Comments on: How Unique Should a Character Be? http://www.annastan.com/2009/08/how-unique-should-a-character-be/ Author of Books for Children and Young Adults Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:14:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: PJ Hoover http://www.annastan.com/2009/08/how-unique-should-a-character-be/comment-page-1/#comment-66 PJ Hoover Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:54:26 +0000 http://www.annastan.com/?p=488#comment-66 That Hassan cracked me up. I think characters should be unique and relatable, but above and beyond all else, should never be cliche. When people talk about making characters unique, I think they are trying to make sure writers really think past the genre cliches of our characters and make even the sidekick characters have a spark of thought and originality. Great post! That Hassan cracked me up.
I think characters should be unique and relatable, but above and beyond all else, should never be cliche. When people talk about making characters unique, I think they are trying to make sure writers really think past the genre cliches of our characters and make even the sidekick characters have a spark of thought and originality.
Great post!

]]> By: annastan http://www.annastan.com/2009/08/how-unique-should-a-character-be/comment-page-1/#comment-65 annastan Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:04:23 +0000 http://www.annastan.com/?p=488#comment-65 Hi Anne! You're absolutely right that familiar characters aren't the same as stereotypical characters. I guess that's why we're interested to read about made-up people, because we want to see how they're like and yet unlike us. I agree that the character's emotions are usually easiest to relate to. Though I also love characters who react in unexpected ways and keep me guessing! Hi Anne! You’re absolutely right that familiar characters aren’t the same as stereotypical characters. I guess that’s why we’re interested to read about made-up people, because we want to see how they’re like and yet unlike us.
I agree that the character’s emotions are usually easiest to relate to. Though I also love characters who react in unexpected ways and keep me guessing!

]]> By: Anne M Leone http://www.annastan.com/2009/08/how-unique-should-a-character-be/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Anne M Leone Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:44:46 +0000 http://www.annastan.com/?p=488#comment-64 An interesting post; I'm still thinking about it. I think maybe all characters (and people) are unique in some ways, but we don't always notice it right away. Like maybe your stereotypical musician is also a physicist. And isn't that one of the (many) challenges in writing, giving your character unique and individual traits? Not necessarily so they're weird, but so they feel individual and relate-able. But I think you're right, there also has to be an element of the familiar. For me, the emotional strands of a novel work that way. Even if a character is completely out there personality-wise, if they're sad or lonely I think, "Oh, I can relate to that." An interesting post; I’m still thinking about it. I think maybe all characters (and people) are unique in some ways, but we don’t always notice it right away. Like maybe your stereotypical musician is also a physicist. And isn’t that one of the (many) challenges in writing, giving your character unique and individual traits? Not necessarily so they’re weird, but so they feel individual and relate-able.

But I think you’re right, there also has to be an element of the familiar. For me, the emotional strands of a novel work that way. Even if a character is completely out there personality-wise, if they’re sad or lonely I think, “Oh, I can relate to that.”

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