Characterization, YES! First topic! *arm-pump*

[zookie]

Well, i wasn't quite sure what was supposed to go here, but then the other day i read something an author had said about the characterization of her characters and i thought i'd share it with ya'll.

I don't remember the specifics, but basically she said, in some tips for up-and-coming writers, that in order to have a really well-rounded character one had to think of them as a real person. The writer's gotta know what their character's favorite food is, what are their favorite colors, their stance on current events and life in general, etc. Even if you never use any of this information in your actual writing- especially if you don't use any of this in your writing- it'll help you get a really rounded feel to them, and it will help you write better from their perspective.

This makes sense to me, and it's what i do with my characters (Did anyone know, for example, that Kayla's favorite food is corn? That she hates wearing hats? And that neither of those things are the same as how i feel about them?), so i thought ya'll might like to hear it.^^

[WyndiWingfall]

*blinks* That's somewhat different than from many writers have told me--or advised me, actually.

They agree that you do need to know your character as a real person, not just a creation of ink and paper. But that doesn't mean knowing every angle about the character. The best characters are ones that write themselves, rather than the writer creating their personality (this is what my RP character Yuri did, and it...irked me for a while because she seemed so substandard for her race).

It's also not necessary to "know" your character to the point of where you're obsessed with them. This is one of the earliest ways you can tell your character is heading down Mary-Sue Lane. Especially if unnecessary details about your character is slipped in--and doesn't have any importance. Sure, they may be fun to read, but in the long run, a collection of facts about a character whose life revolves around something else entirely gets irritating and boring.

[I Dream of Sleep]

I like to take the view in as many ways as possible for my characters, depending on the effect I wanted. As cliche' as that sounded...

For instance, I would know their strengths/weaknesses, their likes/dislikes, their basic stuff. (In the view of a parent, who would maximize their flaws/features, or their friends, who care about their interests/hates, &c)

I also stereotype them (In the view of a stranger, who met my character on the bus, the street, &c) because as much as we may or may not hate it, we all stereotype.

.....It's actually much more in-depth then that, but it is 8 in the morning and I'm TIRED.

*edit*
Since zookie gave an example, I wanna give one too. -hops on bandwagon-

From a first glance, Mary looks like a spoiled brat, a chubby, freckle-faced, golden-curled, educated with the finest governness, unoriginal and boring.

The truth is, that's exactly what she is. She enjoys pampering herself, especially with new gloves (for she hates how knobbly her fingers are) and that her favorite meal of the day is supper, and she doesn't say no to the drink now and then.

...if I went on, it would take ages, and since it's 8:30 in the morning and I'm tired, that's all for now.

*/edit*

[sanachan]

The other day I was reading The Outsiders and at the end of the book it had an interview with the author.

I foget what the question was, but the author called herself more of a "character writer" than a "plot writer". She explained that from the very beginning, she knows things about her character that she won't put in the book.

I guess it's a matter on what your writing style is.

[zookie]

Yeah, i'm like that, too.

[Roguette]

We worked on that in a speech and drama class I was in last school year.

We created a set, and then two characters to go on the set and had to fill out a few questions about them (favorite food? radio station? work? what do they do in the mornings? et cetera...).

It was pretty sweet.

[zookie]

I have always found that i care about the characters in a story more than the actual plot. I have frequently read things that had little to no plot or the plot it had completely sucked simply because i was interested in the characters. Excellant characterization is a must for me.