Podcast

Thursday, August 11, 2011

How To Create A Compelling Character, Addendum: Why Do Their Friends Like Them?

So I’ve been building towards something for a while... A big post. The ultimate post that sums up (and links to) almost everything I’ve said… A 70 (or so) question checklist that hopes to target and eliminate any problem with any story. That’ll finally arrive next week. It’s already been pushed back a few times because, as I’ve been preparing it, a lot of new things have occurred to me that I wanted to shoehorn in first.

As I was combining, reviewing and expanding my earlier attempts at checklists, I realized a problem I’ve been having for a while with my character recipe. Generally speaking, I try to downplay the term “sympathetic” in favor of “compelling”, and for the most part that works. The nice thing about the “compelling” definition is that it’s wide enough to cover any main character, even anti-heroes like Norman Bates, Michael Corleone and David Chappellet. But I’ve discovered a problem: it makes characters seem a little extreme, especially if they’re supposed to be nice-guy regular heroes.

Once you’ve piled your heroes (and villains) high with as many unfulfilled desires, internal contradictions and raging conflicts as you can, then stop and ask yourself a question: “Yeah, but why do their friends like them?” Sure, sometimes the answer will be, “they don’t.” Bates, Corleone and Chappelet don’t have any close friends. There are even some downright likable heroes who don’t have any friends: C. C. Baxter in The Apartment is adorable, but he’s totally friendless. 

But these should be the exception, not the rule. In real life, even lonely people have friends. Even jerks have friends. As the Mr. T. Experience memorably lamented “Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend.” 

Once you’re done tensing your characters up, take a step back and remember that somebody somewhere probably likes this person, so you need to figure out why. You don’t have to agree with those friends--they could like the guy because he’s a jerk, but you have to be able to understand that point of view.

Think about how easy it is to get annoyed by the tightly-wound creep in the next cubicle over, and then one day, an old college buddy visits him at work and he’s suddenly totally relaxed, laughing and joking and ribbing the guy about his gut. If you’re going to write about that character, or any character, you should be able to see in them what that friend sees, in addition to all of their compelling faults.

9 comments:

Christine Tyler said...

Love it. Excellent new angle to think from, as always.

Andriana said...

Thanks for the informative post.This is my first time here and found so much interesting information in your post, thank you.I want to advise a good site.
I recommend a good resource.
Steps to Write an Essay
The first step to write an essay https://studyfy.com/ is to find a topic you're interested in. The Internet is filled with topic lists and sample essays, and you can use these resources to get an idea for a topic. Once you've found a topic, you can narrow it down and evaluate it to create your own essay.

Anonymous said...

Among the best places to look for reviews of writing services is on best writing services reviews https://nocramming.com. While some consumers may use this site to post their feedback, it is also the perfect place to find unethical reviews. These websites will try to portray themselves as legitimate academic help and will post links or ask for more information about your order. This type of review is not trustworthy and will give you little to no information about the service.

IngaVelington said...

When it comes to writing a college essay that write my speech https://domyessay.com/write-my-speech, it's vital to choose a topic that is meaningful to you. This can be anything from your favorite hobby to an intellectual pursuit. Your essay should also show something about you and your character. You can even explore your family history or write about a significant one-time event. Often, the best topics are the unexpected ones. For example, you can write about your love of Korean dramas, or your family's annual road trip to a historic site.

IngaVelington said...

In addition to online tutors, some online forums offer math homework help https://essayservice.com/math-homework-help. On these forums, you can post your physics homework question for others to help you with your physics homework. Then, you can wait for them to respond. This service is free. However, you need to know the right places to ask for such help.

AnthonyRiley said...

The best dissertation writing service write-my-dissertation.org is one that has a track record. Their clients have included many students who have successfully completed their graduate degrees.However, you should be careful not to let your guard down. Using a literate friend to proofread your paper is a good idea.By leveraging the services of a reputable writing company, you can focus on your research and get a quality piece of writing in return.

Unknown said...

COOOL!

Anonymous said...

Climate Change Essay
Climate change is a global problem that is causing the world to become unlivable for all of us. There is a need to act now before the planet becomes unlivable for all of us. At its core, an argumentative essay christiansandclimate.org on climate change should aim to effectively inform and convince others of its validity as an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. By doing so, these essays can have a lasting impact on individuals, businesses, and even governments, and ultimately help us move closer to a solution that can prevent further damage.

Anonymous said...

I consider this blog a true discovery! The authors exhibit a profound understanding of the subjects they cover and generously offer valuable insights to their readers. Thanks to this resource, I've expanded my knowledge and eagerly anticipate new publications.

I hold the position of a manager at Maxi Moving. In my role as a manager at Maxi Moving, I've taken pride in overseeing various aspects of our moving and transportation services https://maximoving.com/service/moving-supplies/ . My years of experience in the industry have provided me with the opportunity to refine my skills in coordination and ensuring a seamless moving experience.