Developing Characters |
| We had a question on the board about how to
develop a continuing character and I thought I'd take a swing at it. The approach described in the post was to fully figure out a character's personality and background and motives. It's nice to know which is your character's favorite Disney movie or color or where they were born or how they did on their SATs. But NONE of that is important. And doing up complicated backgrounds for your fictional folks can bind you when you want to explore them further. Strange as it may sound, your character's past is immaterial. Sure Beaverman is forever affected by the night the masked Lumberjack destroyed his dam and murdered his family. But it's where the Heroic Herbivore is going next that's important. What's he do next? What does Beaverman want? That's the key to a three dimensional character. What does he want most in the world? How does he achieve it? What's he sacrifice to get it? Rick in CASABLANCA wanted nothing more than to be with Ilsa. But he sacrificed this for a higher cause; his love for her and his dedication to a free world. Right there in what Rick wanted and how he dealt with his desires is the key to the whole damn story! Batman wants to keep his childhood vow to avenge his parents. Superman wants a world to call his own. Dr Doom wants to prove he's the world's greatest intellect. Bugs Bunny wants to be left the hell alone. Xena wants to make up for her past as a bloodthirsty warrior queen. Darth Vader wants his son to join the family business for his own protection. George Costanza wants the affection and respect of others even if it's an illusion. Sherlock Holmes wants distraction from the chaos of his own awesome intellect. See a pattern here? Play the game yourself. Most enduring fictional people have a deep want that drives them. There's exceptions of course. Mickey Mouse, Wonder Woman, the cast of Suddenly Susan, the Waltons; all tend to be ciphers. Who knows what they want beyond some vague notion? But the characters we care about have that deep desire that drives them. You give your creation that and the rest falls into line. As I wrote in the 10 COMMANDMENTS OF COMIC BOOK
WRITING you should also find something to like and something to hate about each
character. The Punisher battles crime and wastes ten times his weight in baddies every
day. But he's also a stone bastard to anyone who tries to get close. Magnum is Hawaii's
coolest private eye. But he's so dumb when it comes to women. He always gets dumped
on. Donald Duck has the shortest temper in the cartoons. But he does provide a home for
his nephews. If you build a strong enough fictional personality then you'll KNOW how they'll react in any given situation. They'll wind up "writing themselves." I may struggle and strain with plot and dialogue but I NEVER sit here wondering "I wonder what Nightwing would do if this happened." I already KNOW based on the course I've set for him. It's actually pretty simple. What's my character want? What do I like about them? What do I dislike about them? Hope this helps all you striving fictioneers out there.
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©2001 by Chuck Dixon. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without permission. |
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