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Check out my guest post on Harry Potter for Writers!
Now, I have a question for you. Do you always behave the same? Are you the same person when you are home lounging around on your own as when you're out on a date or at a company party? Are you the same person around your friends on a Saturday night as with your kids? I doubt it.
Neither is your MC.
Staying true to character is vital to a successful book. Sure your character can surprise you and the reader, but always within the confines of who they are. And they, like us, become different people based on who they are with. Do you have romance in your story? Well if you do, and most of us do to some level, you have to be aware that when your two characters collide they become something new.
The wonderful Sarah Fine had a post on the space between characters. To me this is what that means. I studied social psych for a bit, and it is fascinating the way people will change depending on who they are with and what they are doing.
So how do we USE this info in our writing?
- Compare scenes. Take a scene where your MC is alone and compare it to one where she is with her love interest. What is her behavior like? Is it different? Have her goals changed at all? Her approach to those goals?
- Relate those differences to the overarching character arc. What changes in your MC by the end of the story? Are those qualities effected by her interaction with others? How so? Perhaps they prompt a positive change. OR perhaps they make it that much more difficult for your MC. Remember - you can't protect her, you have to let her suffer.
- It's a great way to show depth. You want to SHOW (not talk about) different sides to your character. Putting her in varied situations with different people or on her own can accomplish this.
What are some other ways this can alter your writing? Good or bad?
photo credit
Sarah's post was awesome. That should be a famous quote about writing.
ReplyDelete"I am inspired by interaction. The space between two people. The possibility. The chaos. One person alone can think and do great things. Two people? Ah. Infinite potential."
And this is a great point. I've been focusing on trying to make this more clear as I go through revisions. It's important for all our characters.
This was a great reminder! I'm developing a new character and he's all over the place right now, but you're absolutely right that giving him different aspects to his personality will make him feel more real.
ReplyDeleteGreat points, and not something I'd really thought about before. I imagined my current MC as I read your post, and I think I have a little work to do.
ReplyDeleteThis is fun to play with. In Destiny's Kiss, Destiny encounters people she knew at different points of her life, which affects how she's likely to act around them.
ReplyDeleteThe trick is to have it all still be the same basic person, even when particular situations and people bring specific aspects of their personality to fore.
I'm one person, but my impish side mostly shows up when I'm with good friends. Around some folks, I'm subdued. Around others, my opinionated/argumentative side is more likely to show up, etc.
Matthew - that is a WAY COOL quote. Obviously it really got me thinking!
ReplyDeleteAnna - thanks! I think it's another way to check that your character is rounded and filled out.
MG - Glad it was helpful to you!
Carradee - I agrree! It's fun. :D
Oh, wonderful post! I love how you make it so simple to understand. You're always pointing out ways to make our writing so much better. Thanks for sharing you knowledge! :D
ReplyDeleteBrenda - Thanks! :D I'm glad you like my blog. Your comment gives me warm fuzzies.
ReplyDeleteLisa, you remind me of a point that Donald Maass makes in his Breakout Novel. I can't remember exactly how he states it, but he basically says, "imagine the thing that your character would be most unlikely to do, then have them do it." Of course, it has to be motivated, but forcing them to act contrary to their character can be great for showing conflict, change, or interaction, as you point out. You always have great insight! :-)
ReplyDeleteSusan - thanks! That's great advice. I already knew I had to read that book now I must put it higher on the list!
ReplyDeleteI love your posts so much. Whatever you are doing, keep at it!
ReplyDeleteOh and happy 4th! :)
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse
Angela - awww! Thank you! :D I appreciate the support!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post, Lisa! I love this - it's such a true thing, in literature and life. I am a completely different person around different people, and it's not because I'm fake, it's just that different people bring out different sides of me. It should be the same with characters. :)
ReplyDeleteBethany - Glad you like it. The characters have to be as real as possible. It's just another aspect to bring out.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely soooo true. I myself have about four different facets to my personality. I am one person in the office and with my coworkers, I'm a slightly edgier person when I'm around my friends, slightly sweeter around my family, and I'm completely different from all of those when I'm at home and it's just me an my husband.
This is another well-timed post for me as I'm in the middle of my first round of edits, and one of the items I've been on the lookout for it whether or not my characters' reactions match both their current situations, and their personalities.
Another one for 'the book'! ;)
Melinda - I'm so glad it struck a chord! :D
ReplyDeleteThis is so true,
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly aware of how I behave around different people, formal vs informal situations etc.
Plus, I think we all remember comments from teachers - 'do you put your feet on the table at home?' etc.
Then, at home 'do you leave your pyjamas on all day at school?' LOL!
Ebony - You always make me laugh! Great examples.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! In one of my stories that's marinating, the MC is usually pretty easy to get along with and kind of quiet. There's one scene where she completey & justifiably blows her cool. It was a blast to write :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! Sometimes it's hard for me to see all facets of my characters first - I need to put them through the paces before I get to know them. Just like the reader!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :)
Jemi - that sounds like a lot of fun!!
ReplyDeleteSusan - Thanks! I agree, sometimes I learn about the character as I go.
This is such a great point and something to keep in mind. So true that we're different depending on who we're with, and our MC should do the same. *makes notes*
ReplyDeleteYeap, if done right it's an excellent way to make for realistic writing, which lets face it, we all love beyond words. So I studied Social Psych for a semester too. While it wasn't my favorite kind, I was enthralled with social identity and group dynamics... wait.
ReplyDeleteI mean I'm also interested in how people act differently in a group than without. In fact, it's a combination of group mentality (I made that term up, lol) and a matter of habit. I've noticed it in myself: I always act differently around different friends because... some of them are goofy, others not. How can you really act the same around everyone? Impossible.
So what I'm trying to say is: think of normal scenes among friends, not just love interests. Thanks for this post (that is actually shorter than my comment, sorry). It's a really good point!
Super points here. I'm thinking of the vast difference in my internal dialogue when I'm in different situations both alone and with someone else. That difference in a MC adds layers - like an onion. Oops, channeling Shrek again.
ReplyDeleteAh, a new way to consider how my character would act and react--I love it! Thank you! And thanks, Julie, for pointing me to this blog :)
ReplyDeleteJulie - Thanks. :D
ReplyDeleteLyn - I totally agree! We are different around EVERYONE not just love interests.
Leslie - Shrek is cool. Like an onion. Oh wait - that's not right...
Cheryl - Yeah! And hooray for Julie! She's awesome, isn't she?
This is a great post! A lot of times, I'll try to make sure my dialogue is consistent (aka, you should be able to tell who's talking by their individual voice), but you're right--characters, like people, DO change their approach/attitude/manner-of-speech depending on the situation. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteJess - yes, it's hard to keep it consistent and NOT consistent at the same time. He he he. It can be subtle though. Mannerisms, dichotomy between internal and external dialogue, etc.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! In the novel I'm revising right now, my protagonist spends large quantities of time on her own--so the change when she actually IS with other people is really marked!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Can I just say I love the picture?
ReplyDeleteAnd you're totally right. We don't act the same all the time! And MCs shouldn't either.
I love when characters surprise me, too! (But when it's believable, you know? Well, of course you do! Know, I mean... gosh I'm rambling... I'll stop now. Sorry. :P
Meagan - Cool!
ReplyDeleteMonica - I obsess over picking pics for my posts now. :P Silly I know! And yes surprises are good!
This is a great point. People do change somewhat depending on where they are or who they're with. This is something I need to think about as I revise. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteExcellent point! I know I'm different, depending on who I'm with - if anyone - so it does make sense that my characters would be, too.
ReplyDeleteI've been out of commission for a few days, so sorry I didn't come around to comment earlier! First, thanks for the mention, and second--what a great way to expand on the concept of how interaction with others and the influence of the situation can alter a person's behavior. Personality is definitely a relatively stable construct--but you're totally right. The power of the situation is, er, powerful.
ReplyDeleteGhenet - You're welcome!
ReplyDeleteCaryn - Yep, we have to think of them as real people.
Sarah - No worries! It's been crazy around here too. Hope all is well with you. I'm glad you liked the post. :D
I could name a few REALLY experienced authors who would benefit from reading this post! It's something we need to be reminded of now and then. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnother good one, Lisa. I'll check out Sarah's too. A little behind lately so off I go...
ReplyDeleteHeather - Wow. Thanks. I'm blushing!
ReplyDeleteKristen - No worries! Believe me I understand!
Awesome Lisa! I think the trick and hard part is making the character changes and surprises believable. Showing hints of it or showing the build up/motivation to the action!
ReplyDeleteLaura - hints and build up are very important, I agree.
ReplyDeleteWonderful points. I especially like what you said about the importance of being aware that two characters become something new when they interact. So true!
ReplyDeleteCynthia - Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteExcellent points. I prefer to develop the characters from actual psychological personas outward. If you've built an actual psychological persona then all of the reactions and interactions will have believable responses within the story.
ReplyDeletePW - Sure! If you know what makes 'em tick, you will understand how they will respond to different situations.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Lisa, for running the Original Sin book contest. I'm so excited I won it, and can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteAnd as someone else commented, Donald Maass is amazing! I own every book on writing he's ever written, and have read them cover to cover.
Tanya - I'm so glad!! :D You'll have to let me know what you think.
ReplyDelete