How do you view your characters in your fiction?

[L1aei]

Like I'm roleplaying, I guess? Not that I am those characters, more like... I don't know. I put myself into their situation and envision how I would react or respond. Then I compare myself with them. Sometimes they'd have the same reaction. Other times? No. For example, if my hair was on fire, I'd be freaking out right away. But a B1 from Star Wars? It's gonna be malfunctioning first, then it's going to sense smoke and a heat signature far too close for comfort, and then we get the freakout.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

I put myself into their situation and envision how I would react or respond. Then I compare myself with them. Sometimes they'd have the same reaction.

that's literally writing by self insertion.

there was a hysterically funny meme went around another site I was on.
graphic novel, and the MC was on a four panel "rant" that was all posturing and aura farming.
Big jacked alpha male, chiseled features, AlphaMale Kirk Douglas jaw and chin
The MC was berating a mousy character, all 4 panels.
"Why is it every time I see a guy doing X? They're pathetic, like you?!?!"
and the big line at the end...
"Where's... your... chin...!!!"

but its a meme, so...
they also have a picture of *that* author, smiling, at a book store card table.
people are lined up, getting signed editions of his comic book (sorry, graphic novel)
and the meme-maker? hilariously drew an arrrow, and labeled it...
"this is the author of that comic"

arrow was pointing to the guy's chin.

poor author looks like he's 4'11", maybe 78 pounds soaking wet.
and his chin? oh lord, it looks like someone cut off his human jaw, and glued mouse testicles on for his "chin".

point being, it was so obvious that was his self insert power fantasy, it was unreal.
compare the girl in the 50 shades books/movies... to the author herself.

somehow to me, over the top fantasies come off as... unrealistic to me. I can't relate to the story.
that's why instead of "designing the character" in any of the traditional ways you read about,
I just use real life "character models"... and I *keep* their flaws.
for me, when I read it. It seems like its more realistic, I could "see" it happening more.
reading about a guy getting surrounded by 12 expert kung fu masters,
who (helpfully) only attack him one at a time so he can pick them off... doesn't do it for me.

and no, I have no idea what that says about me, as the author of that stuff.

its all just a weird way to "look" at a written work, I suppose.

 

[Empire145]

An Machiavellian-style officer. In fact, when it comes to a character, I first clarify what identity he should have, what role he will play, whether he should exist here, and why he is here. Then I think about his specific personality, hobbies, interpersonal relationships and so on

 

[MFontana]

I view my MC as someone i wanted to be, that i can't be in IRL.
My side characters however are like my children, proud at the chaos, love, and flaws each one have.


How about you?

They're people. All of them.
Yes, even the villains.
Some were even inspired by my friends and other people that I know.
So I can't really view them as anything else.

 

[InceTagn]

Writing apocalypses genre stories with characters inspired from myself feel like self torture somehow and writing romance and fantasy is some kind of wish fulfillment

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Oh wait... fiction? Uh... oops...

 

[Dawnathon]

I haven't written self inserts since I was a kid. I treat characters now like if the setting I'm writing has a history, and I'm giving a colorful retelling of it. Though I usually end up focusing more on the psychology of characters than a biography actually would. A lot of times, rather than making a character appear so deep and profound, it just shows they're really more shallow and petty than they'd ever actually admit to. It's intentional in my stories, but I don't mind if people notice it or not, as long as they enjoy it either way.

 

[DireBadger]

To me, the Characters are basically my roleplaying friends... only they are tied up, with duct tape around their mouths, and I get to DECIDE what their characters say and do! muahahaha! That will teach you to one-shot the scary lich with a lucky die roll!

 

[Escriba_Sombrio]

I'm emotionally detached from my characters.
I simply see them as people whose stories are worth telling.