Sparkatale

Are fantasy characters supposed to be realistic too? =)

David Boyce | January 10, 2014

Yes, yes always. Even in fantasy. Even though there are magical aspects, I think it's the realism that draws people to the stories. People have personalities, fears--and they all have reasons for them, too. I don't know, maybe. What do you think?

Liz uli | January 11, 2014

I was just asking because I based my characters off of myself (more or less) and I'm not a very realistic person. In fact, I'm not even a person at all. I'm a shark. But I guess that doesn't matter. What makes my characters different from each other is the way they respond to their problem. The more lighthearted one tries to get as much help as they can because he's friendly, while the serious one starts out like that but comes to think that everybody (mostly monsters) is evil and they must do things by themselves. Their thoughts and opinions are important to the story. I'm not sure how they would react to each other (and how people would react to them) realistically. In the story they argue enough but have been friends for a long time so they stay together.

David Boyce | January 11, 2014

Ah well it seems that your characters are realistic. Even if characters are based off a "shark" then, a character can be seen more as an animal, where there are flaws and such. You make an interesting point.

Liz uli | January 12, 2014

They're human, I based their personalities off of mine (my inner and outer self) so that I would understand them better. Their flaws are one doesn't have enough confidence and the other has too much. Kind of. Is it bad if they're almost opposites? What are your characters like?

David Boyce | January 12, 2014

Oh, it's definitely not bad that they're opposites! Actually, showing the contrast between the two characters would be very effective. Confidence is a very interesting thing. My characters are usually (secretly) insecure and kind of wild. Maybe a little cliche, but I like 'em spunky. What kind of backgrounds do your characters usually have? Terrible pasts, good pasts, normal ones?

Liz uli | January 14, 2014

Thanks! My characters' pasts aren't revealed until after they're introduced to make it kind of mysterious and let the reader guess on them. One is an orphan, and the other is just a normal person that gets into trouble a lot. The third main character is a ghost but she and the normal guy fall in love, and it makes things awkward. I don't know if it makes a difference, but they're all teenagers and the setting is kind of medieval but there are a few modern parts to it.

David Boyce | January 14, 2014

The story is dull when the characters behave the same way and they have the same character features. In my opinion the characters should have flaws, especially the good guys. It's the factor that makes them seem like real people. No matter how awsome humans can be, everyone has a weakness - some are selfish, some rude and others like beer too much ;-)

Malgorzata Wyrwas | January 12, 2014

Agreed. No one likes a "perfect" person. In most mythologies, even the gods have flaws. Do you have a favorite "type" of person?

Liz uli | January 12, 2014

I have a weakness toward the antiheros, so basically evil jerks equipped with some redeeming traits (like sense of honor), who somehow have to assume the role of the "good guys" and give the real villain the beating of his life.

Malgorzata Wyrwas | January 12, 2014

Hmm, interesting... anti-heroes? Do they still end being, or aiding the protagonist then? I'm not exactly sure what you mean, but the idea is very interesting. Is there something in their past or livelihood that makes them feel that way?

Liz uli | January 14, 2014

When I write I don't really think about character development.. Shameful, I know, it just seems like the characters evolve subconsciously as I write. A story with no character development is kind of pointless, right? I agree with the above, characters need flaws and quirks that make them human and more interesting. I usually make sure my characters aren't described as gorgeous gifts to the human race or the perfect personality. I'm far better at mental flaws than physical flaws, however.

A . Nonymous | January 14, 2014

It is a bit strange that you don't put that much thought into character development... So it's all subconscious? That's cool. Of course, it makes more sense that you do more mental flaws than physical... Personality flaws are a huge thing in characterization. How fast do you usually pace the characterization, though?

Liz uli | January 15, 2014

Well, what I really meant that I don't think much about it is I don't think of it as character development when I write it, so to say. Really the character development in my story is the characters becoming more mature, adjusting and adapting, struggling against morals, stuff like that. I don't focus on it as character development really, although it is, but it more so comes naturally given the manner of the story and the way teenagers would likely react to it. How do I pace it? I went by character personality type for my story- characters that were wired differently than others started development quicker. (I'm basing this as when they realized the things they'd have to do to survive and come to accept it, when I think about it the development is really after) but to me the pacing depends on character type. Others will adapt and change rapidly while others will take a longer time. See what I'm trying to say? I had character development as early as chapter 9 or 10.

A . Nonymous | January 15, 2014

One thing that is underutilized by a lot of writers is indirect characterization. These are subtle things that a character does or wears, etc. that show their character/personality even though the writer doesn't really mention them. In comments on my story, Liz pointed out the need for this, and it was a good thing to be reminded of.

Dave Robertson | January 16, 2014

My biggest fear is making characters too convoluted.

I have characters who are thousands of years old, which naturally comes with an insane amount of baggage, history, experiences, and I've made a few characters seem a bit "unstable" as a result of their complex history. Some may even come across as a villain, a hero, or other types depending on when in their history an event takes place. But I feel it should all add up in the end.

I like to write out character bibles as well as world bibles, what a character can and cannot do, their personalities, likes, dislikes, tendencies, diets, styles, even things they'd rather keep quiet that may only be hinted at in story with brief glimpses that seem out of character; but even the audience might only see the "mask they wear" as they story is mainly them interacting with others.

Rhuen Stone | June 18, 2014

Woah! A thousand years old? I see why that would be... convoluted. Of course, I don't think you could ever make a character "too convoluted" as long as it's realistic. After all, humans (or er, whatever this a-thousand-year-old creatures are) are very complicated. You've taken on an interesting challenge. 

It makes sense that the characters would be unstable. I wonder what they would be like in the end... Personally, my guess would be a bunch of cynical old men drowned in guilt and sadness. Eek, so depressing. Maybe not? What were you thinking?

Character Bibles sound like a lot of work... Well, everyone has their own system. Whatever works for you! I guess I'm just too lazy... I have a basic outline usually but nothing too detailed. I have a framework and usually let them grow from that.

Liz uli | June 26, 2014

It varies by individual, some have come to believe (they always existed) having forgotten where they originated; some take on the roles of gods, heroes, conquerers, often thinking they know what's best for mortals (yet forget how "ephemerals" think) so tend to mess up or become tyrannical in some respect.

Rhulan has been both protagonist and antagonist, saved worlds and conquered them depending on the circumstances; also she goes a bit insane at times and suffers regular bouts of amnesia (sometimes self imposed).

The Thing Named Jim is just insane, he was born human and accidentally ended up an immortal reality warper; the human mind was never meant to be handle either thing and combined screwed him up absolutely.

There are many others but I prefer not to give too much away LoL.

Rhuen Stone | June 26, 2014

Character development is a definite necessary. Not only do you want to finish your novel, you just as much should want it to be memorable. I can say in my own right that my characters in my novel are just as interesting as the enemies. I'll list 3 major characters I feel are the most interesting, which are human orphans.

The first major character can honestly seem evil in at the end of Chapter 1 until you read the later chapters. He really only communicates with other major characters. His major flaws are his uncontrollable anxiety and mesmerizing around his love interest that leads to his distraction, even with his power. 

The second major character, his love interest only speak using certain words as references, certain head nodes and hand signs which mean she basically can't adapt to using most words. She actually uses words in the dictionary that we might say "Man, I will never adapt to using these words or Wow, these words are long, that were just randomly adopted into her mindset without her even knowing till she started speaking. 

The third major character is a skipped into collage student. But even with her perfect grades, she still can speak the human language and pointed her middle finger towards the laws of gravity and physics. 

Millennium Productions | June 17, 2015

Typo mistake. I meant to say Can't. Also I might as well add, she can be clumsy and too carefree.

Millennium Productions | June 18, 2015