1. fjm3eyes

    fjm3eyes Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2018
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    24

    Character Development

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by fjm3eyes, Apr 9, 2018.

    The story I'm writing has this for a first sent line -- The only thing you need to need to know about me is you don't need to know anything about me. This, I feel, says a lot about my character, and the story flows from these words. Much of the story is written in first person. I use more than one point of view. Developing your character, your main character at least, is essential. I wouldn't write a story, at least one I consider worthwhile, without paying a great dead of attention to its characters.
     
  2. newjerseyrunner

    newjerseyrunner Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2022

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2016
    Messages:
    1,461
    Likes Received:
    1,432
    I agree, but you have to make sure that such a simple line has the intended impact on your intended audience. Based on your first line, I imagine a character like Holden Caulfield from Catch in the Rye or Tyler Durden from Fight Club.
     
  3. Kalisto

    Kalisto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2015
    Messages:
    975
    Likes Received:
    995
    Fairy tales don't pay a lot of attention to their characters. That's because they're morality tales. The moral of the story is more important than the characters.
     
  4. awkwarddragon

    awkwarddragon Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Messages:
    92
    Likes Received:
    118
    Is your main character supposed to be edgy? I'm getting a "too cool" vibe from this line.

    Is your plot entirely focused on this line? It's not much to work with, but I could be wrong. You haven't really defined your plot to us.

    Are all the POVs in first-person?

    Developing all characters that are essential to the plot are important. I wouldn't place all my eggs in one basket, my dude.
     
    Kalisto and Andrew Alvarez like this.
  5. fjm3eyes

    fjm3eyes Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2018
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    24
     
  6. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Messages:
    6,056
    Likes Received:
    7,349
    I'm not so sure about the first line. If the MC tells me I don't need to know anything about him, why would I want to know anything about him? I rather a story with more of a hook or even invitation to keep reading, this line just doesn't work for me. For me, I don't feel like I know anything about the character of the story. I'm also not a fan of first person POV that slips into third. Yes, it's been done, but more often than not it's not the case. If this is your first novel, I wouldn't make it harder on yourself than you have to. A good story doesn't need a dozen POVs and to switch from first to third. It's just my opinion. Maybe something to think about.
     
  7. fjm3eyes

    fjm3eyes Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2018
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    24
    The character who says these words in self absorbing and delusional. He lives with things the best that he can. The story is written primarily in first person.
     
  8. Ohmo

    Ohmo Banned

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Near St Louis, MO
    If the reader doesn't need to know anything about the character why have said character? Or read any further? Now, if that's only attitude displayed by the character, showing it rather than telling it might garner enough interest for a reader to continue. No doubt there are readers who enjoy a good, in-your-face, I-don't-care-about-you opening, and if that is the group you're writing to, it should be a great success.
     
  9. fjm3eyes

    fjm3eyes Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2018
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    24
    Fairy tales?
     
  10. Ohmo

    Ohmo Banned

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Near St Louis, MO
    That could be the place for it. I must admit I've not read all the fairy tales, but for the life of me, I cannot think of one I have read that didn't have characters important to the story. To which Fairy Tales are you referring?

    Please. Don't misunderstand the reason for my thoughts or questions. I'm not trying to say the character shouldn't be presented as that first line does it, or that it's wrong to do it that way. I am suggesting that the readership for a story that minimizes all the characters might be much smaller than anticipated. But, try it out. Write the story to see what happens.
     
  11. fjm3eyes

    fjm3eyes Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2018
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    24
    This is a short summary of the character, who is known as The Storyteller. He is a private person, He is delusional. He believes himself a killer, but hasn't killed anyone. His was confined to a mental asylum.
     
  12. fjm3eyes

    fjm3eyes Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2018
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    24
    I am considering further developing my character who says these words into a story of his own. The character is identified as The Storyteller. The first line will be, I used to live in a mental asylum. The story will be written in first person.
     
  13. SnapWrex1

    SnapWrex1 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2018
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    20
    This kind of story might work as a psychological thriller, I am not sure how much it will appeal to the audience (delusional person who thinks they're a killer living in an asylum is difficult to make sympathetic and compelling). Has your character got a backstory? If you want, you could make him not talk about himself in his inner monologues, but reveal his character and story through the people and events he interacts with - maybe their psycholoanalyst or a more lucid inmate can provide their backstory.
     
  14. IowaLez

    IowaLez New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2018
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    South Central Iowa
    I like that for your beginning. I'm a voracious reader and I'm hooked. Telling me I don't need to know something is like waving a red flag at a bull and makes me *have* to find out what that is. It's very Tyler Durden and Fight Club style, which I really dig. I enjoy first person narration a lot, too, and multiple first person POVs isn't a turn-off for me. At least, not if the craftsmanship of the actual content is good.

    I like it. Maybe I'm a cuckoo, too, but exploring that kind of off-kilter head-space and a little suspension of belief in reality can be a pretty cool lens to peer through. You did use the past tense, "was", so I presume he's telling the reader about something that happened in the past, after being released? I'm not into stuff produced for "the masses", I prefer some individual intellectual appeal in what I consume. I say go for it and see how it pans out. Different is good. Yes, it may limit your audience, but it's your story and people will either like it or not, no matter what.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice