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When I was a kid, I found people frustrating. They were all so different, and so unpredictable. I liked working with things--scissors, paper, pens, pencils, paints, needle and thread, and so on. With things, getting the results I wanted might be possible or impossible, but the reason was simple--either I hadn't figured out how to make it work or those materials just wouldn't do what I wanted to do.
People, on the other hand--people could do just about anything for just about any reason!
I was really rather astonished when I realized that was exactly the reason that I loved anthropology classes in college--people do the most amazing things, and one person's reason for doing a thing is often quite different from another person's reason for doing the same thing. Once you get past the basic universal needs (things like food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and respect), people are much more different than I imagined when I was little.
That's what makes them interesting, and that is why I think characters are the center of every story.
What makes a "strong character"? In my opinion, it's showing enough of the universals that many readers can empathize with that character while also showing the important things that make that person unique.
One of the ways I celebrate the fascinating and delightful (and sometimes - still - frustrating) diversity I see in the people of this world is to write about a variety of characters in my fiction.
I love comments so I'll leave you with a question: What are some of your favorite examples of diversity in my fiction and in the works of other writers?
P.S. C is also for counting and making sure you're counted. I was voter #77 in my ward and #101 in our 2-ward polling place.
P.P.S.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ysabetwordsmith, who created some of my favorite characters, has not yet closed her Poetry Fishbowl. You could stop by and leave her some prompts, if you hurry: http://ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com/2253447.html Go ahead and hop over. You can visit her and then come back here to share your favorite characters with me later. I'll wait.
People, on the other hand--people could do just about anything for just about any reason!
I was really rather astonished when I realized that was exactly the reason that I loved anthropology classes in college--people do the most amazing things, and one person's reason for doing a thing is often quite different from another person's reason for doing the same thing. Once you get past the basic universal needs (things like food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and respect), people are much more different than I imagined when I was little.
That's what makes them interesting, and that is why I think characters are the center of every story.
What makes a "strong character"? In my opinion, it's showing enough of the universals that many readers can empathize with that character while also showing the important things that make that person unique.
One of the ways I celebrate the fascinating and delightful (and sometimes - still - frustrating) diversity I see in the people of this world is to write about a variety of characters in my fiction.
I love comments so I'll leave you with a question: What are some of your favorite examples of diversity in my fiction and in the works of other writers?
P.S. C is also for counting and making sure you're counted. I was voter #77 in my ward and #101 in our 2-ward polling place.
P.P.S.
ysabetwordsmith, who created some of my favorite characters, has not yet closed her Poetry Fishbowl. You could stop by and leave her some prompts, if you hurry: http://ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com/2253447.html Go ahead and hop over. You can visit her and then come back here to share your favorite characters with me later. I'll wait.