If you're not sure what I'm getting at in the title, let me clarify: Mary/Gary Sues.
Oh, don't you just hate it when you write an amazing plot, but then come to realize after a reread that your MC is flatter than the paper they're written on? You know that your plot is supposed to center around your MC, but there is such a thing as too much, or dare I say, written too poorly. I mean no offense by that; I've done it (more than once, I might add). Yes, we are all bad writers at one point. . . . But that's off topic. The point is, sometimes our characters don't want to be brave and able to deal with what you're trying to throw at them. But you force them to anyway, which leaves them flat. And, let's be honest, sometimes, it's not your characters, it's you. Sometimes you feel way too bad for your characters and it flattens them up. You probably now expect me to tell you how you'd react to finding out you've got a Mary/Gary Sue. Well, ha! Not this time, I've decided to mix things up a bit. Huzzah! ;D Here are some things you can do about this little hinderance: a) Fill Out a Character Chart: This is really easy because there are character charts with many diverse questions all over the internet. I'm pretty sure there's even a website for it. I even have a chart that is super long, though I have yet to actually use it. Oops. b) I Know a Game . . . : No seriously. It's quite simply name The Character Development Game. It's really easy, all you have to do is answer a question in your character's perspective. You can't really play by yourself, because it's not as much fun when you're asking the question yourself. To be more specific (and perhaps less confusing), one person asks a question, and then another person answers it in their character's perspective. After they finish answering, they ask another question for the next person (the question is separate from your character's response). The questions can be anything. c) RP: RolePlaying might not be for everyone, but I do think that it's a good way to develop your characters because they're put in situations they might never be in otherwise. It forces you to develop parts of your character you never considered. Those parts may not be important to your story, but it does flesh out your character and make them seem more real. If you think out your character, your readers will be able to tell, even if you never mention the things you think about. Wow, my first truly serious blog post. Comment what you think, and any other ways you develop your characters so I can give it a try. :)
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MeA good chunk of you already know who I am, considering I sent you here, but for those of you people who found my blog by accident, let me introduce myself. My name is Madison Anderson and I was born and spent little more than half my life in Oregon (US for those of you who don't know and don't want to look it up), so it's no wonder I like the rain. I'm obsessed with Disney (bought myself a Woody doll and I'm so happy :) ) and books. I'm now into drawing, and whenever I get around to it I plan on selling my work. You can visit my art page (someday it'll be website) at https://www.facebook.com/randomart17/?ref=bookmarks Archives
September 2017
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