Still...boring. To some degree, most large-selling novels suffer from the same problem. They create a character who's interesting on one level (hitman, medical examiner) and then fall apart on another level. To keep this happening to me (and to you...you might ask me to read what you've written at some point - this is a preemptive strike) - let's set some rules for our characters to follow:
- Flawed characters are interesting characters
- It's who you are...it's not what you own, drink, wear, write with or drive
- Improbably complex != interesting
- Sex is not always pretty / Pretty is not always sex
- Relationships are complex creatures with a life of their own
6 comments:
I think one of the biggest tricks (and I'm trying to find a way to say this succinctly) is to strike that balance of flawed yet not irritating or betraying. It annoys me endlessly to have authors suddenly twist a character's character in order to promote drama or advance a plot point. It's jarring.
At the end of the day, you have to like and relate to a character on some level, or at least find something redeeming for understanding or pity. If you don't care, how can you be engaged.
Serial novelists have a good thing going with a big downside: potential rut. Experimenting might revive the series or kill it totally.
And now my comment is longer than your post. So...the end. LOL
Julie
Using My Words
Finally! Someone else that sees the flaws in her writing. Her novels are always so predictable and her characters are 2 dimensional. Boring.
Let me add one additional point about the 'flawed character' rule:
We often call the protagonist the 'hero' of the book. But the protagonist being seen as 'hero' often forces us to not acknowledge their less-than-pristine points. They still sweat, get drunk, fart, make poor decisions and deal with consequences badly.
I think about John Cusack in "High Fidelity" where he looks to the camera and goes "I AM a f***ing a*****!" It was at that point that I went "Yeah, I like this guy."
I'd like to write stories with characters who are that human.
Dan, do you read Nick Hornby? Richard Russo?
I'm sorry to say - I have yet to read Nicky Hornby or Richard Russo. Maybe that's sacrilege in some circles. I'll throw them on there. Right now I'm re-reading "Stranger Than Fiction" by Chuck P., the "DMZ" comic series by Brian Wood (which is awesome...don't know if you've seen it) and a book about the emotional development of boys (because I have a son).
I like to multi-task.
Dan, Richard Russo is an absolutely amazing writer...you should really pick him up. If you want quirky and flawed characters grab a Tim Sandlin novel...all except Honey Don't. That book was horrendous.
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