Character question

[chinesebakery]

Hey all,
I have a question for writers, hope it's alright.
How do you address a character or pairing you don't usually write?
Would you start by reading fics about him/her? Or avoid to in case it would affect your initial idea? How do you know you're not OC?

Comments

[taxidryer]

I start by figuring out his/her personal history first. Then I try to put myself in his/her shoes and try to see the world through his/her eyes. When it comes to know if it's OC or not, as long as there is no OC police, I trust my own judgment. And the beta's judgment. For the rest, the gods and the muse decide. :o)

[snowwhite22]

Good answer on the personal history. I do that too. Why do they make decisions the way they do? Because their history led them to it.

[pamalax]

I tend to have a feel character or not.

Some sneak up and start whispering in my ear right from the start while others are more illusive.

Michael has refused to speak clearly to me for two seasons now!!

Some I never hear -- even with effort which is really just a whole lot of thinking about them character in great detail -- at all and I personally steer clear from those if I can.

[badboy_fangirl]

I either get them or I don't. Reading other people's great characterizations never helps me. It just frustrates me if I don't feel like I get that character very well. The rest of the time, I just fake it. If I don't get a character or they don't like talking to me *coughMichaelcough* I take them out of canon and just try to make them as real as possible. Dialogue is a huge part of getting people to buy your version of the character. They have to speak in a believable sort of way, IMHO.

[snowwhite22]

How do you address a character or pairing you don't usually write?

I do a few different things. I like to picture a scene with someone I do write often. Then I get them talking (in my mind). I try to pick up on mannerisms and word choice the character would use on the show. Each character has their own distinctual manner. Then to write about someone I don't very often, I try and picture their voice and facial expressions. It's rough at first but once you do that, its easier to jump into their head. (All of this sounds really weird now that I'm writing it out.)

Would you start by reading fics about him/her? Or avoid to in case it would affect your initial idea?
I don't read other fics about a character to get an idea or get started. Mainly I'm afraid the other author's voice and ideas will seep into mine. So I steer clear of using other people's work for inspiration, unless their fic is so bloody brillant (and there are plenty out there), that it's like watching the show again.

How do you know you're not OC?Hmm...that's a hard

[happywriter06]

I've only done that one so I watch an old episode and I read the work of some authors who I thought wrote the character really well.