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I
don’t know about you, but I usually root for the more complex character in the
story. If this, to my mind, is the supporting character, so be it. And too bad
for the writer if it happens to be the villain.
These
days it’s fashionable to make a villain complex. I’m grateful for this, not
being much of a fan of moustache twirling, snickering fiends. That said, this
fashion has had a bit of an adverse effect. Some writers put so much focus into
creating this awesome bad guy that they forget that the hero needs to be three
dimensional too. No awesome bad guy should conceivably be beaten by a stick
figure.
And
yet this happens more often than readers would like to admit. It just… well…
leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth.
As
a result, I focus quite a lot on character complexity when I write. To me, it’s
more than one positive, one negative, one
habit, one quirk. In fact, I don’t design my characters.
I
assume they’re fully formed and spend a draft or two getting to know them. I
discover things they hate, but also the levels to which those things are
tolerated. Conversely, I know what the characters want, but also at what point
they think something’s too much of a good thing.
I
know their secrets (if they show me), I know what annoys them for no reason.
Often times, I understand why those things annoy them even if they don’t.
Best
thing about all this is that, because I discovered all this on the page, the
reader will discover these things too. And through that, they glimpse the many
facets that make up my characters.
As
a result, though, my characters aren’t sweet. Well one is, but she has a
temper. Or the other guy… oh wait, he’s hiding something. Or… nope. He’s a bit
of a manipulator. But you know what? I prefer my characters on the heroic side of
wicked. It’s just that much more interesting to see someone stand up for the
right thing despite their characteristics, than having someone stand up because
hey, he’s perfect, so why wouldn’t he?
How
do you make your characters complex?
Blurb
When
Callan is forced through the doorway, she finds herself in the magical
continent of Tardith, where she’s shocked to learn her schoolmates Gawain and
Darrion are respected soldiers in service to the king of Nordaine, one of
Tardith's realms. More than that, the two are potential heirs to the Black
Knight—Nordaine's crown prince.
Now
with Darrion growing ever more antagonistic and her friendship with Gawain
blossoming, Callan must decide whether to stay in Nordaine—where her secret
grows ever more threatening—or go to the elves and uncover the truth about her
family before war sets the realms afire.
About Misha:
M.
Gerrick (AKA Misha Gericke) has basically created stories since before she
could write. Many of those stories grew up with her and can be seen in her
current projects.
She
lives close to Cape Town, with a view over False Bay and Table Mountain.
If
you’d like to contact her, feel free to mail her
at warofsixcrowns(AT)gmail(DOT)com, Circle her on Google
Plus or follow her on Twitter.
If you'd like to see her writer-side (beware, it's pretty insane), please feel
free to check out her blog. You
can also add The Vanished Knight on Goodreads.
Links:
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Come back Wednesday for From The Great Beyond Bloghop!
Wish I could get the linky to work. Alas, Blogger is being cranky. But if you want to sign up for this fun and easy hop, go to Tara, Angela or Roland's to sign up. Just post on Wednesday about a writer you'd like to contact from the great beyond, hop around to comment, then come back on Thursday (Halloween!) to find out who wins.
My characters develop on the page. I never sit down and "assign" them character traits. They demonstrate their traits in the first draft as the story unfolds. That said, I may have to carefully hone those traits in subsequent drafts, to craft a full-fledged rounded and believable character. But the character is always in charge. Not me!
ReplyDeleteIt's exactly the same for me, Dianne. In fact, the characters have a huge say in most of the story, plot, dialogue, characterization etc.
DeleteGreat tips on making our characters complex. That's too bad if too much focus is on making the evil person complex and not the main character. I do think it's more interesting when the antagonists are complex, but I'll watch out for this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that complex antagonists are better, but only if the protagonist has his/her fair share of complexity.
DeleteI like to have my antagonist slowly descend into madness, then at the end completely fall off the deep end and sell out his friends, those who helped him along the way.
ReplyDeleteOoh that sounds like an interesting approach... :-D
DeleteStill laughing at the villain being beaten by a stick figure!
ReplyDeleteI need to know where my character came from - what happened to him in the past will add depth to his character.
Same here. Often some aspect to his/her past shapes his motivations, fears and desires.
DeleteYour characters sound like exactly they have exactly the kind of complexity that readers crave!
ReplyDeleteI hope so! ^_^
DeleteI also draw out my characters through writing. Don't do any character profiles before starting - how can I when I haven't seen them in action yet? On the subject of not putting all the emphasis on the villain, I think protagonists are more interesting with a dark side. They might have done dubious things in the past or be fighting against something, like an addiction, but they're always aiming to do the right thing despite those foibles. No one is just one thing or another.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to do my characterization the same way as you.
DeleteGreat post! I also let my characters grow through the writing and revising. Complex and flawed characters are the most fun to read and write.
ReplyDeleteI agree Christine. Perfection is so boring. :-P
Delete"The heroic side of wicked" - I love that! Perfect.
ReplyDeleteMe too! That line is my quote for the day ( :
DeleteHehehehe thanks ladies!
DeleteGreat post . . . Congrats, Misha!
ReplyDeleteI'm participating in the blog hop, Gwen :-) LOVE Tara! We got to meet in person this summer!
Thanks Jamie. :-)
DeleteIt was my pleasure to host you, Misha. Wonderful post! You can come back any time :)
ReplyDelete