Session 6: Characterization II
Announcements
Characterization II
Making alterations
On the flip side of the coin, writing an AU is all about changing the canon, so writers needn't be afraid of "breaking rules" and altering characterization, if that's what the story demands. Once again, the basic question is: what is inherent to a character's personality and what is dependent on their environment? If you change the circumstances surrounding a character, how much would they themselves change with it? I think a good rule of thumb is to be able to explain every change you make to a character. Knowing the reason for the change is almost as important as deciding what changes to make. Another idea to keep in mind is that the change may not be immediate (i.e. from the start of the fanfic) but may occur over the course of the story. Characters are not static, and perhaps the effect of the AU setup on the character will make itself apparent over time.
Depending on the AU you're writing, you may find it necessary to make changes to any or all of the following.
External properties
Many AUs require you to change various surface aspects of the characters, such as their profession, age, and social status. Each of these can and will have more subtle consequences on other characteristics as well: their manner of speech, their behavior towards other characters, and even something as vague as their fundamental philosophy in life. Some AU fanfics try to keep these external details as close to the canon form as possible: for example, a Regency AU of Bleach may choose to maintain Kuchiki Byakuya's aristocratic status, simply in a different setting. Other AU fanfics will change the external details while retaining the same basic personalities. A different Bleach Regency!AU could attempt to see what would happen if you put Renji, originally from more plebeian origins, into a high-status role. These changes are obvious to the reader and more or less dictated by the setup of the AU concept.
Personality traits
Altering characterization becomes more tricky when it comes to character personalities and archetypes. Sometimes, it may be more effective to go with a more subtle change: emphasizing a particular trait or vice versa. For example, Touya Akira from Hikaru no Go may remain driven and more than slightly obsessed with go, but perhaps never meeting Shindou Hikaru would have made him slightly less ambitious or more complacent. Even small changes, however, will have consequences. In the above example, Akira would be the same person but have a less aggressive playing style or not advance as quickly through the ranks of the professionals as he did in the original series. It's also important to keep in mind that personalities are complex: the change involved may not affect how the character normally behaves but only become apparent when he or she is under stress or feeling intensely emotional.
Character interactions
Perhaps the best and most effective changes to make are not to the characters themselves, in isolation, but in the way they treat and react to one another. I once read a published author write that a character will have slightly different patterns of speech depending on who they were speaking to. This suggestion can apply to all fiction writing but it can be a particularly useful tool in thinking about writing AUs. Altering the way the characters speak to one another, and by corollary, how they feel about one another, can be a good way to demonstrate the effects of the altered universe. Depending on the AU concept, the very relationships among the characters may be different, which in turn will have a significant impact on their actions and dialogue.
Discussion
I'm keeping the same questions from last session, but hopefully this session will raise new ideas for discussion.
1. Leave a comment concerning any question or issue concerning characterization in AU fanfiction. It can be as general as the problem of original characters or as specific as a particular problem that you've encountered in your own writing.
2. I've suggested some ways of addressing characterization above. What are your own tactics and methods of writing AU characters? Also, what do you look for when it comes to characterization in AU fanfics?
Characterization II
Making alterations
On the flip side of the coin, writing an AU is all about changing the canon, so writers needn't be afraid of "breaking rules" and altering characterization, if that's what the story demands. Once again, the basic question is: what is inherent to a character's personality and what is dependent on their environment? If you change the circumstances surrounding a character, how much would they themselves change with it? I think a good rule of thumb is to be able to explain every change you make to a character. Knowing the reason for the change is almost as important as deciding what changes to make. Another idea to keep in mind is that the change may not be immediate (i.e. from the start of the fanfic) but may occur over the course of the story. Characters are not static, and perhaps the effect of the AU setup on the character will make itself apparent over time.
Depending on the AU you're writing, you may find it necessary to make changes to any or all of the following.
External properties
Many AUs require you to change various surface aspects of the characters, such as their profession, age, and social status. Each of these can and will have more subtle consequences on other characteristics as well: their manner of speech, their behavior towards other characters, and even something as vague as their fundamental philosophy in life. Some AU fanfics try to keep these external details as close to the canon form as possible: for example, a Regency AU of Bleach may choose to maintain Kuchiki Byakuya's aristocratic status, simply in a different setting. Other AU fanfics will change the external details while retaining the same basic personalities. A different Bleach Regency!AU could attempt to see what would happen if you put Renji, originally from more plebeian origins, into a high-status role. These changes are obvious to the reader and more or less dictated by the setup of the AU concept.
Personality traits
Altering characterization becomes more tricky when it comes to character personalities and archetypes. Sometimes, it may be more effective to go with a more subtle change: emphasizing a particular trait or vice versa. For example, Touya Akira from Hikaru no Go may remain driven and more than slightly obsessed with go, but perhaps never meeting Shindou Hikaru would have made him slightly less ambitious or more complacent. Even small changes, however, will have consequences. In the above example, Akira would be the same person but have a less aggressive playing style or not advance as quickly through the ranks of the professionals as he did in the original series. It's also important to keep in mind that personalities are complex: the change involved may not affect how the character normally behaves but only become apparent when he or she is under stress or feeling intensely emotional.
Character interactions
Perhaps the best and most effective changes to make are not to the characters themselves, in isolation, but in the way they treat and react to one another. I once read a published author write that a character will have slightly different patterns of speech depending on who they were speaking to. This suggestion can apply to all fiction writing but it can be a particularly useful tool in thinking about writing AUs. Altering the way the characters speak to one another, and by corollary, how they feel about one another, can be a good way to demonstrate the effects of the altered universe. Depending on the AU concept, the very relationships among the characters may be different, which in turn will have a significant impact on their actions and dialogue.
Discussion
I'm keeping the same questions from last session, but hopefully this session will raise new ideas for discussion.
1. Leave a comment concerning any question or issue concerning characterization in AU fanfiction. It can be as general as the problem of original characters or as specific as a particular problem that you've encountered in your own writing.
2. I've suggested some ways of addressing characterization above. What are your own tactics and methods of writing AU characters? Also, what do you look for when it comes to characterization in AU fanfics?