Let's Be Independent Together
In the multiple years that I’ve been writing, I’ve belonged to a few good critique groups that have helped me grow and improve my writing. I’ve also participated in individual critique exchanges that have always given valuable input and challenged the story in ways that have allowed it to grow.
But there is always one factor of feedback that stumps me and leaves me scratching my head. It even comes from editors and agents who are kind enough to provide feedback. Clearly, since it is feedback that I’m receiving from multiple readers on different manuscripts over many years it is a continuing problem. It is like a bad habit that I can’t get rid of. My nail biting of writing.
When developing a character it is suggested that we make them unique, give them quirks and traits that separate them from the pack. So, when I develop the character, I first provide plenty of similarities. I think most kids just want to fit in and work hard in order to. But then I will give them their quirks and unique traits based on things like their family situation, their insecurities, their level of intelligence, the region they live(d) in. I consider all sorts of factors when developing the things that are different for the characters.
Then I get the feedback; “kids that age don’t talk like that”, “I don’t think a kid this age would dress like this”, “would a kid this age know this?”
And each time I get this kind of input, I hear (inside my head) Hermey say to Rudolf, “Let’s be independent together.”
So really the advice we are given about quirks and traits is more along the lines of; write a character with somewhat unique traits and a little bit of quirkiness. One of the characters I developed was based on an actual, live girl I know and that was the one I got the most resistance on. On another character I heard the dreaded “what teenager acts like this” feedback and then later found a character in a published book that acted very close to the same geeky way.
It isn’t as hard for me to stand true to my characters when it is critique partners giving the feedback. When challenged, I review my reasons for developing the character the way I did and if I find enough support in the story (or back story) I leave it. When the feedback is from editors and agents, on the other hand, it is much more difficult to stand true to my characters. I think to myself, “So if I dumb down my m.c., I’ll get published? SWEET!” But wait! She really is like that for a lot of reasons.
So that leaves me with two options. Either I haven’t found the needle in the haystack yet. That one bright, shiny needle that truly understands the m.c.’s motivation. Or…my writing isn’t good enough to truly portray the m.c.’s motivation.
NAH! That can’t be. The world just doesn’t get me.
Now, it’s gotten kind of bright in here. Did anyone see where I put my rose colored glasses?
Ah, yes...better.