I'm reading a book by famous author Oh-My-God-Can-I-Make-Money. I can't say it's bad; things are moving along well enough, but two things bother me. One is that I'd be really confused if I hadn't been warned ahead of time that it's set the future. There are hints but not enough of them to help, so they make it harder, not easier, to follow the plot. Not a big problem; once I put it together with the heads-up I was given, I can deal with that.

More problematic is the lack of character continuity. A person is described a certain way, and she begins acting and speaking in a way that confirms the description. But shortly the information she has to convey becomes more important to the author, and the character begins to speak like everybody else. It's almost as if she sheds her uniqueness and becomes just a conduit for what the reader needs to know for the plot to progress.

Continuity is difficult to achieve, but it's essential for a good story. Each character has to speak like himself, act like himself, even think like himself. He should not help out a plot by doing or saying something that isn't natural for him. In another book I'm reading, a first-time author has a clever idea, but his characters change mood so radically that I doubt them. For example, the victim's mother is at one moment tearfully distraught, the next scheming and angry, and then seductive in ways that are ridiculously inappropriate. I think we're supposed to believe that grief does that to a person, but it's a stretch. She's clearly designed to get the plot moving, add titillation, and create chaos. Her behavior changes so radically that no one would actually trust her, but everyone appears to do so.

How does a character remain true to himself? Experts advise a couple of things that may work. Beginning with a clear idea of each character is essential. Devising a backstory for each person who's important to the story helps an author know what his people would or wouldn't do, even if that backstory never appears in the book. I like to tie each character to a person I'm familiar with, not to copy that person but to help me decide what they might say or do in a given situation. It can be an acquaintance, a celebrity, or a character from another story; just someone to picture in your head. If a person I create is going to be a little like the White Rabbit in *Alice in Wonderland,* for example, it's easy to picture what his reaction would be to most situations.

The other essential task comes in the editing stage. On one of your (many) read-throughs, concentrate on character, asking yourself, "Would John phrase his question this way?" or "Would Amy react more violently to this situation?" I often find my characters using words they wouldn't, so I have to adjust my dialogue. Exposition might use words like "aver," for example, but most people don't use it in conversation.

I repeat, it's difficult. Not only do you have to create great characters: stars, featured players, and extras, but you have to maintain their uniqueness. Tweedledum must be true to himself just as Tweedledee is. And it's up to the author to see that they are.

Views: 11

Comment

You need to be a member of CrimeSpace to add comments!

CrimeSpace Google Search

© 2024   Created by Daniel Hatadi.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service