Question: Original Characters vs Fandom Characters

[fantastic_jackie]

The following entry contains several questions phrased as strangely as the title: you have been warned!

Most of my attention lately has been devoted to icons and Halloween decorations, but writing-wise, I’ve been working on original fiction. As I’ve pondered plots and hesitantly outlined, I’ve wondered whether my characters are likeable enough. More specifically, I’ve wondered how much I like my characters as opposed to the characters of books, movies, and tv shows. – A fine enough thing to wonder, but of course, it made me a little curious, too. So, I have a few questions for you, buddies o’ mine.

Particularly if you write original fiction, how much do you love your original characters? Compared to your favorite characters -those of other authors- would you say you hold at least an equal place in your heart for your own fictional personas? Taking the concept further, if you weren't yourself and you read your work, do you think you would be a part of the fandom for it?

The ultimate question is this: whether you write or not, do you think the truthful ability to answer yes to all of these above questions is important for a writer to be successful with their original work? To be more concise, if one cannot answer yes to them all, does it underscore a writer's lacking enthusiasm and passion for their story?

I ask because honestly, I don't think I can answer yes to all of those questions for any one of my original works, and I wonder what that really means, if anything at all. Maybe it only means they’re not finished products yet.

During a trip to Borders a couple years back, I picked up a book specifically because the main two characters were similar to two of my own. In reading that book, I found out I actually hated them and was quite grateful to the author, because it led me to make some changes, painful though they were, to correct irritating qualities I’d never noticed before. In a way, I’m nervous about making similar mistakes with my other characters. I worry that they won’t be original or essential or memorable or solid enough to pull of what I need them to. I worry that if I don’t care enough for them, I’ll skimp on important details or aspects of their stories which will hurt my overall novels.

Out of all the original characters I have across a few different stories, I’d say I genuinely love three of them – and two of them are in the same story. I have spinoff ideas for them that will probably never be written, I dream about them, and I have the clearest sense of who they are. As for the rest, well… I like them, some of them a lot, but I don’t get super excited about them like I do reading a quick mention of, say Remus from Harry Potter. I also don’t have any real desire to see them outside of their assigned plots. Is that bad?

True, maybe choosing an absolute favorite character like Remus is an unfair comparison, because I know that every writer has favorite characters, even among their own. But for some of my characters, I feel more love towards Dobby the House Elf. I cried for Dobby, and he was just a little side dude!

It’s not that I don’t like my characters; they all add something important and imperative to their respective stories. I just tend to like other peoples’ characters more, and I guess I’m wondering if I’m alone in that. I mean… when you write a story, you’re writing to share something new and awesome with other people, but if you like what other people produce better, well… what’s the point, honestly?

Maybe I’m over thinking this, but it just worries me. To me, characters are what stories are about; I know some people prefer plots over characters, and I can see the value in that, but I prefer awesome people above all. I want my stories to be about how people deal with my plots rather than the inverse. So when I stop to think of how much I love Sirius Black or Daniel Jackson or JARVIS or Minion by comparison, I fear I may be building upon a buckling foundation before I even lift my pen. Each of them are side characters who aren’t favorites of mine, but I love them nonetheless. Granted, I’m leaving out plot and setting in these musings, but for those are for a different post someday. Characters are extremely important, and they are not so easy to adjust.

What do y’all think? Am I right to be concerned?

Comments

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

I angst about this, too, lol. I don't really have any advise about this, though, except that I think it's a legitimate concern, but also that it's something extremely difficult to judge for yourself because you're the one doing all the character building. This is why it's important, I think, to have someone who can read your work just for those aspects, that you can ask if they fall in love with your character and are sad to leave them behind, or if they think about them after they put down the story.

But have I ever loved my own characters like those I write fanfic about? No. Which might be an indicator that I've just not written any truly loveable characters yet. Depressing thought, LOL.

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

But have I ever loved my own characters like those I write fanfic about? No.

Ahh, well in that case, considering how much I respect your writerly abilities, I feel a little better, then.

And if it makes you feel any better, I do believe that favorite characters are rare, and every book doesn't necessarily contain one. I can think of many books I've read which I greatly enjoyed, but none of the characters really stuck with me. - Not that I want my stories to read as such, but it is somewhat encouraging to recall!

Strangely enough for this question, I already know that at least for one of my stories, which even had its own fandom for a while, readers loving my characters isn't, or rather wasn't a problem. But I overcompensated and the characters took over that story, so now I have to restart and do a bunch of heavy cutting and adjusting. I guess that's the real crux of my concern: finding a balance.

Which is why I like your advice. I do my creative works close to the chest, never letting anyone see them until they're finished. I guess I do need to start biting the bullet and putting myself at least a little more out there in that regard. I love concrit, so I'm not sure why I'm so shy like that.

I do think about one of your characters after the fact, btw. John was his name, right? I should confess that not too long ago, I tried to track down that partial novel you put up a couple years ago, not really expecting it to still be up but crossing my fingers nonetheless. ;)

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

I do believe that favorite characters are rare, and every book doesn't necessarily contain one. I can think of many books I've read which I greatly enjoyed, but none of the characters really stuck with me. - Not that I want my stories to read as such, but it is somewhat encouraging to recall!

This is a good point--certainly not every book I read or TV show or movie I watch has inspired me to go join a fandom, and that doesn't mean those things didn't have good characters; just not ones that particularly resonated with me, and you're right, it's a lot like friends vs. acquaintances in that way, really. You can't go around expecting everyone you meet to be a bosom friend, but that person is probably someone else's bosom friend; I may not care much for a character, but chances are someone else has written fanfic about them.

I do my creative works close to the chest, never letting anyone see them until they're finished. I guess I do need to start biting the bullet and putting myself at least a little more out there in that regard. I love concrit, so I'm not sure why I'm so shy like that.

I almost can't function without having a friend read my stuff as I'm working on it. That's why these fandom connections are so valuable to me.

I do think about one of your characters after the fact, btw. John was his name, right? I should confess that not too long ago, I tried to track down that partial novel you put up a couple years ago, not really expecting it to still be up but crossing my fingers nonetheless. ;)

OMG, really? That is so sweet. I pulled it off Authonomy because I decided the site was kind of worthless, and I'm not sure if I'll ever do the revisions necessary to make it a publishable book. But that's really really lovely to know. You just made my life. :D

Maybe since I'm not really thinking of doing anything with it in the future, I'll think about sharing the rest of it on LJ...We shall see!

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

I have somehow managed to pry myself away from the x-box for a matter of minutes... ;)

You can't go around expecting everyone you meet to be a bosom friend, but that person is probably someone else's bosom friend;

I really like what akemi_rei said: "I think if you have characters that you yourself have a range of feelings about, then you have characters that your readers will have a range of feelings about."

I dunno about you, but that seems almost like wisdom to me! Here I am freaking out that I don't adore each character, and she's all, "Pshha. Chill out, gurl!" lol

I pulled it off Authonomy because I decided the site was kind of worthless

...Am I the only person who hates the name? Authonomy. Do I pronounce the 'th' or just ignore it? I'm pretty sure they intended the latter, but then you wonder, "WHY the TH?!" It's not cute; it's irritating! Aren't the people who use that site avid writers and readers who probably have penchants for proper spelling and grammar? I'm just saying!

It did seem more like a popularity contest, though. It's a good idea, but ultimately, people will be people who will network and connect for favors.

I'll think about sharing the rest of it on LJ...

Count me among the party of people begging for you to do so. ;D I wanna know what happens!!

[akemi-rei.livejournal.com]

I think if you have characters that you yourself have a range of feelings about, then you have characters that your readers will have a range of feelings about. I think as long as you have solid characters, who are real in their behaviour and flawed, then you really have nothing to worry about in terms of bringing them out. You certainly will never love all of your characters. In fact, some character hate is a good thing, I think.

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

Must...pry...self...from...X-Box...for LJ!

You... are awesome. That's like wisdom right there. Just like that, I'm not concerned anymore! You rock!

It's funny you should mention character hate, though. One of the characters I love is actually one that I want people to hate... It's kind of a messed up situation when I think about it! Lol