Ivy Keating's Blog - Posts Tagged "characters"
What a Character!
A great character in a book is similar to a good friend in the sense that they're both someone we want to spend time with. But, unlike our good buddies, great characters can be rotten to the core. So, what is it about certain fictional players that draw us in? Three of my favorite attributes are their intrigue, image, and depth.
Intrigue is what about them holds our interest. It's why someone should care about the character. What personality traits do they have that make them unique, or what behaviors do they exhibit that a reader could empathize with.
Image is what the reader makes a character out to look like. We don't really need to know if the protagonist has straight hair or curly, but if we can picture them-it closes the gap between our worlds.
My favorite trait to analyze is depth. Depth is how solid the character is. Can I get a feel for how they would act in any circumstance: even outside the story? Does the player feel authentic? This is done by showing the character's actions in a variety of situations and, every time, showing their behaviors are true to their personality and physical limitations. If a character is flawed or chaotic or rotten to the core-their actions still must make sense for their reality.
If you're a writer, think about the characters you've created and analyze them. If they're bland, inconsistent, or hard to imagine, they will have a negative impact on your story. Interesting, well developed, players will be the ones readers want to hang out with.
Intrigue is what about them holds our interest. It's why someone should care about the character. What personality traits do they have that make them unique, or what behaviors do they exhibit that a reader could empathize with.
Image is what the reader makes a character out to look like. We don't really need to know if the protagonist has straight hair or curly, but if we can picture them-it closes the gap between our worlds.
My favorite trait to analyze is depth. Depth is how solid the character is. Can I get a feel for how they would act in any circumstance: even outside the story? Does the player feel authentic? This is done by showing the character's actions in a variety of situations and, every time, showing their behaviors are true to their personality and physical limitations. If a character is flawed or chaotic or rotten to the core-their actions still must make sense for their reality.
If you're a writer, think about the characters you've created and analyze them. If they're bland, inconsistent, or hard to imagine, they will have a negative impact on your story. Interesting, well developed, players will be the ones readers want to hang out with.
Characters and Communication
Characters in novels do not need to follow the same strategies for good communication that we do; they'd be boring if they did. In books, we want to see emotions take over reason and heated exchanges. It's one of the most enjoyable things about reading. We can loose ourselves in the drama. But, do these players have to follow any rules?
Of course they do. Here are my top three communication rules for characters:
The first is, they must stay within the confines of the story. A writer can have a scatter-brained hero - but, a character's way of communicating, no matter how quirky or interesting, cannot derail the reader from the plot or cause unnecessary theatrics. Dialogue must fit seamlessly into the story-line and make sense within the setting.
Characters must listen, but not in the same way that people do. They can choose to respond, ignore, or interrupt, but they must stay within the constructs of their personality. In my book, 'Camouflage', Chief Dermott is not always going to listen politely to his superiors--they are going to have it out!
Lastly, a character's dialogue must sound authentic. People have an established way of speaking that varies with few exceptions. This is even more important for book characters. Any communication that sounds unnatural can pull the reader out of the story. If you're a writer, reading the dialogue out-loud can help you detect awkward discourse.
We love outrageous characters, but even the most dysfunctional ones must adhere to certain guidelines. Fortunately, the rules we follow for "good" communication are different then the ones in books - giving those compelling players room to let loose.
Of course they do. Here are my top three communication rules for characters:
The first is, they must stay within the confines of the story. A writer can have a scatter-brained hero - but, a character's way of communicating, no matter how quirky or interesting, cannot derail the reader from the plot or cause unnecessary theatrics. Dialogue must fit seamlessly into the story-line and make sense within the setting.
Characters must listen, but not in the same way that people do. They can choose to respond, ignore, or interrupt, but they must stay within the constructs of their personality. In my book, 'Camouflage', Chief Dermott is not always going to listen politely to his superiors--they are going to have it out!
Lastly, a character's dialogue must sound authentic. People have an established way of speaking that varies with few exceptions. This is even more important for book characters. Any communication that sounds unnatural can pull the reader out of the story. If you're a writer, reading the dialogue out-loud can help you detect awkward discourse.
We love outrageous characters, but even the most dysfunctional ones must adhere to certain guidelines. Fortunately, the rules we follow for "good" communication are different then the ones in books - giving those compelling players room to let loose.
Aliens are just like Humans
Aliens are just like Humans
My favorite genres are Science-Fiction and Fantasy. I write in these categories because I love creating new worlds and solving the "puzzle" of how to have it all make sense. A well-established fantasy world is the baseline needed for any alien, (or imagined being), just as a rich setting is necessary for any human character. This is one of many things they have in common.
The other day I was watching a movie about immortals who protected the earth. All the made-up elements were fascinating, but I didn't enjoy the show. The story seemed contrived, and the leading character, who was an immortal, had one note (angry). Once the writer creates the world, all the important creatures should have depth. People and aliens can both have wills and vulnerabilities.
Fantasy creatures may wreak havoc, but just like their human counterparts, their actions must fit seamlessly into the plot. All characters are tied to the story. This gives aliens and humans the power to steer the drama.
Another similarity between aliens and humans is that they both have the ability to connect with us. In the real world, we have expectations for how people will act based on our experiences. We can relate to them on some level. In a fantasy, the author must provide enough information for us to make the same type of assumptions. The point is, they develop a persona that we can be vested in. This is great for our Science-Fictions and Fantasies because, the better we understand something, the more engaged we become.
Aliens are just like humans, with one critical exception. The mere mention of them, typically sparks our imaginations!
My favorite genres are Science-Fiction and Fantasy. I write in these categories because I love creating new worlds and solving the "puzzle" of how to have it all make sense. A well-established fantasy world is the baseline needed for any alien, (or imagined being), just as a rich setting is necessary for any human character. This is one of many things they have in common.
The other day I was watching a movie about immortals who protected the earth. All the made-up elements were fascinating, but I didn't enjoy the show. The story seemed contrived, and the leading character, who was an immortal, had one note (angry). Once the writer creates the world, all the important creatures should have depth. People and aliens can both have wills and vulnerabilities.
Fantasy creatures may wreak havoc, but just like their human counterparts, their actions must fit seamlessly into the plot. All characters are tied to the story. This gives aliens and humans the power to steer the drama.
Another similarity between aliens and humans is that they both have the ability to connect with us. In the real world, we have expectations for how people will act based on our experiences. We can relate to them on some level. In a fantasy, the author must provide enough information for us to make the same type of assumptions. The point is, they develop a persona that we can be vested in. This is great for our Science-Fictions and Fantasies because, the better we understand something, the more engaged we become.
Aliens are just like humans, with one critical exception. The mere mention of them, typically sparks our imaginations!
Calm
We all have feelings of being stressed, overworked, or a whole host of negative conditions. It's often important to get to the source of these issues, but sometimes an in-between step of 'distraction' can be helpful.
There's a common saying, "Negotiate from a position of strength." This can apply to how we handle our mental health. Finding an activity to take our mind off what's fueling any extreme state can help restore calm and make us stronger.
For me, writing is a great distraction. It even works if I start at my laptop when I'm stressed or angry, because inevitably there's a character that imbues the same state. Now I have the benefit of drawing from a feeling I'm relating to. In 'Sarana and the Dark King', the Dark King is an evil character. I'll never reach his depravity, but I allow my emotions to give me a starting point.
A temporary distraction gives us time to gain perspective. Once back in a calmer state, it may feel like we gain that "position of strength" that helps us work things out.
Next time you find yourself overwhelmed, overstressed, or any negative over-the-top feeling, find something to distract yourself for a little while. You won't forget about the difficulty, but you'll be in a stronger place to handle it.
There's a common saying, "Negotiate from a position of strength." This can apply to how we handle our mental health. Finding an activity to take our mind off what's fueling any extreme state can help restore calm and make us stronger.
For me, writing is a great distraction. It even works if I start at my laptop when I'm stressed or angry, because inevitably there's a character that imbues the same state. Now I have the benefit of drawing from a feeling I'm relating to. In 'Sarana and the Dark King', the Dark King is an evil character. I'll never reach his depravity, but I allow my emotions to give me a starting point.
A temporary distraction gives us time to gain perspective. Once back in a calmer state, it may feel like we gain that "position of strength" that helps us work things out.
Next time you find yourself overwhelmed, overstressed, or any negative over-the-top feeling, find something to distract yourself for a little while. You won't forget about the difficulty, but you'll be in a stronger place to handle it.
