Writers, Writing and Writing an Observation
I've been reading fanfic. Big surprise there. And as we all know some is really good and a lot is really NOT.
Well yesterday I had some time to kill and decided to get myself a new library card. I haven't been in a public library in eight years, and I decided that I was high time to change that. So, armed with my new card, I took out a Mercedes Lackey book. I love her as a writer (not such a big fan of her collaborative works) and there is an amount of nostalgia as her Arrows of the Queen series is one of the books that really got me into reading and wanting to write.
The difference between Mecedes and so many fanficcers is night and day. Now, granted there are some AWESOME fanficcers out there that I would love to see publishing their own original works, but for the most part sooooo many writers come out with bland carbon cut out stories and characters. One thing I've come to realize is that many people don't seem to grasp that their characters--while imaginary--ARE different people. Yet when you read their stories, everyone sounds the same, their reactions are the same. As a result the level of OOCness (in fanfic) is depressingly HIGH.
More than a few times I've wanted to reach through the screen, grab the writer and wring their necks! Of course writing should be fun, that's a given, but is it REALLY fun when all your characters are a clone of YOU? That's what my working theory is; the writer is writing how THEY would talk/behave, forgetting that the character is not them.
I'm not sure if this is the result of people being young and simply not having experienced diverse personalities, a case of egotism, or a fundamental flaw in understanding how creative writing works. Maybe a bit of all three. I DO think the idea of "characters are different people" falls under the category of "so basic, we don't need to talk about it" so it doesn't get mentioned and those new to the craft don't even twig on it. And I can see why it wouldn't be mentioned, I mean it SHOULD be obvious. Dick was a Robin. Jason was a Robin. But they are VERY different characters with very different personalities. A quick read of a comic or two will show this. I'm sure you can think up plenty of other examples in the fandom of your choice, but you see what I mean.
Yet time and again, I have to go back and read a paragraph AGAIN to see WHO is talking, because they both sound the same.
Lets get one thing straight, I'm NOT saying that people need to write in dialects, or that this is limited to speech. Actually, I've run into very few people that can write in dialects and pull it off. Much to the time it's an exercise in frustration to try and parse what is being said. BUT! There is such a thing as inflection in the written word. I know, I know, we've all her the cautionary "It's txt, no one can hear your tone of voice or see your body language" which is VERY true. And it needs to be said because sadly a depressingly large percentage of internet users SUCK at written communication. But as writers, it's what we DO. The mark of a good writer is the ability to convey subtle nuances that are particular to a character/situation with the written work. If that couldn't be done, I doubt anyone would bother reading anything other than point form news reports.
So all that said, maybe it's time I give some examples. If you don't know the characters, that's work, hopefully you'll see what I mean regardless. I've got four characters that are all going to be in the same situation and say something about it.
When Alfred walked into the kitchen to see a very young Master Richard kneeling on the counter prying open the cupboard with the cookie tins, the butler quickly suppressed the upward twitch of his lips. It wouldn't do for the delinquent youth to know his actions amused the elder gentleman. Raising a hand to his mouth, he cleared his throat loudly, watching the boy slip down from the counter with a very guilty look on his young face. "Cookies are for good boys who do their homework," Alfred says as he drops his hand, and levels a stern look at the youth. He smiles ever so slightly as the preteen brightened and hurried back to his room and the waiting homework.
When Jason came into the kitchen to see a de-aged Dick Grayson trying to get into the cookie cupboard, he just had to snort at the sight. The kid is freaking tiny. Okay, maybe not as small as Tim, but he still needs to be kneeling on the counter to reach the top shelf. The snort gets the kid's attention and Dick slips off the counter, looking super guilty. Jason snickers and shakes his head. He could really get used to this. It's kind of odd to be in the position of Big Bother for a change. Without a word he walks over to the cupboard and reach up for the top most tin. Popping the top Jason picks out a large chocolate chip cookie and hands it to the pipsqueak. "Not a fucking word, short stuff." As the kid scampers of with his prize, Jason takes one for himself before sealing the tin and replacing it in the cupboard.
When Steph walks into the kitchen and sees a 10 year old Dick on the counter, trying to reach the top shelf, she grins openly. Crossing her arms she leans on the frame of the doorway. "I really hope you're planning on sharing," she says, her violet eyes dancing with open amusement. When the kid looked at her, there was guilt written all over him. That look quickly turned speculative then conspiratorial as he grins and pulls down a tin...which happens to be at the bottom of the stack and all five come crashing down in a thunderous clatter. Ohhhh crap.
When Cassandra entered the kitchen she noticed the child precariously perched on the counter as he reached for the top most self of the open cupboard. This could only end in disaster, she assessed, giving a small shake of her head. Yet a little smile played on her lips. Cass wasn't much for words, but then it was her firm belief that actions speak louder than words. Walking over on silent feet she grabbed the boy about the waist and lifted him down to the floor. The child made a cute little eeping sound, having been caught unawares. As large eyes look up at her, she offered a smile and gently ruffled the boy's hair. Then she turns back to the cupboard and reached up for a tin. Taking it down she brought it to the boy's level, opening the lid. The smile widened as the boy all but squealed, grabbing the top most cookie and biting into it greedily.
Okay, so these aren't beta'd and yes, I know my tenses such, but to do see what I mean? It's little things. Like Alfred's disapproval masking amusement, or how Jason thinks of Dick as "kid". It's how Cass doesn't say anything, but her expression and actions are explained. It's in Steph's choice of learning on the door frame and instigating further delinquency just by smiling.
Meh, I'm probably doing an awful job of explaining this, but after what I've been reading this morning, I just thought it needed to be said.
Well yesterday I had some time to kill and decided to get myself a new library card. I haven't been in a public library in eight years, and I decided that I was high time to change that. So, armed with my new card, I took out a Mercedes Lackey book. I love her as a writer (not such a big fan of her collaborative works) and there is an amount of nostalgia as her Arrows of the Queen series is one of the books that really got me into reading and wanting to write.
The difference between Mecedes and so many fanficcers is night and day. Now, granted there are some AWESOME fanficcers out there that I would love to see publishing their own original works, but for the most part sooooo many writers come out with bland carbon cut out stories and characters. One thing I've come to realize is that many people don't seem to grasp that their characters--while imaginary--ARE different people. Yet when you read their stories, everyone sounds the same, their reactions are the same. As a result the level of OOCness (in fanfic) is depressingly HIGH.
More than a few times I've wanted to reach through the screen, grab the writer and wring their necks! Of course writing should be fun, that's a given, but is it REALLY fun when all your characters are a clone of YOU? That's what my working theory is; the writer is writing how THEY would talk/behave, forgetting that the character is not them.
I'm not sure if this is the result of people being young and simply not having experienced diverse personalities, a case of egotism, or a fundamental flaw in understanding how creative writing works. Maybe a bit of all three. I DO think the idea of "characters are different people" falls under the category of "so basic, we don't need to talk about it" so it doesn't get mentioned and those new to the craft don't even twig on it. And I can see why it wouldn't be mentioned, I mean it SHOULD be obvious. Dick was a Robin. Jason was a Robin. But they are VERY different characters with very different personalities. A quick read of a comic or two will show this. I'm sure you can think up plenty of other examples in the fandom of your choice, but you see what I mean.
Yet time and again, I have to go back and read a paragraph AGAIN to see WHO is talking, because they both sound the same.
Lets get one thing straight, I'm NOT saying that people need to write in dialects, or that this is limited to speech. Actually, I've run into very few people that can write in dialects and pull it off. Much to the time it's an exercise in frustration to try and parse what is being said. BUT! There is such a thing as inflection in the written word. I know, I know, we've all her the cautionary "It's txt, no one can hear your tone of voice or see your body language" which is VERY true. And it needs to be said because sadly a depressingly large percentage of internet users SUCK at written communication. But as writers, it's what we DO. The mark of a good writer is the ability to convey subtle nuances that are particular to a character/situation with the written work. If that couldn't be done, I doubt anyone would bother reading anything other than point form news reports.
So all that said, maybe it's time I give some examples. If you don't know the characters, that's work, hopefully you'll see what I mean regardless. I've got four characters that are all going to be in the same situation and say something about it.
When Alfred walked into the kitchen to see a very young Master Richard kneeling on the counter prying open the cupboard with the cookie tins, the butler quickly suppressed the upward twitch of his lips. It wouldn't do for the delinquent youth to know his actions amused the elder gentleman. Raising a hand to his mouth, he cleared his throat loudly, watching the boy slip down from the counter with a very guilty look on his young face. "Cookies are for good boys who do their homework," Alfred says as he drops his hand, and levels a stern look at the youth. He smiles ever so slightly as the preteen brightened and hurried back to his room and the waiting homework.
When Jason came into the kitchen to see a de-aged Dick Grayson trying to get into the cookie cupboard, he just had to snort at the sight. The kid is freaking tiny. Okay, maybe not as small as Tim, but he still needs to be kneeling on the counter to reach the top shelf. The snort gets the kid's attention and Dick slips off the counter, looking super guilty. Jason snickers and shakes his head. He could really get used to this. It's kind of odd to be in the position of Big Bother for a change. Without a word he walks over to the cupboard and reach up for the top most tin. Popping the top Jason picks out a large chocolate chip cookie and hands it to the pipsqueak. "Not a fucking word, short stuff." As the kid scampers of with his prize, Jason takes one for himself before sealing the tin and replacing it in the cupboard.
When Steph walks into the kitchen and sees a 10 year old Dick on the counter, trying to reach the top shelf, she grins openly. Crossing her arms she leans on the frame of the doorway. "I really hope you're planning on sharing," she says, her violet eyes dancing with open amusement. When the kid looked at her, there was guilt written all over him. That look quickly turned speculative then conspiratorial as he grins and pulls down a tin...which happens to be at the bottom of the stack and all five come crashing down in a thunderous clatter. Ohhhh crap.
When Cassandra entered the kitchen she noticed the child precariously perched on the counter as he reached for the top most self of the open cupboard. This could only end in disaster, she assessed, giving a small shake of her head. Yet a little smile played on her lips. Cass wasn't much for words, but then it was her firm belief that actions speak louder than words. Walking over on silent feet she grabbed the boy about the waist and lifted him down to the floor. The child made a cute little eeping sound, having been caught unawares. As large eyes look up at her, she offered a smile and gently ruffled the boy's hair. Then she turns back to the cupboard and reached up for a tin. Taking it down she brought it to the boy's level, opening the lid. The smile widened as the boy all but squealed, grabbing the top most cookie and biting into it greedily.
Okay, so these aren't beta'd and yes, I know my tenses such, but to do see what I mean? It's little things. Like Alfred's disapproval masking amusement, or how Jason thinks of Dick as "kid". It's how Cass doesn't say anything, but her expression and actions are explained. It's in Steph's choice of learning on the door frame and instigating further delinquency just by smiling.
Meh, I'm probably doing an awful job of explaining this, but after what I've been reading this morning, I just thought it needed to be said.