Heya Guys, I'm finally back. Sorry I haven't been posting much, pretty sure you all loves Amanda right now and think I'm THE GHOST OF TBBT *le gasp* - but that's because Geometry and Chemistry have it out for my soul.
Sorry.
Note: This is called Part 1 because at some point, Amanda will be doing her point of view at some point.
Anyway, off to our subject today!
How to make a Non Cliche Protagonist!
Come on guys, you know what I'm talking about. They're everywhere! On the library bookshelves, on your old stories on your computer, in the books that are being sent out right now, in your sock drawer (yes, one lives there. It can be guaranteed. I've had to designate a new secret sock drawer because the one that lives in mine has your a-typical fiery personality. Taken to a literal level.)
So, first off...
What is a Cliche Protagonist? (And Why do I NOT Want One?)
They're the ones that are described as pretty, fiery, sarcastic, witty, defiant (standard for girls) and for guys, honorable, handsome, heroism inclined, sarcastic, funny.
Generally, anything that can be defined as 'fiery' is about the biggest cliche.
For bad traits, whiny is one you see about ten times over - it's the bad trait authors love using because it can be gotten rid of easily and can totally make up for the fact your character has ten super powers. (Thanks, Manda for the bit of help in order to articulate this. :D)
(Newsflash: Sorry, it doesn't. I've got one of those overpowered characters, so I LOVE overpowered characters... but I nearly had to make my character totally unlikeable in order to make up for it.)
In other words guys, it's the character personality set up you see over and over again.
In other words guys, it's the character personality set up you see over and over again.
Actually, there's a subset to the Cliche protagonist.
The 'Perfect Protagonist'. There's an official term for that in Fanfiction - Mary Sue. (Yeah, some of you might despise it, but in this, Fanfiction has a very, very, very good point.)
"A female character who is so perfect that she is annoying. The name originated in a very short Star Trek story that mocked the sort of female characters who showed up in fanfiction. It usually refers to original female characters put into fanfiction, but can refer to any character.
Mary-Sues are character who are usually extraordinarily gorgeous, amazingly talented, unusually powerful, and exceedingly attractive to whoever the author has a crush on. They often possess ridiculously fancy and pretentious first names -- Angel, Raven, Jewel, Lorelei, Bianca, Julia, Marizza, Snape -- and are very, very annoying.
Mary-Sue is often abbreviated to 'Sue.' The male equivalent is either Marty-Stu or Gary-Stu."
"A female character who is so perfect that she is annoying. The name originated in a very short Star Trek story that mocked the sort of female characters who showed up in fanfiction. It usually refers to original female characters put into fanfiction, but can refer to any character.
Mary-Sues are character who are usually extraordinarily gorgeous, amazingly talented, unusually powerful, and exceedingly attractive to whoever the author has a crush on. They often possess ridiculously fancy and pretentious first names -- Angel, Raven, Jewel, Lorelei, Bianca, Julia, Marizza, Snape -- and are very, very annoying.
Mary-Sue is often abbreviated to 'Sue.' The male equivalent is either Marty-Stu or Gary-Stu."
Guys, that isn't limited to fan fiction. Trust me. My original character and main protagonist of my story was a Mary Sue. It takes time. It takes obssessing. It takes fixing.
But we'll have a post on fixing the already Mary Sue/Cliche character later. (We will also have a post on not overreacting to Mary Sues. Again, people have a habit of getting obsessive about perfect characters and panic about them all the time.) This post is how to start a character without either of those tendencies.
Why do want a non-cliche protagonist?
Well, first of all, it won't induce eye rolling. And secondly, it will make your character infinitely more sympathetic and empathetic to the reader. They'll want to know what happens to this character. They will worry for them. They will cheer for them.
Why do want a non-cliche protagonist?
Well, first of all, it won't induce eye rolling. And secondly, it will make your character infinitely more sympathetic and empathetic to the reader. They'll want to know what happens to this character. They will worry for them. They will cheer for them.
Step 1: Choosing Traits
It's all about the personality traits that you choose. Mostly, this is just about starting the character off - some traits won't stick as the Character moves out of it's baby stage and finally begins to take on other aspects that you didn't choose originally.
And that's just fine, seriously! If that begins happening guys, cheer. Loudly. But be warned - at that point, that Character will (Possibly) begin to take over your every waking thought.
Moving on.
How do you choose traits? Specifically, non cliche/non perfect traits?
Well, I ultimately prefer looking at the people around you. Look at yourself.
The more familiar you are with a trait, the better you will be able to write it. It's also a good idea to go check out Myers-Briggs Personality profiles - and choose one that fits your character. Or even choose from that as a starting point!
Anyway, because everyone is different, then that means for the most part, everyone has a slightly different combination of traits.
In other words - for the most part, People aren't Cliche. So it's a safe bet to model a character of a person or two. Choose the traits that give you pause and make you say "really?"
Challenge: Choose a trait or two that drives you up the wall. Chances are, it'll make a pretty good character trait.
Step 2: Appearance
For the love of all that is wonderful and holy, DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY MAKE YOUR CHARACTER DROOL WORTHY. No, they don't have to be ugly as sin - though if you did that, kudos to you if you can pull it off - but average is good.
At this point, I've seen so many beautiful Female main characters that even describing a main character as 'pretty' makes me want to rip their head off.
Also - going with the idea that someone can be 'too thin' is also a bad idea. Incase you have not noticed, in today's society - unless you have a major case of bones-showing anorexia - there is no such thing as too thin. (Which is really unfortunate - but I won't start ranting.)
You're more likely to connect with the readers if you make them a bit on the heftier side and giving them an average set of facial features.
If your really lost on how to do this, I advise look up a picture of people on the street, and try to describe someone. And of course, a character's appearance can change as time moves on.
Hint, guys, just as a major shout out: Nothing is set in stone! Or print, for that matter. (Yet. :) )
Step 3: Choosing Gifts
People like to go overboard with this. In the desperation to make a character special, people give their characters quite the array of gifts.
Here's a short list, so you know what I'm talking about -
- Super Brilliance/Genius
- Control over Fire/Water/Earth/Air
- Talking to Animals
- Healing
- Anything that qualifies as BA-ssery
- Mastery over a Weapon
- Physic/Telekinesis
- Turning into an Animal of some sort
Look guys, giving a character one of those traits won't automatically make them cliche - I'm guilty of two of them - but you have to work really really hard to make them not cliche after this. And there's the bonus of having to put a spin on it, which can be more difficult than coming up with an entirely new gift in the first place. (Not counting Werewolves or Vampires. That's an entire genre unto itself at this point.)
Besides, it's always a fun surprise when you realize that the character's ability is something you haven't seen before or don't see often.
How do you come up with such a thing?
Well - look at the world around you, and always be thinking 'What if'. It'll come.
Step 4: Obsess.
Guys, at this point, you've got the basics. The rest of it is you obsessing and thinking about the character on a fairly consistent basis. Characters will evolve on their own and become their own person - but it takes thought and writing and time.
Lots and lots and lots of time.
I know this isn't the perfect set of guidelines, it's not even a strict set of guidelines. It's vague. And you probably want to dig a hole and bury me ALIVE for not giving you strict rules.
I ask you to remember one thing, though - This is fiction. There's guidelines, but there's no die hard rules. If there was, then it wouldn't be terribly interesting, would it? :)
-Margaret Vinshire
See Also: How to Make a Non-Cliche Antagonist
I agree that its probably way too easy to make a girl cliche and I have my theory on that, at least when it comes to pleasure writing such as fanfiction or the like:
ReplyDeleteArt imitates life. And when your writing about your fave character in a book, or who you want to be, it turns into art imitates what you want your life to be.
When people start writing about all the perfects, they tend to forget about the flaws. If you are writing a girlfriend for your fanfiction, you probably feel they deserve the best, that means you have the best hair, the best bod, the best grades, you name it.
If you are writing a supernatural romance, you don't want to be weird, so you try to write your character as the kickass superstar you would want to be.
The problem is, these aren't real people. Everyone is bad at something, usually, they're bad at a lot of things. That doesn't mean they aren't good at something though. Everyone has conflicts, both big and little, internal and external, on a daily basis. If you just gloss over them, you start falling into the "Barbie-Doll Effect". The Barbie Doll Effect is pretty much what it sounds like. Barbie is pretty, she's smart, she's rich, she's talented, she's happy, and so on, and so on. Sure, it would be wonderful to be Barbie, but it's not possible. Sometimes you have to step back and go, "Yeah, but what's making my character act this way? Why is she upset? How did she grow up?" Never just assume anything.
Also, my rule with the supernatural. Make it something, but don't make it everything. You're a vampire? Cool, now don't make the story about how you're a vampire, make a story where you are a vampire. Think about the great supernatural stories you've read, Percy Jackson? Fighting a war to protect his friends and home. Harry Potter? Navigating politics, coming of age, and the idea of good vs. evil. Sure they are supernatural beings, but they aren't focused on being supernatural. If that makes sense.
From my writing experience, here are a few exercises to try and avoid some of the bigger cliches:
Write a complete list of details of your character. Now, write out a description of yourself, including what you think about yourself. Notice how there are probably more cons than pros? This is how you see yourself, and this is how your character would see herself. Try to think up things that your character would be self conscious about as well.
Write a story where the main character has no powers. Now write the same story with powers. Does the outcome change? How are the stakes different? Would your friendships change. Keep these in mind as you write it one more time, this time, try to take elements from both stories
And lastly, (believe me this is a big one), even if it is a romance novel, does your character function as a human being if they are not in a relationship, or trying to be in one. Completely erase their companion and write a story just for them. If the character suddenly seems one dimensional, fix it. Expand upon it. Take any part of your story, even if they are deep in the relationship plot, and remove the love interest. What situation is your character in. If they were to go home, what would they do? It's really important to remember your character is more than a girlfriend.
(Please keep in mind these are all hypotheticals, I'm not saying that every person writes like this or that a character can't possess one or more of these traits, I am just pointing out what I've observed--and done in the past before I became self aware--and in no way reflect one specific person)