Friday, September 24, 2010

The Great Blogging Experiment

I don't know about you but I hated the Stepford Wives. They were so boring - if I knew one, I knew them all. When you read a lot, characters can start to blur together, faces, attitudes and actions merge into a handful of different people.
 
How do we avoid this happening to our characters? Keep them from getting lumped into the masses?

We can give our characters quirks, habits that are unique to them alone. The more strange, outlandish, and different we make these quirks, the more readers will love them. Right?

Wrong. 

It seems like this is the best option, that our characters will stand out and leap off the page. And they will. They'll leap off the page and stab your reader in the eyes. 

But, if the realization isn't obvious: no one can read if they can't see. 

Any quirks we give our characters need to be relevant. There needs to be meaning, a purpose (Harry Potter's lightning bolt scar, for example. Can you imagine how stupid it would've been if he really got the scar in a car accident and he was just walking around like that, for no real reason, on top of all the wizarding stuff?).

So if layering quirks to give our characters an edge isn't the best way to go about writing compelling characters what is?

We need our characters to have strong motivation - they may not always know what it is, at first, but maybe our novel is about them realizing their motivation (which is, in turn, it's own motivation - ironic right?).

We need to take from life by bringing real emotions to the table. As writers we must live their pain, relish their triumphs, cry and laugh, and worry with them. If we can't feel it, neither can our readers.

Our characters should be complicated. The reader needs to see the surface while innately knowing there is more to them than they could ever hope to know - like when we meet people in real life. 

And last (and arguably the most important thing) to avoid writing bland, cloned, most-annoying-characters-ever is to make our characters rough. Flawed.

As both a writer and a reader I say this with complete and utter conviction: your characters aren't lovable in spite of their flaws, they're loved because of them.

To read more entries about writing compelling characters as part of the great blogging experiment go here. I encourage you to go check out as many as you can. My goal? Do.Them.All.  

87 comments:

  1. Stab your reader in the eye...I love that line. That's exactly what needs to happen. Well done Melissa!

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  2. This is such a great point. For me the important thing while reading (and writing) is the suspension of disbelief. Any thing that reminds the reader that they are READING, is bad.

    Characters that are too flawed, too skilled, too smart, or too evil can draw you out of the story as easy as anything. I do agree that flawed characters are key though. People are flawed, so characters must be too, just not too obviously.

    Thanks Melissa!

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  3. Absolutel - you love the characters BECAUSE of their flaws! Great post

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  4. I agree that characters need to be flawed.

    Loved the line about the character leaping off the page and stabbing the reader in the eye!

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  5. I agree with everything 100%. Flaws rock. Characters are people, after all--they should be a loyal depiction of how humans behave and think.

    Great post!

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  6. I agree! Characters need to be people, and people are flawed and quirky. I especially love the Harry Potter reference. :D

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  7. Way to nail it on the head rockstar!!!! I feel like I haven't read anything from you in forever! It's been so long... and I've been busy, what's new, my life is chaos!

    Thanks for joining the experiment. I'm having so much fun reading everyone's entries! I have a TON to go through.

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  8. Definitely we love their flaws!! And real emotion - that's what I'm talking about. ;)

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  9. So true! Flaws make characters relatable and lovable. I have a lot of work to do on my MC since reading all these character posts but loving it! Great post

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  10. I was going to say I love the line about it stabbing you in the eye, but it looks like other readers have already beat me to it. Also, I want my comment to be original (thats one of my quirks heh heh). Anyway, you speak the truth. Some books feel like they are shoving feelings at you, telling me how to feel in that moment. However, it does the opposite effect. also, I smooshed my face in to the old mans because 1.I was laughing 2.his mouth went inwards. haha. Happy homework, I miss you!

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  11. Relevant quirks. Got it. And this is true. The green hat means nothing unless you use it later. Sort of like the whole gun-on-the-mantle thing. That sucker better be FOR something.

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  12. I like how you tie the quirks to motivation and character. I think I do that, but I never really thought about it in those terms before.

    Great post!

    ~Tere

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  13. I agree with you on the Stepford Wives but I would def put that in the plot driven stories catergory.

    I loved how you said our characters need to be relevant to the story. Great point!

    Have a great weekend! I'm off to read more. I'm up to 40!! eeek! 130 more to go. LOL!

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  14. I agree with absolutely everything you said. I love complicated, flawed characters--so very real. Thanks for the advice!

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  15. Relevance is the key-word. It's not so good to make a long list of quirks a character can have if they have nothing to do with the story.

    Some argue that Bella in Twilight is a klutz purely to serve the plot.

    Great post!

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  16. Relevant quirks and complicated characters. Excellent points! Oh, and I love your "about me". I guess I'm mad too :)

    Cheers,
    Jen

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  17. Your profile hooked me. :-0

    Nice post...awesome profile.

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  18. I loved your sense of humor here. Good point about making the quirks relevant to the story.

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  19. Love your last line! I always do love characters for the flaws-- it's part of who they are. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. Purposeful quirks, got it. Nice post.

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  21. Melissa - I like that, "see the surface while innately knowing there is more to them . . ." Perfect.

    ps: still jealous as ever of you and your Orlando Harry Potter adventure. LUCKY!!!

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  22. I layer my characters. Since mine is a trilogy I don't have to do this all at once. But sooner rather than later. A surprise gift or talent to save the day at the very end of the story is kinda corny I think.

    Stephen Tremp

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  23. Ah, you nailed it. The quirks have to be there for a good reason. I needed that reminder. And you mentioned on my blog that Severus Snape was your favorite most compelling character, then left me wondering why. I can guess, though it's been a while since I read the HP series. But I challenge you to share with a blog post!

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  24. So well said, so well written. You nailed it. My word today has been empathy. A compelling character makes us feel what they are going through. Excellent post.

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  25. I couldn't agree more with your closing statement. Excelleent post!

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  26. You make some great points! Thanks for commenting on my blog. :)I just started following you.

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  27. Great blog and great post. Yes, I love characters that are flawed but for the right reasons and complicated. Thanks for this.

    CD

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  28. "...maybe our novel is about them realizing their motivation" SO true! I liked your post, full of wonderful ideas, and I can tell you are a sincere writer. Good work! :-)

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  29. "But, if the realization isn't obvious: no one can read if they can't see."-good one!

    Love your last line also. Great post!

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  30. I love the part about how maybe your character realizes their motivation. This can be a huge motivation--realizing what they want in life. It made me think, also, maybe they think they want one thing at the beginning and decide later they want something else. There in lies huge conflict. Honestly, this was one of the most intersting posts I read from the experiment today. Good for you!

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  31. I should also add the most "insightful". Thanks for sharing.

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  32. I like this take on the Great Experiment. It's so true.

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  33. Love it. Make your quirks relevant. So true!! Great post! Love the blog ;o)

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  34. It is the flaws and bad decisions that help me ID with a character. definitely. Thanks.

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  35. SO true about characters needing to be flawed! Characters that are too-good-to-be-true perfect always grate on me and seem totally unbelievable.

    Thanks for your post!

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  36. Great post! I like that they should be complicated. So true to life!

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  37. Motivated quirks that give our character's some reasonable flaws! I love the part about the wrong kind of crazy quirks leaping off the page and stabbing the reader in the eye!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog too :)

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  38. Yes, flaws! All characters need flaws to make them interesting. There is nothing more boring or annoying than a perfect character (the dreaded Mary Sue).

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  39. I love your take on c'isation. Great. I like the strong motivation and they definitely should be complicated.

    Great post..:)

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  40. That's a great point - adding more quirks to your characters won't necessarily make them more readable. I agree completely, the quirks MUST be relevant.

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  41. Your post hits the mark. It is so true that some writers use stereo types with predictable flaws and problems and oh, it's boring.
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  42. You said it. How ridiculous would it be if Harry Potter had got that scar in a car accident and it served no purpose at all.

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  43. Quirks, strong motivation and complication - I love all the points you raised, Melissa! I love your post. It was nice to have you on my blog! :)

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  44. I totally agree about the quirks thing! It may help and be a quick hook, but if there's nothing more underneath that, the character is NOT going to be compelling. Yay for complex characters!

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  45. Loved because of their flaws...I liked that and also like to think maybe it applies to me!

    Great read.

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  46. Relevancy and making the characters realistic IS very important, as is having flaws! Definitely great advice here.

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  47. Great points! But I did love the Stepford Wives. Especially the original!!!

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  48. Wonderful post, Melissa, using great examples. Thank you so much for the kind comment on my entry.

    You rock, that rebel, Olivia

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  49. Thanks for the perspective. Flaws make our characters likable. I think it's because flaws make our characters knowable.

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  50. Love how you describe quirks. And it's so true. We all have our little things (I wouldn't be me if I didn't chew on my cheeks), but I mostly do it when I'm bored or dehydrated. Characters have to be the same way -- acting, even subconsciously, for a reason.

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  51. I was just reading a book that made me feel like I was being stabbed in the eye every time I opened it, so I totally agree with you! And thanks for telling me I'm not a fraud!

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  52. Excellent point! It's easy to think, "I'll give my character a flaw and that will make her interesting." But if that flaw never actually matters in the story, it doesn't really enhance the character.

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  53. Relevant flaws = Excellent. That's what I love to read, quirks & complications that make sense and play directly into the character's motivations for the story. Heck yes.

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  54. Wonderful post!
    I loved the part about character quirks jabbing the reader in the eyes - definitely want to be cautious of that!
    I really liked this post, and all of your points.
    Thank you!

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  55. So true - we don't need a bunch of stepford wives running around the pages of our novels - not even as fodder for the badguys. Every single character in a book, no matter how small, should have some purpose for being there, and should have some flaw.

    Thanks for the post!

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  56. Wow, what a wonderful ending quote ^_^

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  57. Great post! These are really good reminders for beginner writers, we always seem to start out with way over the top characters.

    Love the line about stabbing in the eye! :)

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  58. good stuff here and funny. We do love characters because of their flaws - they feel more real and it we often learn things about ourselves.

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  59. Great post! I love the line about characters jumping off the page and stabbing out the reader's eyes - definitely laughed out loud! Can't wait to read more from you.

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  62. Such a good point. I'm all about quicks, but as with anything else if it's not relevant it doesn't belong on the page. And the vivid imagery of stabbing our reader in the eye? Right up my alley. :)

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  63. Definitely! Every descriptive detail should either further character or story, if it doesn't it's time for the red pen. A cluster of idiosyncrasies does not make a compelling character.

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  64. Relevant quirks and lovable flaws--well said! :D

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  65. Yes...

    Layering needs to be done subtly.

    One of the biggest irritations I get is when a character is given this huge gift or talent that specially equips him/her to deal with whatever the story requires him/her to deal with. Immortality when going to war is an example that springs to mind.

    I want to hope that the characters all make it. Not know that they all will.

    I also like for them to struggle to win. If winning is made too easy due to characterisation, I find the character annoying.

    Thanks for checking out my blog :-)

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  66. Ahhh, I wrote about making your character unique that included quirks, I like how you went one step further to remind writers to make the quirks meaningful!!
    Excellent post!

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  67. Good post! Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting, too.
    Have a great weekend,
    Karen

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  68. I love the opening here, I agree with the Stepford Wives being bland, boring.

    I also agree with the layering portion. Let's see something intriguing and then hope that it leads somewhere unimaginable.

    Thanks for making it over to my post and commenting.

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  69. Great list. I especially like that you included motivation--something some writers forget about, leaving their characters simply reacting to stuff, meandering w/out direction.

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  70. I wholeheartedly agree! We love characters because of the flaws. A perfect character is about as boring as it gets.

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  71. Very true! Love the Harry Potter illustration and your closing comments.

    Great post - lots to consider.

    Peace,
    Cindy.

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  72. This is great--I love how you were able to give profound and needed advice in so many words! Blogging at its best! Thank you!

    And your last line made me think about how so many girls love the bad boy. We love him BECAUSE he's bad.

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  73. Absolutely dead on. It's hard to identify with a character and sympathize with them if they're nothing like you. And I'm certainly not perfect (most of the time, lol) so I'm not sympathetic to someone who's perfect or invincible. Excellent post!

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  74. It took me a while to realize that people love flawed characters, but all my favorite characters in literature are extremely flawed. Great post!

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  75. Great post..."your characters aren't loveable in spite of their flaws, they're loved because of them."
    so true!

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  76. I love me some quirky characters, and those are some of the most flawed you can find! Great points!!

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  77. Right you are! Relevance of flaws is where I get hung up on a bad character. That's where I stop reading.

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  78. This is so true. I need to know why characters act as they do. Even the quirks. It isn't enough that they do them, I need the backstory too.

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  79. Motivation. Absolutely! Without it, the character's journey can't be anything but flat.

    Great post!

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  80. Complex, that's something I'm still working on.

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  81. Yes! to relevant quirks and a strong motivation. And Yes! to bringing emotion to the table! If I can't feel for the character, I won't be able to connect to them which means they won't be compelling for me.

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  82. Melissa, you always make me laugh! Jump off the page and stab your reader in the eyes - that was hilarious! You are so right on about quirks needing to be relevant. I was so happy to see you included motivation! That's a big part of what makes (IMO) characters compelling!

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  83. Enjoyed your post. Especially the part about quirks needing to be relevant. Thanks!

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  84. Great post. I like your point that quirks need to be relevant, as well as your point that our characters don`t necessarily need to know what their motivation is at the outset of the novel. Thanks for sharing this!

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  85. I sure get behind in these blogfests, but I really want to get thru all the submissions. You make some very good points in your post. I especially like making the character complicated. If a character has depth and layers, that character will hold our interest longer and make us want to learn more about the character.

    Good post.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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