tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post8458100365588559485..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Stupid Characters vs. Stupid Decisions: They're Not the SameGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-36758801261716350152012-12-26T06:14:56.685-08:002012-12-26T06:14:56.685-08:00It's true that stupid decisions often help to ...It's true that stupid decisions often help to shape the story. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Al!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-80684970698993094242012-12-26T06:14:16.185-08:002012-12-26T06:14:16.185-08:00Glad to help, Andi! It can be easy to forget that ...Glad to help, Andi! It can be easy to forget that the choices that <i>we</i> would make aren't necessarily equivalent with the choices that our character would make. Sometimes they do things we completely disagree with (or think are incredibly unintelligent), and that's certainly not a bad thing. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-80699395830551673602012-12-25T05:36:19.093-08:002012-12-25T05:36:19.093-08:00When I was young and I asked my mother was certain...When I was young and I asked my mother was certain character in a movie or book had to do such an stupid thing she would answer me: "Because otherwise there wouldn't be a story".Al Diaznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-54689525077752512602012-12-24T11:58:19.424-08:002012-12-24T11:58:19.424-08:00You may have just changed the course of my WIP wit...You may have just changed the course of my WIP with this post! I have been going back-n-forth over a decision my protagonist must make, & which makes more sense. I was only considering, however, what makes most sense to me, in general --- not what makes most sense to HIM. And he is about to make a stupid decision now, thanks to you! To be fair to my guy, I should point out that in his POV, it's the lesser of two evils. But still. Point taken, Ava --- thanks!Andi-Roohttp://www.theworld4realz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-74612545311740212952012-12-23T11:24:04.581-08:002012-12-23T11:24:04.581-08:00Glad you enjoyed the post, Lyn! Making mistakes (e...Glad you enjoyed the post, Lyn! Making mistakes (even stupid ones) is inevitable, and it should be no different for our characters. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-29392484470921971312012-12-23T10:55:47.991-08:002012-12-23T10:55:47.991-08:00Thanks, Margaret! I completely agree about having ...Thanks, Margaret! I completely agree about having to let your characters make mistakes. We often want our protagonists and other well-liked characters to make all the right decisions because we love them so much, but if they never make mistakes, they'll not only seem unrealistic, but you'll miss out on huge opportunities for interesting plot and character growth. Even the stupid mistakes can make great learning lessons, or be necessary decisions to the character.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-75879008448981649242012-12-23T07:25:32.384-08:002012-12-23T07:25:32.384-08:00I couldn't agree more! Making stupid mistakes ...I couldn't agree more! Making stupid mistakes is the sign of a hero. It's just like life: if you're doing it right, you look silly, crazy, and downright stupid sometimes. But not being stupid simply means not doing anything, especially if you're the hero of the story. Thanks, Ava. I needed some of that OCD spirit of yours. :DLyn Midnighthttp://lynmidnight.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-71120944789141683162012-12-21T18:25:24.023-08:002012-12-21T18:25:24.023-08:00This is an awesome post, Ava :) I think a lot of c...This is an awesome post, Ava :) I think a lot of critics tend to jump on wrong decisions that characters make as traits of "stupidity." Often, though, they have to make those mistakes in order to learn from them and grow. It's important to see the difference between those, as you said, because if you're afraid to let your characters make mistakes, that will likely make your story less interesting.Margaret Alexanderhttp://twitter.com/markedforpowernoreply@blogger.com