McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Attachment to characters.
Cyclone Jack:
I've always felt that if you aren't getting attatched to your characters then you're doing something wrong. It should be a painful thing when they are hurt. It should be a scary thing when they are endangered. This proves -- at least to the writer -- that he/she is doing the job. This is a good indication that the reader may feel the same way.
The problem comes when the attatchment precludes the writer from ever messing with the character in any significant way. Even children's picture books need conflict. :)
Spectacular Sameth:
I agree completely with that statement. Also, if you're not upset about what's happening to your character, you might want to consider the conflict.
blgarver:
Yeah I've pretty much felt bad for every character I've ever written. They go through hell and back..well, sometimes not back.
One I have been working on story for a while, I get to the point where it's out of my hands. I don't consider myself to be creating anything, but rather watching and reporting. I think someone said that earlier, too. So I feel bad for the characters, but I can't do anything to stop what's happening to them. It's up to them to get themselves out.
And most of the time they do. I've lost a few gems, though. It's sad, but that's the way it goes.
skaoi:
i've tried directing what happens and it just doesn't work for me. i'll sketch up some notes or i'll talk about it...then what actually happens is something completely different. i even had a bad dream that my beloved character stopped talking to me. i realized that i was trying too hard to control the story, so i backed off. after a couple of days, i couldn't get him to be quiet.
growth does not happen without overcoming one crappy thing or another. this holds true for everyone - real or imagined. if you never present your 'people' with obstacles, they won't grow and develop. they'll be stagnant...and we don't want that for anyone.
bottom line is that it's ay-okay to (1) stick a figurative sword in your character's gut and (2) feel awful about it even as you continue to twist that sword and gaze with morbid fascination as the blood falls to the ground.
*chuckle* you know...i almost ranted in mcnally's about this very topic and realized something. i won't kill one of my people. i'll get them close (just did, actually), but i refuse to drop the curtain on them. they are a part of me. it would be like cutting off my arm or something.
Spectacular Sameth:
In a related note, this is why it's generally a BAD idea to base characters off of people you know. Do half of the stuff in your writing that is expected and you can't look them in the eye next time you see them or you can't do these things to them.
Somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind is a cruller being, but better dressed and looking how I want to look that isn't satisfied with creating messed up dreams, so he (I'm hoping it's a he...) is creating characters within my mind to use with stories he's also creating. My subconscious is a bastard.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version