations. Some characters will mix well, but what really drives the story forward is conflict. This doesn't mean that your major protagonists always have to be a 'goodie' and a 'baddie.' Conflict can arise between characters who are really well matched- Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy being the classic examples of this. But as you are probably no Jane Austen (and who is?) you may wish to stick with clearly defining who wears the black hat and who the white from the outset. But it is still important, having said that, to remember two things: firstly, unless you're writing pantomime, characters never believe that they themselves are wrong or evil, because people in real life don't think that way. Apparently Al Capone saw himself as a great public benefactor, and I'm sure that Robert Mugabe will think that he has been a great president. Next, a character MUST have shades- even a bad guy has endearing features, and a good guy has flaws and even vices.I once read a suggestion in a 'how to write' book that to you could keep your characters differentiated by basing each one on the characteristics of a different star sign. Now I wouldn't want to knock someone who has taken the trouble to write a book which helps people to create, but personally I would find basing my characters on the supposed characteristics of their star signs about as useful as basing them upon those of the seven dwarves. The problem with using this sort of formula is that it could lead to you not creating characters, but types. Yes, you need consistency, and yes, the old cliche is true that there is a point where the characters take on a 'life of their own.' BUT... realistic characters, in literature as in life, have contradictions. I have just been reading an online debate where this very subject is being discussed with reference to film characters. Hannibal Lecter tops the list- a monster, but a cultured gentleman. Similarly, there is the much earlier example of Alex in 'A Clockwork Orange.' He takes part in gang warfare, rapes minors, terrorises an elderly intellectual, but doesn't half love a bit of Beethoven! And these contradictions not only give depth to the character- they are the hook upon which the whole premise of the book hangs. So if star signs and the Seven Dwarves don't work for you, where do you get your characters from? You could always do what successful writers have done down the ages, which is to use a combination of experience and imagination. It is well known that Shakespeare based his Falstaff on a man called Sir John Oldcastle, that Thomas Hardy drew heavily upon his background, D.H. Lawrence based the characters of 'Sons and Lovers' and 'Women in Love' upon himself, his family and his social set and (this one's for the kids,) Andy Cope's 'Spy Dog,' Tara, is a family pet. Obviously, if you are developing an unsympathetic character based upon someone you know, no connection should be left which can be used in court! Think what you want to say about the character. If your model is an obese woman, make your character a thin man. You can do that without losing essential elements of the character, and it will open up other avenues which will add complexity. My quick recipe for character building is this: add character traits of a few people you know. Stir in a large piece of imagination. dissertation help
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