Character Development: Tips · 5:15pm Jan 2nd, 2013
Note: Contains spoilers from 3OM: Tartarus and Everfree
So, here I was this morning, just thinking of this idea my friend Belgarion help implanted into my head to join the Chessverse. It was a really interesting concept the way I was going, but I began to think about the character and how to make the story interesting, or that I may not even write it... so here I am, helping you, my followers with this blog on Character Development, how to make them interesting and what not.
[I say it as I think it]
So, after you've done your Mary Sue test, etcetera etcetera, it's time for the story!
Here are some tips:
0) Give them reason.
1) One thing that we as the viewers love, love, LOVE is to watch our characters suffer. We love to see them suffer because, honestly, life is just so, and stories are about life, ya know? We love to see how characters react to something unique, something that can actually change their mental framework or their view on life... simple as that.
2) With other characters, they can't always be too friendly, unless you're Pinkie Pie, but even she too can be judgmental and opposing to some thoughts... yes, where I am getting at with this one, is to show different and sometimes contradicting traits to your character's personality. It shows that they can handle the situation, or can't, which later on, gives them the ability to charge straight through it, or just simply walk away.
3) Sometimes, you'd state somethings earlier, like their moral code and stuff... let them break at least one, ya know? Shows that life is a bitch and pushed them on edge. Show the people that even your character has a breaking point. We want to see see if the character is willing to break a few moral codes, just for that one thing they desire... or will they do what's right.
4) If your character is a mean, rough, tough, old pony, give him a nice flashback, or a background story. Like that I am going to do with Silent Charge [SPOILER!!!] Yes, Mr. Charge believed in the ways of friendship many years ago... well, until everypony in the Nature Village died due to a tragic accident and he had to break his back alongside Slender, who is actually the ___________(leaving that one out) and a renowned ______________(that one too) to help him bury every single member... even the deformed, badly ripped bodies of the children of that village.
(Yes, I am a sick bastard. I just love making some characters suffer, a lot. Some more than others. YOU HEAR THAT, GRAZE?! I AM COMING FOR YOU, YOU SON OF A BITCH! BUT NOTE THAT DADDY STILL LOVES YOU AND HE ALSO HAS GOOD THINGS IN PLAN... AFTER YOU SUFFER! ENDURE MOTHER FUCKER, ENDURE!)
^That one was just an example, but here is the real tip. Take a nice relaxing chapter, somewhere throughout the story where another character has the time to wonder about your main Character, or a reflection chapter. Background is important! Really, you can't just make someone mean for mean sake... well, something had to happen to explain them, ya know? Again, it's how they deal with the situation.
5) Put them in a different environment. Give them thoughts on other ponies cultures. Make them curious or make them just not bothered. Make the toughest guy goofy/ hilarious! Contradictions are sorta fun!
6) Being unexpected is fun and always keeps us on our toes. Just don't overdo it. Actually, just don't overdo anything for the matter of fact, unless it is your character from the very start to be unexpected. Moderatiooooooooon!
7) If your character is in a relationship... do not make it perfect. Life ain't so. Love ain't so. Everything ain't so. Perfect is just a word that limits us, no more space to further better ourselves.
8) And this always sort of works... what your character always wanted, really isn't what he expected at the end of the story. It's the journey that counts.
ANYWAYS, I have been talking for quite sometime, so I'd just be leaving this with you guys! Ciao for now!
Only you truly know your character.
Bonus: We also like to see the character at the beginning and at the end of the story, how they've changed throughout their journey.
thanks for the tips
50 chapters and I'm still not even done part 1/3 for Shadow Mark.....
CHARACTER FREAKING DEVELOPMENT FOLKS!
Dude, all of these rules (except for the mean and badass pony rule) are being followed in one of my stories! WOOO!!!
My boy Echo had an irradiated alicorn gore him though the eye socket with her horn. In chapter 2. Not to mention the mind rape given by said alicorn, and the trauma of multiple gunshots, burns, and falling down elevator shafts. I think he has receiving pain down to a science.
673936 Well then, the most interesting part of the character for now is to see the recovery.
673989 Who said anything about recovery? You can't just grow back eyeball, can you?
Well, Blackjack kinda started to...