This month's topic is how characters are defined in writing
and what do I leave to the reader’s intuition? Is there anything I never tell
about a character?
Well, writing is all about the story's purpose, and the
characters must work to carry out that purpose. So, of course, the reader needs
to understand the characters and think of them as real people, either good or
bad, for them to carry out that purpose. At the same time, readers pick
up hints about the character's personality from their own experiences. They
also get hints from what the character wears, does, and says. While some traits
of a character must be made, such as appearance, manner of speaking, and tone
of voice, often the reader has their own perspective on a character’s behaviors
that develop as they read which makes the reader part of the writing process.
Characters fall into categories. The main characters are
those the reader needs to know intimately as they are most important in the
story. Supporting characters help or hinder the main characters in some way the
reader can relate to, and placement characters, who often remain unnamed, just
help create the fictional world as a real place.
Is there anything I never tell about a character? Absolutely. The character doesn't need a biography. The reader doesn't need to know everything, only the pertinent information for developing the character as a real person and supporting the story's purpose
Please visit these authors' blogs for their views
on this topic:
"Supporting characters help or hinder the main characters in some way the reader can relate to, and placement characters, who often remain unnamed, just help create the fictional world as a real place." I like your concise statement.
ReplyDeleteVery brief and to the point, Rhobin. Could form one item in a book, "101 tips on writing fiction."
ReplyDelete:)
Bob
Hi Robin, I wrote exactly the same about the character's background and serving the story's purpose. I really enjoyed this topic. Thank you for organising!
ReplyDeleteExcellent point about what you never tell the reader - I kind of beat around that bush in my post, but it's an important one. As a reader, if the action starts getting bogged down in description, I start skipping. I like Blair Howard's series with Lt Kate Gazzara so thought I'd also enjoy the Harry Stark series - NOT SO MUCH, the man is label fixated on every piece of clothing he wears, or holster or firearm etc. Just too exhausting and not interesting. Beside the fact that any man that aware of all the designer stuff he put on his body wouldn't appeal to me anyway. There is a huge difference between the author knowing it all and telling it all. Great point....
ReplyDelete