reusing characters

[Datal0g]

I'm just wondering - what's the general opinion on reusing characters? I'm wondering because I'm not really getting anywhere with my current story (partly due to time constraints, partly due to lack of creativity and personal dissatisfaction) and I'm thinking of maybe starting another/new story that goes more in the direction I had originally planned in my head...but I'd like to reuse 2-3 characters for that...especially when it comes to first names/looks/character traits.

I know this has been done quite obviously in Fairy Tail & Eden Zero among others...so it doesn't seem like a total no go.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Go ahead and do it.

 

[beast_regards]

So ... you want to write the AU fan-fiction of your own story this time set in space and you are asking us if you can?

 

[Datal0g]

So ... you want to write the AU fan-fiction of your own story this time set in space and you are asking us if you can?

No. Eden Zero/Fairytail was just the first example in my head, where characters have been (obviously) reused.

But between the lines - the answer is: Just so whatever you like...it's your characters. :D

 

[beast_regards]

No. Eden Zero/Fairytail was just the first example in my head, where characters have been (obviously) reused.

But between the Linea - the answer is: Just so whatever you like...it's your characters. :D

But can we add the giant robots?

 

[Datal0g]

But can we add the giant robots?

There can never be enough giant robots.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Hope it is OK... about half the stuff I write takes place in a shared universe so the characters will run into each other every once in a while, thus "being reused"

 

[beast_regards]

There can never be enough giant robots.

Go for it!

 

[BearlyAlive]

Yeah, recycle them. They're yours to begin with.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

But can we add the giant robots?

Chicks dig giant robots.

 

[QuercusMalus]

Absolutely. I have created different stories featuring characters, or even monsters from another story before.

 

[LoneQuack]

I wouldn't really recommend dropping your original work in general. If you give up now, what is stopping you from dropping the next one when it starts going in a different direction again? And what if that keeps happening? Will you ever finish a story with that mindset?

Sorry for sounding a bit too forward with the way I phrased it, all I am trying to say is build disciple.

Really, to all the questions I listed, the answer is "it depends," because it simply does. Different people, different circumstances.

As for the reusing part, I personally wouldn't be a fan of reading the same character in a different book. Mostly because it shows lack of creativity. But again, this depends. It might just be the perfect role for that character and you have to put them there. Author's usually have their stories take place in the same verse and one cast member meets someone from another book, but the way you phrased it makes me think you are talking about taking them from story one and putting them in story two, without the two stories having a correlation. There two things are completely different, and should be handled accordingly.

 

[Datal0g]

I wouldn't really recommend dropping your original work in general.

If we're being really precise, I haven't said a single word about dropping my current story... it's just moving incredibly slowly and sometimes feels quite forced. But I get your point & the answer to all of your questions is (as you said) "it depends". It's also been two months since my last chapter & at the moment it feels like I need to revise the 1000 words I've written since then another 100 times.

Author's usually have their stories take place in the same verse and one cast member meets someone from another book, but the way you phrased it makes me think you are talking about taking them from story one and putting them in story two, without the two stories having a correlation.

In that case it would have been a completely different world with completely different NPCs etc. - but at the end of the day I could just change the hair colour slightly, change the names a bit & be done with it. It's probably partly because I just really like my MC.

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

Go for it. If Stephen King and Brandon Sanderson can do it, you can do it, too.

 

[WinterTimeCrime]

I literally have an eccentric, egotistical little girl in all of my novels. Didn't notice until one of my readers mentioned it.

I'm pretty sure she's dimension-hopping at this point.