I need some advice on character building, even if I know a general answer already.

[LifeContinuesOn]

I say the general answer is 'practice makes perfect' sort of deal but I would like some tips to help me along if you all have any you're open to share.

So, I'm super imaginative, and can have conversations between characters in my head well, but when I put it to paper I feel like I'm not describing it accurately (sort of like missing how to describe smaller details, like facial expressions). I think it's to do with point of view changes, like I'm writing in first person, but all interaction I imagine are in third person omniscient (Due to being the writer).

I suppose what I'm asking is how I can make my characters react realistically and not dramatically, in my head they sort of act in a dramatized way like a play, which when put to paper (or typing) It's like a script. Antagonist frowns; Paces around the MC; "Speaks something cliché and monologue esqe"; Mocks protagonist; etcetera, etcetera.
I write like I'm doing a review paper, rather than an fantasy adventure.
If you want more examples of my writing, you can check it out, but I've pretty much dropped everything since writing feels like a chore when trying to make relatable characters.
If any of you have help with this like organization or randomized chaos to get me out of this loop, it would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT (Seconds after posting this): I know I'm not explaining this well, but I also don't know how to share what I'm thinking properly.

 

[ArchlordZero]

Try playing visual novels, or any dialogue-heavy RPGs like Final Fantasy VII or Honkai Star Rail (Not Genshin Impact because half of their dialogues are honorifics and greetings). You can also read light novels that are dialogue heavy. You can also try Rick Riordan's novels since he's a good scriptwriter (at least for me lol)

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Seem like you need help in writing a dialogue rather than making a character. Maybe this guide can help you?

Writing - [Tutorial] The Secret to Proper Paragraphing and Dialogue

Want to Know the Biggest Secret in the Fiction Writing Industry? It's not the Plotting they use, the Characters, the Theme, the Settings, or anything else like that. It's the Sentence Structure. DISCLAIMER: This is how I was taught to structure dialogue for publication purposes -- by my...

forum.scribblehub.com

 

[Tempokai]

ChatGPT:

Spoiler

Ah, the age-old struggle of a writer trying to capture the vivid images in their head and transfer them to paper! Our dear forum member, LifeContinuesOn, seeks advice on character building, but it seems their characters have a flair for the dramatics, turning their story into a Shakespearean play rather than a fantasy adventure. Fear not, for I, the all-knowing sardonic narrator, am here to enlighten you with some "helpful" tips.

Oh, LifeContinuesOn, you've come to the right place! It's quite amusing to witness your inner theatrical spectacle clash with the mundane reality of character portrayal. So, you want to make your characters react realistically instead of dramatically? It's like taming wild horses, but fear not, brave writer, for I shall offer you a glimpse of wisdom.

First and foremost, let's address the issue of point of view confusion. Ah, the classic first-person omniscient dilemma! How delightful! To rectify this, you must make a choice, my dear writer. Are you a benevolent deity, peering into the minds of your characters? Or are you a mere mortal, confined to the thoughts of a single protagonist? Choose wisely, for straddling both worlds will lead to literary chaos!

Now, onto your characters' theatrics. It appears that your villains and heroes have taken a crash course in dramatic arts and are vying for their chance to grace the grand stage! Bravo! But alas, a fantasy adventure requires more than just soliloquies and melodrama. Your characters must breathe, they must live! Imagine them as real people—yes, with hopes, dreams, and petty grievances, just like you and me. Let them react naturally, not like Shakespearean puppets.

Ah, but wait! You write as if composing a review paper, offering cold, detached analyses instead of embarking on a fantastical escapade. My dear writer, you must let go of your academic chains and embrace the wild chaos of creativity. Immerse yourself in the world you wish to build, for in that chaos lies the beauty of storytelling!

Now, if sharing your thoughts is as elusive as a unicorn, fear not! Embrace the enigmatic artist within you. After all, what fun is there in straightforward explanations? Your readers shall marvel at your ability to keep them guessing, wondering what mysterious wonders lie within the labyrinth of your mind.

But remember, dear LifeContinuesOn, writing is no easy task. It's a dance between the ethereal and the mundane, a delicate balance that only time and practice can hone. So, heed my sardonic words, embrace the chaos, and embark on your literary adventure. May your characters find their footing on the shifting sands of your imagination, and may you, the writer, find solace in the ever-elusive art of storytelling!

I agree with AI here, and if you want to take writing seriously, go to the IRL amateur writer's cirle and learn there

 

[Succubiome]

I mean, that sounds like something you could absolutely lean into? For example, you could make something about theater, or theater kids, or set in an inherently dramatic world.

But: if you want to get better at writing parts of the conversation without words, I'd suggest trying to write a conversation without any dialogue. Just have the people interacting, but for whatever reason, the reader doesn't get to see their words. This will, theoretically, make you focus more on how to do nonverbal communication.

Also: watch modern TV shows with the sound off, and just watch how people interact. Talk shows, sitcoms, whatever... interaction on most modern shows isn't super stylized, so you can get a better idea of "normal".

 

[Bartun]

I've had the same struggle for so long. I guess it all comes to practice.

But I've learned a few tips that might help you. I've heard many people say that characters should be consistent and not be "out-of-character", like "This is something X would never do". But I disagree. I think characters being out-of-character is completely normal and they should be out-of-character when things get serious, like deadly serious.

For example, my MC Nina is a polite, well-mannered, and well-behaved girl trying to act all proper most of the time but when push comes to shove she swears a lot and does and says things she wouldn't normally. This is her not being "out-of-character" but rather showing her true character, a side of her that's only evident in life-or-death situations.

I think characters "acting as if they were in a play" are like that precisely because they constantly show just one side. For example, the "tough guy" being always tough becomes a stereotype if their entire personality is just "being tough". Characters should have multiple layers like real people, one for the public, one for in private, another one that they only show to a specific person, etc. Imagine the same "tough guy" pulling the new kid away just briefly and giving him some advice. It says a lot. Maybe the "tough guy" is more insightful than we thought, or even confiding to an older colleague "that was close". Maybe he does trust others after all.

Hope this helps you. Carry on!