writoids: how do you write a character? when, how and why would you write a complex character and when would you write a simplified one?

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box check/bio Que sera, sera 9mo ago #5990239 Edited 9mo ago

You should :marseynorm: watch :marseyoperasmug: LocalScriptMan on YouTube :marseymetokur: fren :derpthumbsup:

But tbh you're looking :marseyopera: at it backwards. One-off characters can become pivotal like Jesse, Mike, and Saul from Breaking :marseysaulgoodman: Bad. While a simple :marseysmug4: character :marseypinocchio2: might work for a children's story, you want as much depth and nuance as possible. Layered, often contradictory motivations. Inject :marseymaidchingchong: lots of subtext in dialogue and how they behave. Test the limits of their skills and beliefs.

Make a dilemma--force your character :marseymononoke: to adapt/get help at risk of dying :marseycutwrist: or losing :marseygambling: it all. For some people that's the point. It's fun to see how far someone pushes their luck before :marseyskellington: getting put in the ground.

Flat characters can maybe work (Geralt, Saitama, James :marseymetokur: Bond) but unless you've got a truly stellar cast they're :marseysleep: imo

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Szechenyi trans/lajta O brave new world! How beauteous mankind is! box 9mo ago #5990358

>Geralt

:marseygeralt: is not boring, I think, he's like a 90s action anti hero that's secretly a big softie

Else, I think you are right that more complex characters are generally better, all other things being equal. However time in a story is at a premium and sometimes it's not possible to express all of a side character. If that's the case, why spend too much time developing a character that is ultimately a bit player? I once heard a guy say that writing is like engineering, everything that is superfluous should be removed.

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box check/bio Que sera, sera Szechenyi 9mo ago #5990403

niqqa I said

>unless you've got a truly stellar cast

that's why he's the exception :marseyeyeroll:

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Szechenyi trans/lajta O brave new world! How beauteous mankind is! box 9mo ago #5990407

but I don't think he's flat

maybe my ESL is just tripping me up? I should sleep...

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box check/bio Que sera, sera Szechenyi 9mo ago #5990426

Found 54 Coins!

eh he's pretty :marseyglam: flat. it's not like he gives up being a witcher, he doesn't have any big transformative moments despite :marseybipocattentionseeker: literally :marseyme: dying. :marseygeralt: at the beginning and at the end are the same person :marseypennyboo: for all intensive purposes