Comments | wisteria_: "Who IS this person?"

wisteria_

"Who IS this person?"

Sep 23, 2007 17:17

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 ( Read more... )

characterization, fic

Comments 13

aricadavidson September 23 2007, 21:28:26 UTC

One thing I love to do is to take a recurring/guest character who we don't know much in series and expanding on the existing knowledge. I know that's not quite relevant, but it's fun. I've even had people adopt characteristics I placed on a character into their own fanon

lomer September 23 2007, 21:32:51 UTC

Speech patterns and word choices are one identifier for me. I expect Laura Roslin to speak with a certain level of elevation in her language choices. It's not nessisarily her being a word snob, but if she says "ain't" I'm immediately aware that the author doesn't have any clue about the character's voice.

Ignorance of the character's past and blatently incorrect facts IMMEDIATELY make me stop reading a fic. Kara Thrace did not have a happy childhood. There may have been happy moments, but she is not all hugs and kisses and unconditional love for mommy. Describing her childhood like an episode of "The Donna Reed Show" immediately makes me stop reading.

Pretty much everything else, so long as it's backed up in the fic, is okay with me. You want Kara to adopt a puppy? Okay, but give me a few really good reasons why without making it sound like a wish fufillment fic.

That's pretty much it!

lilyfarfalla September 23 2007, 21:56:11 UTC

Ooh, I like this question. I think a lot of it comes down to motivations for me. If the author's given some kind of compelling story for why the character is acting in a certain way, even if that would normally be out of character for that individual, I'll take it.

It's tricky though, because sometimes, like you said, having the character acknowledge their weirdness adds to the legitimacy of those actions, but at the same time, it has to be backed up in more than the character's stated thoughts...there has to be some story or hint of story or general atmosphere in the fic that leads me to believe that self-acknowledgment.

I'm all immersed in SGA these days, so the only good examples I can think of are from that fandom.....hmmm. Actually, one of the great things about BSG is that everyone is so messed up in so many different ways, it's easy to buy them acting in many different manners....they're all insane! It fits.

karie22 September 23 2007, 22:30:29 UTC

I got out of the fic-writing business a long time ago, before I ever came about BSG... but I can tell you what things take me right out of the story and, furthermore, drive me up one side of the frakking bulkhead and down the other ( ... )

daybreak777 September 23 2007, 23:13:24 UTC

Ooh, what a yummy question. And a good question. How does one keep characterization on track? Well, it’s hard. There’s the character on TV and then there’s what you want the character to do. When in doubt, sometimes I watch episodes, watch the actor. How does this character move in a scene?

In fanfiction, sometimes there is also how characters have acted in other stories. If an event (I’m all about AU) occurs and is written convincingly, I can buy that the characters change from their TV-selves as a result. That’s why I like fanfiction and AU. They can be different. The author just has to keep all the little details that make them recognizable. Then I’ll pretty much follow the author anywhere.

What brings me out of a story? Well, most stories are good. :-) Sometimes a line will throw me off. Uncharacteristic actions, like too many tears. Occasionally, an author will make the character better than on the show. (At least to me.) In that case, I don’t question, I just enjoy it ( ... )