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Post by slyn11 on Oct 5, 2012 19:50:48 GMT -5
Posting in the spoiler section got me thinking about character and character development. When I write (and when I read) characters are most important to me. I like to see characters learn, grow, fall, thrive, like real life. I like my characters gray and fallible. Yet so many times onscreen (and in stories) there are characters that are stagnant, that act a certain way over and over...like Superman always saving the day. Wouldn't it be cool if sometimes Superman decided not to fight crime because he'd rather stay in and read fanfic?
Anyway....when you write do you create a story arc for your characters that takes them from one point to another emotionally? Are you thinking about that as you plan your stories?
And when you read do you expect to see that sort of growth or movement from characters in stories?
Or do you think plots are more important?
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Post by MrsM on Oct 5, 2012 23:20:58 GMT -5
Great question Slyn. I will have to come back and answer when I can actually think.
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Post by Kpatch on Oct 6, 2012 21:12:30 GMT -5
Great question Slyn!
Yes, I do think about that as I'm writing, even before I start writing, but I would say my answer depends on the story.
Some stories I write are more plot driven, whereas others are more character driven. I'm currently working on a lengthy fic that is very character focused and the characters evolve quite a bit during the course of the story.
The story that's "airing" now, Reunion, is probably more plot focused, with evolution being secondary.
In any case, the most important thing to me as an author is that the character is recognizable to the reader, that they stay "in character" at all times and that their actions ring true.
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Post by fluffysmom on Oct 6, 2012 22:00:02 GMT -5
As a reader I think it depends on the story. Some fics are more fun and have an air of whimsy. If I'm completely caught up in a plot driven fic then I'm not thinking a lot about character's developing further. If it's a character driven more emotional fic then character's should be evolving.
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Post by blueyed358 on Oct 6, 2012 22:01:48 GMT -5
Great question Slyn! Yes, I do think about that as I'm writing, even before I start writing, but I would say my answer depends on the story. Some stories I write are more plot driven, whereas others are more character driven. I'm currently working on a lengthy fic that is very character focused and the characters evolve quite a bit during the course of the story. The story that's "airing" now, Reunion, is probably more plot focused, with evolution being secondary. In any case, the most important thing to me as an author is that the character is recognizable to the reader, that they stay "in character" at all times and that their actions ring true. I agree..It is very important to me to keep everyone in character. I don't like to read or watch my favorite characters doing something that makes me say " What the?? They would never act that way". I do like to see them mature but it has to be in a way that follows who they are..if that makes any sense to anyone out there besides me |
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Post by slyn11 on Oct 9, 2012 13:59:55 GMT -5
Interesting point about IN CHARACTER
I am not all about "in character" when I write. They are "in character" with how I perceive them. Even though I may be writing a fanfiction, the characters I write have my own nuances added. I sit back before tackling a story and try to figure who each character is. Some characters from shows have less development than others, so I have to fill in those blanks.
The issue I have with most characters on Days is that their life experiences fail to impact them in any real and lasting ways. I think the reason I choose to write about certain Days characters and not others, is because the characters I enjoy most have evolved because of the things they have experienced.
There are other characters that SHOULD have evolved, but the show never let them. They just reset them back to the person they were before, when the trauma/pain ends. I find that unacceptable. So when I write fanfiction, I try to correct that. A good example of that is how I am writing Chloe.
She has been through far too much to not be impacted by the events of her life. And the changes that were made to Chloe when she returned at the end of 2007 should have been explored based on her character's history and life experiences. Fans were saying she was being written out of character...but that was not necessarily true...those things could have been easily tied to her experiences, if only the show had taken the time to make the necessary connections.
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Post by MrsM on Oct 10, 2012 7:52:29 GMT -5
I think both character development and plot are important. Without a plot the story would go nowhere and without any character development nothing changes. I don't read any other fanfic other than what is posted on this site and everything that I read is just fantastic and using both.
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