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Keep to being IC |
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The Problem: Why is it that a goodie-two-shoes character like Ash Ketchum (Pokemon anime) seems to have gone berserk in one fanfiction and started killing all the other characters for no apparent or later explained reason? How can Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter series) suddenly fall head over heels for Hermione Granger after just seeing her as she gazed at the moon longingly one night? What is it that could possibly have made Nami (One Piece manga) into a coy, shy girl while Sanji mightily protects her from a monster whom Luffy couldn't even defeat?--Why? Why does this happen? For as long as I have been reading fanfiction it has come to my attention that some people apparently do not know their characters well enough to stick true to them. Either that, or they did it on purpose. *shudders* But the truth is a good fanfiction will do its best to keep each and every one of its character IC. What is IC? IC simply stands for remaining 'in character,' a task that seems too difficult for some to carry out. No matter what kind of story you are writing you should always know that making a character OOC (out of character) is not very appealing to others who do not share your love for changing characters, which tend to be the majority of readers. Some people still seem to find it hard to stay IC, however, but this problem can be fixed! The Solution: Though remaining true to the characters may seem impossible at times--the situations you place the characters in may be totally different than any they have so far experienced in the particular series you are working with--it is not always the case that you must completely revamp a true character. Mainly the biggest thing you should focus on is what type of character you are dealing with. Is your character normally cool and collected? Or is it a sloppy yet lovable character? Maybe he's the silent, lonely type or the brazen, uninhibited hero? Villains are villains but what is their purpose? What is your character's job or family like? Just noticing small things can make a big deal with staying IC through your entire fic. How they generally react in the real deal should reflect how they act in your story, though variations are always welcome because, like real people, characters are complex. If your main problem seems to be an inability to "see" in your mind's eye how a character would react to a certain event, don't just write what first comes to mind. Ask another friend with good knowledge of the series and find out how they picture the character reacting. If an author or website adds a small biography on the character they will sometimes add in small insights to the character's personality you may have missed and also provide small details that can come in handy while considering small-talk between characters. Characters react differently with different characters, like how Snape and Harry (Harry Potter) are always at each other's throats or how Daisuke (D.N.Angel) can never seem to bring himself to be completely honest with his feelings when it comes to the twin Haradas. All in all, just try to keep to how you know the characters react. Though some characters can be mysterious in the actual books/movies/etc. that they are seen in, you should not totally over-dramatize their attitudes simply to please your own fantasies. You need to consider your audience and the characters themselves first before adding your own touches to fill in the gaps. |