"Who IS this person?"
As I work on the current fic, I've had characterization on my mind. ("Even if he's stressed to his breaking point, would he really punch someone?" "Does this actually sound like her, or just how I want her to sound?") Creating authentic characterization is so tricky, especially in popular fandoms where everyone has their own ideas of how a character would speak and act. I'll admit my little cheat is that I have the person acknowledge to themselves that they're doing something they wouldn't usually do. Sometimes it even works. ;)
Since I love asking questions -- especially on a lazy Sunday -- I thought I'd throw this one out there to fic readers and writers. How do you create and/or identify authentic characterization in fic? Well, beyond the usual "I can hear the person saying that." What types of character behaviors yank you right out of a story? And what does it take to make you buy into something you wouldn't otherwise expect from a character?
Since I love asking questions -- especially on a lazy Sunday -- I thought I'd throw this one out there to fic readers and writers. How do you create and/or identify authentic characterization in fic? Well, beyond the usual "I can hear the person saying that." What types of character behaviors yank you right out of a story? And what does it take to make you buy into something you wouldn't otherwise expect from a character?