Make Characters Come To Life

[DwayneA]

Exactly how do you bring a character to life? How do you develop him/her? And could I have an example so I can clearly understand this?

[IceCreamEmpress]

A character who is described as "having come to life" is a character that is complex enough to seem like a real person to the reader. They aren't like a single-function robot (The Hero Who Is Always Good or The Villain Who Is Always Bad or The Guy Who Only Talks About Football); they are a mix of many qualities, just like real-life people.

Let's take Harry Potter as an example. So Harry Potter has these special magic abilities, and he has the potential to save the world. But he's also a kid who likes playing pranks, who's loyal to his friends, who sometimes has doubts about the whole 'saving the world' thing, who gets crushes on girls, etc., etc. Apart from the whole magic abilities/saving the world thing, Harry Potter's like an awful lot of teenage boys in real life.

[James81]

Wow, you make a lot of threads. Sounds to me like you need some books to read on fiction writing more than anything, so here, pick up a copy of this book:

Telling Lies for Fun and Profit by Lawrence Block

Give that a read and it OUGHT to help you with a myriad of questions you have.

[BlueLucario]

Why are you asking the same questions OVER AND OVER? Could you at least take the time to read your past posts? (over fifteen of the same questions?)

[James D. Macdonald]

You bring a character to life by attaching electrodes to its neck, then leading them to lightning rods on the roof of your castle.

During the next thunderstorm, laugh in a maniacal manner and proclaim, "Mad? They said I was mad at the Academy! But I'll show them! I'll show them all!" More maniacal laughter is usually indicated at this point.

Once the lightning has struck and coursed thousands of volts through your character, and its shrouded form stirs, you can say, "It's alive! It's alive!" and laugh even more.

As you can see, bringing characters to life is a happy process, full of laughter.

[IdiotsRUs]

Ask your character why. A lot

Why do you harangue old ladies in the street? Because I'm bored or because I once got whalloped unfairly by an old lady while scrumping for apples or she looks like my mum and my mum did X to me or...

Whatever your character does / feels / thinks, ask why. Every answer brings you closer to a 'real' character.

Of course translating that onto the page is a whole nother story.

[Queen of Swords]

Exactly how do you bring a character to life? How do you develop him/her? And could I have an example so I can clearly understand this?

If you have read any books, can you think of a character who seemed very realistic to you?

[BlueLucario]

If you have read any books, can you think of a character who seemed very realistic to you?
According to his other posts, he previously have read Harry Potter.

[DwayneA]

yes I am reading Harry Potter, but still I can't see the characters as anything other than on paper in fiction. If fiction isn't real, how can the characters be?

[BlueLucario]

yes I am reading Harry Potter, but still I can't see the characters as anything other than on paper in fiction. If fiction isn't real, how can the characters be?
Does it FEEL real to you? As you read, were you able to get your butt out of reality and into the world of Harry Potter. I'm sure you have, because Rowling's one of my favorite authors. And she is very good at storytelling and world building.

[DwayneA]

I don't feel anything when I'm reading

[BlueLucario]

I don't feel anything when I'm reading
If you don't then what's the point of reading the book? What made you want to read it in the first place? Did reading the text feel like you're watching a movie in your head?

[Zombiestare]

This thread makes my head hurt.

Just thought I'd share.

I'd recommend the OP try to create a character in 3D. Maybe do a little Weird Science. That'll make her come to life. Or maybe learn software and design a girl in a red dress. She won't talk much though.

[DwayneA]

well yeah it does, but what's your point?

[BlueLucario]

well yeah it does, but what's your point?
... Does the novel FEEL real to you? If you pictured the scenes in your mind, then it does feel real to you.

... I answered your question. That's the point.

[DwayneA]

but how is it supposed to be real if it's fiction?

[BlueLucario]

but how is it supposed to be real if it's fiction?
WE all know it's not real. It's MAKE BELIEVE! I said this before, the story has to FEEL real to the reader. The make believe element is the reason why readers love the book. It doesn't have to BE real.

make sense?

[ezc_19]

How old are you?

[DwayneA]

yes

26(what does your question have to do with the subject?)

[DwayneA]

I'm not laughing at anybody!

[BlueLucario]

You know, this guy is probably laughing at everyone.

*coughtrollcough*
Dude, leave him alone.

I feel useless here. I'm going to refrain from posting here for a little bit. This thread took 30 minutes off my writing time. *Damn my willingness to help others; a feeling I cannot resist.*
Not your fault Dwayne, I just HAVE to get writing.

By the way, a lot of people admire your willingness to learn, but posting the same topic in a short time is just going to drive everyone nuts. People are trying to help you and some of it doesn't seem to get through. Just a warning, if you continue this behavior then people will not like you and will refuse to read your posts again(Do you WANT that to happen?). You have AS. You think you're the only one here suffering from it?

[scarletpeaches]

This thread needs an enema. So here I am.

DwayneA - the best piece of advice I can give you is to read a lot of fiction and THINK about what you're reading rather than expecting us to explain it to you. I don't say this to be cruel, although I am getting more than a little impatient here.

My reason for saying this is - you have to learn to think for yourself. If you don't, you'll never manage to write a book on your own.

We won't always be around to hold your hand through the process, so please stop. Read the answers you're getting in your threads and instead of constantly asking "Why?" and saying, "I don't understand," try to think about the meaning behind people's words. If you can't understand posts on AW, you'll never understand a full-length book and if you don't understand books, you'll never be able to write one that's worth reading.

Writing fiction is all about giving the impression of truth, not merely reporting on reality and if you can't understand people, either folks here or in books, you don't stand a cat in hell's chance of getting to the end of a fair-sized manuscript which people will pay to read, on your own.

It's our job to help you in the process of becoming a writer, yes, but it is not our job to spoonfeed you information and do what you could easily do yourself if you put some effort in.

[IdiotsRUs]

You know, this guy is probably laughing at everyone.

*coughtrollcough*


No

Dwayne poses some questions and the answers benefit plenty of people.

Ok Dwayne, if / when you can see the movie in your head when you read - this is what people mean by a character 'being real' really they mean 'someone I can imagine could be a real person somewhere even if only my head'

Because dammit somewhere in the multiverse, Captain Jack Sparrow does exist!

[DwayneA]

but what exactly makes the story seem and feel real?

[BlueLucario]

My reason for saying this is - you have to learn to think for yourself. If you don't, you'll never manage to write a book on your own.

We won't always be around to hold your hand through the process, so please stop. Read the answers you're getting in your threads and instead of constantly asking "Why?" and saying, "I don't understand," try to think about the meaning behind people's words. If you can't understand posts on AW, you'll never understand a full-length book and if you don't understand books, you'll never be able to write one that's worth reading.

Writing fiction is all about giving the impression of truth, not merely reporting on reality and if you can't understand people, either folks here or in books, you don't stand a cat in hell's chance of getting to the end of a fair-sized manuscript which people will pay to read, on your own.

.
I love you! All Hail scarletpeaches.

Okay, rumor has it that you have AS. Okay, you think you're the only one here with AS? My biggest pet peeves is that someone would use a disability as an excuse for his or her actions, without taking responsibility for it.

I'm 19 years old, you're 26. You have AS. So what? Learn to deal with it, because it's going to haunt you for the rest of you life. It's not going to go away.

Read Temple Grandin's The Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships: Decoding Social Mysteries Through the Unique Perspectives of Autism (http://www.amazon.com/Unwritten-Rules-Social-Relationships-Perspectives/dp/193256506X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231199419&sr=8-4)

Read rule #8: You are responible for your own actions.

The author said herself that she has low-functioning Asperger's. And even she couldn't emphasize that rule enough.

No one is going to hold your hand. NO ONE! And you're 26, no one SHOULD be. You're on your own. I'm younger than you, and the last time anyone has held my hand was when I learned to speak, (when I was 6) Why do you think I keep suggesting that you research before you ask? Why do I keep asking you to figure everything out on your own?

[Zombiestare]

No

Dwayne poses some questions and the answers benefit plenty of people.



Alright, I can have an open mind. Sometimes. I apologize.

[ezc_19]

I would say that a story feels real if it's written in a way that you could see it happening in real life. In Lord of the Rings, there are a lot of creatures that are not real, but it is written in a way that I can picture them actually existing. They have realistic emotions, actions, dialogue...etc

[dpaterso]

I was about to post a "please don't be rude, just try to answer the poster's question" type message, but looks like it's already been delivered.

-Derek

[Queen of Swords]

but what exactly makes the story seem and feel real?

Can you think of something in a story you have read which did not feel real to you?

[IceCreamEmpress]

Blue, it's not appropriate to be lecturing Dwayne like this. As you know, people learn in different ways. You might recall that some people had similar reactions to your posting habits in your early days on the board. Posting a lot of threads with a lot of questions is one way to learn, and anyone who doesn't want to answer can just scroll past.

That said, I don't know if this is the best use of Dwayne's time and energy, or if it's going to get Dwayne the results he's looking for.

Dwayne, why do you like reading novels? Why do you want to write novels? What do you think other people get out of reading novels?

What's a novel you liked reading? What character did you like in that book?

What was a novel you didn't like reading? What character did you think seemed unrealistic in that book?

[BlueLucario]

Blue, it's not appropriate to be lecturing Dwayne like this. As you know, people learn in different ways. You might recall that some people had similar reactions to your posting habits in your early days on the board. Posting a lot of threads with a lot of questions is one way to learn, and anyone who doesn't want to answer can just scroll past.


I didn't mean to sound hostile. I was trying to help. I don't like the fact that people are going "easy" on him just because he has Asperger's. He's an adult! I love how everyone took their time and energy to help Dwayne, but there comes a time where he has to learn to stand on his own two feet, and that time better come fast.

Perhaps it's one way to learn, but it can sometimes hurt others more than the OP(time and energy), which was why I refrained from making new topics unless necessary.

[IdiotsRUs]

Bue we went 'easy' on you too.

And who is to say his AS is the same as yours? Is it better, worse, just different?

Does Dwayne learn things the same way you do?

You know what - unlikely. I don't learn the same as you , or Ray or ICE or Tony Blair or Barack Obama.

We all learn differently. Tolerate it.

[Ciera_]

I'm not touching the 'rudeness vs. helpfulness vs. legitimate thread' issue with a ten foot pole. 'Xept for that mention of it right there, I guess.

Dwayne, I find that a story feels real when the characters are relatable (by that, I mean that the things they do make sense to me and I feel close to the character almost like I feel close to a real, live friend.)
Also, it helps to use descriptive words and phrase it all so that it reads easily without lots of little snags. Every time the reader's pace is interrupted by a bad choice of words or an awkwardly-phrased sentence, they remember that they are reading (and the 'movie' in their head gets put on pause), and they somewhat lose the feeling that the story is 'real'.
Sorry, that bit was more about a story feeling real, we're supposed to be talking about making characters feel real.
It helps to give them a sense of humour (have them say funny things or even have funny thoughts) and for them to do human things once in a while (brush their teeth, stub their toe, let the dog out into the backyard to go pee...)as opposed to only ever mentioning the actioney/dramatic/plot-furthering bits. But with this you really can't go overboard (so, don't mention in detail every little thing the character does, every day, in detail, if they're not exciting.) it just helps me to think of the character as a well-rounded human being.
I'll stop there, because those are the main things that help me to feel that a character is 'alive'.

[DwayneA]

ah, I get it now

[Ciera_]

0.0
Mine was the post to settle it?
*feels very useful*
:snoopy:
/end gloat