Character Inconsistencies

[Kureous]

So, in my relatively short writing career(if I can call it that), I've had these moments when I'd catch myself writing a character inconsistently. I'd quickly correct those instances whenever they happened, but this one takes the cake. It's an oversimplification, but it was a scene about a bad guy giving a character powers to kill an enemy of his. Y'know, classic bad-guy stuff. The character agreed to it readily and even promised herself she would get the job done, and I went about my day happily until the post-writing clarity hit me with full force.

The problem with the scene was that the character had already been established as a kind of moral paragon. Everybody knew her as such, so her readily agreeing to such a deal and even promising herself that she would get the job done was terribly inconsistent. Did she not have reservations about the task? Wouldn't she at least try to argue against killing the individual in question? These and several other questions came to mind

That chapter will probably never see the light of day, and has something like this ever happened to you?

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Happened to me a lot, but you know how I do things. Editing and going over my work several times before I release it usually solves the inconsistencies.

But sometimes, I do write character inconsistencies to show the complicated nature of a mortal (or human) nature.

 

[Corty]

You can get away with it if you also have a chapter where the decision has an impact on the character. But it has to be used sparingly. I think most readers forgive that if it has consequences, but of course, it can't happen all the time.

 

[PancakesWitch]

I always make the excuse that people are never consistent and are always cosntantly changing how they are and how their personality is. They can say something today and never do it the next day. Even the most disciplined person will eventually change how they are. Contradicting oneself is nothing but the most humane thing.

 

[RepresentingDesire]

You can get away with it if you also have a chapter where the decision has an impact on the character. But it has to be used sparingly. I think most readers forgive that if it has consequences, but of course, it can't happen all the time.

Out of personal experience I would disagree, for a small inconsistency maybe but not for an extremely plot important part.
I think if it is dressed like in-character actions like a situation where a character doubts an aspect of themself or makes a fast decision because of circumstances which is followed up with the effect.

 

[ATRUNA]

Yes, happens to me, I know people change everyday, but sometimes I write them doing some stuff they would NEVER do.
Another reason why, before publishing, feedback from readers is important, a lot of times I've been corrected on stuff like this.

 

[Zagaroth]

I don't think I have done that.

It's possibly a result of more plot/outline-focused writing styles. Speculation: As a plot point it sounds good, and so you write it to the outline. Then you write up the scene later and find the inconsistency. (please, correct me if I am wrong here.)

I do discovery writing with very few major plot points that need to happen and a list of scenes/events that might want to happen. I set up a chapter with the characters and recent events, but how the characters act and react is usually focused on them first. This does mean that they screw up my already vague plans a lot, but that's why those ideas are kept vague until actually written down.

I've tossed entire scenarios without writing a word of them because they no longer worked at all.