As always, I don't ever claim to be an expert at anything so take what
you see with a grain of salt and tell me if you agree or not.


---------------------------------
THE ART OF THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER
---------------------------------

	The art of writing fiction based on pre-established storylines, known
as Fan Fiction or Fanfics, goes back beyond even the first viewings of
television or the first radio drama.  However, the inevitable follower
of fan fiction, the creation of the original character, is an art that
is not widely refined.  Thus, below are a few guidelines that have
proven to be effective in making an original character as endearing as
the original stars of your fanfic.

1.  Pre-Conception:  As much as you wish it not so, your readers will
predominantly be reading your work for an extenuation on the characters
they already know and love.  If your Original Character is treated the
same as the pre-established characters your readers will likely be
discouraged by the character and think of him/her/it/they as an
obstacle in their way to get to the story they want to read.  Your
Original Character must be treated vastly different than the
pre-established characters because not only do you need to use that
character effectively in your story, but you also need to introduce the
character, a trait often unnecessary with the pre-established
characters.

2.  Introduction:  There are many ways to effectively introduce your
character as to attract the attention of your reader.  Things you
should avoid though, is throwing a reader right into the middle of an
Original Character's story without warning such as doing a scene change
into the characters apartment where it is only the character and
another Original friend.  This is also discouraging to readers and seen
as unnecessary storyline that doesn't apply (at least, not yet) to the
overall story.  A good way to introduce your character would be to have
them in the background of one of your main character's actions then
slowly bring them forward, perhaps first with a scene involving a
pre-established character interacting with the main character or
characters, then moving into the Original characters own scene.  This
way you've sort of weaned the reader off of the pre-established
character and they are more willing to accept an extended storyline of
the troubled life of the main character's
waiter/maid/teacher/cabby/etc., thus...

3.  The First Line Syndrome:  This needs to be addressed individually
from the above because it is too common.  It is very rare to attract
the
attention of a reader when the very first line or series of lines in a
story are spoken by Original Characters.  You are labeling your fiction
as from certain series for a reason, you are only defeating yourself by
starting the story off with someone the readers have never seen before.
 Frankly, if I wanted to read a story about new character's I've never
heard of before, I'd buy a book.

4.  Too Close For Comfort:  Unless you are writing a Self Insertion, do
not make it APPEAR as such.  Similar names/features/personality only
make the character seem suspicious.  Overwhelming knowledge of things
to come also brings Self-Insertion into suspicion.  Putting random
features on your Original Characters is also dangerous since many
pre-established characters have very blatant personality traits that
could conflict with a character who's personal features were not
thought out clearly.

5.  Whose Story Is This?:  Unless it is your intention to tell the
story of your Original Character and only use established story lines
for background, try not to make your Original Character too powerful. 
Having this character, who has never been seen in the history of the
series, come suddenly out of the shadows and solve everyone's problems
will bring out suspicion if this Original Character is really the
author in disguise.  The ratio of established characters victories to
Original Characters victories should be 2 to 1 or 3 to 1.  If the ratio
is leaning closer to one or below your Original Character has the
spotlight too much.

6.  Hand-crafted, Hand-flawed:  Yes, you did create this character from
scratch but it should be flawed an if it isn't, the entire character
has a flaw.  Even the most perfect people have problems, and by
splicing genes from the most powerful, intelligent, good looking people
in the country you have created a perfect person, throw it out.  No one
wants to read about perfection, it only reminds us of our own flaws.

7.  Original Characters Need A History:  If you don't have the entire
past of a new character planned out yet, you should do so. This keeps
questions from arising that your character can't answer.  Also, with
longer
stories, a planned plot helps keep on track in stories with many parts.
 Conflicting data is never attractive.


	Of course, there are exceptions.  The most amazing thing about writing
is that you can do almost anything you want as long as you do it with
style. :)


Adam Christopher Leigh
Omicron@sprynet.com