At 08:59 AM 5/9/98 -0400, Tempest- wrote:
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.
Okay. I have taken a creative writing class this winter (and will be taking
an Advance Creative Writing class this summer) so hopefully, by the time
Fall Semester '98 begins my 'fics should be much, much better.
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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.
Suggestion #1: Write a character analysis of your original character. Go
into great detail about who he/she is, what does he like, where did he/she
come from, description, etc. Write everything down about the character,
even if you don't plan to use some parts of the information in the fic. I
like to add how other characters might view the new character. This way, at
the very least, the character should remain consistent through out the
'fic. Also, this gives you a way to see if your character might need
alterations before you start to write the fic.
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...
Well...I can see where you're going with this, but some 'fics and anime the
new characters do literally jump out on to the screen without any warning.
Tsubasa Kuranei jumps out in mind. He literally appears out of nowhere in
the manga and anime. However, I do agree that you should limit how much
emphasis the new character gets in his first episode/scene/paragraph.
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.
I agree. You are introducing a new character. However, that doesn't mean
that the new character couldn't make an immediate impact on the fic.
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.
That's another reason a character analysis sheet on the new character is
important. I'd also include having the original characters giving away
information to the new character very early on.
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.
I think the powerfulness of a new character isn't exactly important. There
are way too many fics where the new evil bad guy (and when isn't a new bad
guy considered an original character?) seems to be waay overpowering. I
think, it is more important that the flaws dictate how characters should
win rather than how much spotlighting an original character gets. Besides,
if you write a new character into an existing story, isn't it obvious that
the new character will get a lot of attention?
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.
Suggestion 2: Original characters need a flaw or a trait (physical,
emotional, mental, and/or a combination of all three) that definitely
identifies them. That way the readers can immediately identify with the new
character, and it also makes the character seem more realistic. For
example, we know more about Kasumi lack of real thoughts by her statement
of "Oh, my!" then anything else that's mentioned about her in the entire
manga. However, you don't need more than one trait. Trying to put in more
than one flaw in a character makes it harder to keep the character
uniformed through out the fic.
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.
Yet another reason for a character analysis sheet (which I'm guessing
that's what Mr. Leigh is saying here --- you do like me calling you "Mr.
Leigh," right Adam?).
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. :)
How true.
Other general fan-fic writing suggestions:
1. Read all of the dialogue, especially of the new character, outloud. That
way you can make it read more naturally. (Then again, since when is "Ranma
no baka!" natural?)
2. Less thoughts, more action. Believe it or not, but readers actually
enjoy it more when they have to figure things about a story than if it's
given away through thoughts and comments from the narrator, especially if
it involves showing how a character feels.
3. If you're stuck in a spot trying to figure out how to continue a
plotline, or how to get a better reaction from the other characters,
rewrite the scene from another point of view. A particular good way in
writing a story is by writing it from a minor character's point of view.
But I guess you knew that already.
Adam Christopher Leigh
Omicron@sprynet.com