Wednesday, December 21, 2011

What is Behind A Likeable Character?

I was reading someone's post a little while back (I think it was Nicole's) about the tendency of some writers to capture and infuse too much of their own personality into that of their character.

I am "guilty" of this approach as well and find it quite hard, at least in the early stages of the creative process, to separate myself from the main character of the work.  It is the sense of familiarity, the recognition of feelings, the certainty of expectations - all of which, of course, can lead to predictability and monotony.  Without a proper dose of uniqueness, I would create boring and unlikable characters.

The other night, as I was working on defining and developing a proper personality for one of my characters and tried to pull away from too much "me," I asked myself whether I, as an outsider, would actually like myself?  If I could step outside my body and view myself as a separate person, observe my actions, engage in conversation, ponder my motivations - would I like me?

The scary part is - I actually had to think about it.

7 comments:

  1. I think everyone does this to an extent. Or we base characters on other we know, or even other characters. No one can create a character out of a complete vacuum. That said, this tendency to write semi-autobiographical books can work ("The Bell Jar") or it can be really annoying. One of the reasons I can't read Amelie Nothomb is because I think each book is about her and frankly, she's not likable. But, overall, it doesn't bother me. At least, I don't think it does... ; }

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  2. It's a conundrum. We write from our experiences, but don't want to write about ourselves. I have found when I give a character backstory, and then think about how someone with that backstory would react to the situation, the character takes on their own personality. I don't know if I'm likeable - I probably and to some, and not to others!

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  3. Interesting, I personally find myself to be rather annoying and my personality polarizes people, lol. Now I'm wondering if my characters have received those irritable characteristics. Hmm...must think about this. :)

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  4. Interesting question! I would say, I'm likeable, but maybe because I know myself too much that I also know my flaws and my annoying tendancies (hehe)...so I guess it's good to remember that, because it makes the character dynamic. There is this writer that wrote, "In Her Shoes," and I've read a few more of her books...BOY OH BOY...she has a COMMON THEME and it's an dysfunctional issue of her own, I can tell. And I just hate when that comes out in a book...it's like I can see the writer in their underwear or something.

    I am still trying VERY hard not to put myself in my stories. REALLY. :)

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  5. That's funny-- my MC isn't much like me, but in a lot of ways, her sidekick is. :)

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  6. I once had a beta reader tell me that he loved my MC. She was so much like me, he said and then went on to add, "she can be a real bitch" without realizing exactly what he was saying. It was funny to watch him trying and work his way out of that.

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  7. Thank you ladies for your comments - it does seem to be rather common, writers borrowing from the "inside." And pretty funny when a reader like M.J.'s comes along :-)
    Thanks and Happy (Belated) New Year to all!

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