tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post5656177126965190015..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Do Your Characters Fail Enough?Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-73256093781814850012012-08-24T07:24:25.249-07:002012-08-24T07:24:25.249-07:00Thanks, Steven! I think we all need to remind ours...Thanks, Steven! I think we all need to remind ourselves of tips like these along the way (including myself). And poor Faramir seemed like the perfect example for this. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-21021443197574770682012-08-23T14:28:25.206-07:002012-08-23T14:28:25.206-07:00Wonderful post! This is something that I knew but ...Wonderful post! This is something that I knew but I apparently needed a reminder of because when I sat down and thought about it, a lot of my characters don't fail enough! :) And nice example with poor Faramir. Looking forward to the next post!<br /><br /><br />Thanks as always,<br />Author Steven.Author Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-26090813945990803422012-08-23T06:13:43.013-07:002012-08-23T06:13:43.013-07:00Sure thing, Steph! I think the main problem with p...Sure thing, Steph! I think the main problem with perfect characters (besides being utterly boring to read about) is what you mentioned--the inability for readers to identify with them. We certainly aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and neither should our characters be.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-29927716824583360512012-08-23T05:33:41.456-07:002012-08-23T05:33:41.456-07:00Thanks for the post. I agree, making perfect chara...Thanks for the post. I agree, making perfect characters is like creating a fantasy that many people can't identify with, and I think fairy tales are for children, failing characters carry lessons for us, the ordinary human beings, and for me a good book must carry at least 1 life lesson, then I start reading it, thanks for sharing your tipd, at the moment I can't figure any example or tips to share.Steph (Tara Wills)http://twitter.com/Steph_TaraWillsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47494150243345407802012-08-22T15:23:09.167-07:002012-08-22T15:23:09.167-07:00Thanks, Dan! I have to agree--there's somethin...Thanks, Dan! I have to agree--there's something really admirable about characters (and people) who continue to push forward even when situations look particularly grim.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-63185831781873755812012-08-22T12:06:43.227-07:002012-08-22T12:06:43.227-07:00Love this. Characters can never fail enough for me...Love this. Characters can never fail enough for me. It makes the payoff so much more satisfying. The characters I love the most are the ones who just keep powering through adversity. Daniel Swensenhttp://www.surlymuse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-70990383184388078542012-08-22T10:07:59.991-07:002012-08-22T10:07:59.991-07:00No worries! :)No worries! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-33798428200478250302012-08-22T08:34:54.090-07:002012-08-22T08:34:54.090-07:00I will, maybe tomorrow somewhere. XD Still hasn...I will, maybe tomorrow somewhere. XD Still hasn't come to me yet. XDKyle van Rensburgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-19785456614483885502012-08-22T06:19:43.743-07:002012-08-22T06:19:43.743-07:00You make some really great points here: a) that it...You make some really great points here: a) that it makes the character more deserving and b) it's easier to connect with someone who makes mistakes. I agree entirely with both of those points--failures show that our characters are human and vulnerable (not superheroes that succeed at everything they do), which in turn makes them easier to connect to and it makes the reader more likely to cheer them on, even (and especially) when they continue to come across great difficulty. <br /><br /><br />Also, if you think of that example later, feel free to share it. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-61187226135465770942012-08-22T05:58:36.601-07:002012-08-22T05:58:36.601-07:00Yep, character failures are painful, but it makes ...Yep, character failures are painful, but it makes winning seem that much more deserved. My WIP is only 11 pages so far, but I am planning for my MC to go through a living hell pretty soon. XD<br /><br />For me, it makes a character seem much more deserving to win at the end of the day. People root for the underdog, as I hear, so that is probably why, and it makes it easier to connect with somebody who makes mistakes like an ordinary human being.<br /><br />I wanted to post my favourite example from fiction, but I simply can't think of any right now. XD After I post this I probably will. :PKyle van Rensburgnoreply@blogger.com