Characters. They are so important in a book. Without them, you would have no story, you would have no one to love or to hate. But what makes a character a good character?
To me, a character has to be above all, well-developed. He/she has to feel real to me. It doesn't matter whether the character is a villain or a hero. What's most important is that the character has to be realistic. The plot of the book can be really good, but at times, when the character isn't real to me, I just find myself unable to enjoy the book.
I don't know, but characters give the book life, don't they? They are the ones that make you wish the whole book was real, that you could actually be there with them. Or is that just me? I don't know, but I've found myself wishing I was in the book, so I could talk to the characters. I know my dreams have plenty of that! There's just something about it, don't you think? That the characters can be so real that you wish they were real people? And I'm not just referring to heroes/heroines. I love villains too. If anything, they are the most important to be written well. To be a good villain isn't easy. The reader must be able to hate the villain and can actually cheer along when the villain is defeated. Of course, if the author decides to make the character turn over a new leaf, then the villain must be seen to have some kind of hope to change!
And of course, hot guys in books just make the book that much more interesting. Well, me being weird, I like my hot guy to be a kind of a douche and a jerk! But he must turn over a new leaf and be changed by love! Ok that sounds stupid, but really I like that! Which is actually what happens in all of my favorite Harlequins.
As for the heroine, I somehow never end up loving her as much as the hero. I have no idea why too. Maybe its because its just so difficult to find a heroine that lives up to all my expectations. But I have found some. Mostly in JM's books. Johanna Lindsey too. I'm not gonna get into that whole fangirl mode over them! Not today... :P
So that brings me to the end of today's post! Once again, I would like to thank everyone for the comments for my 'B' post. I'll reply to comments another time, not tonight, I really need to sleep. I think you can probably tell, this post is full of incoherent sentences.
Yep, leave a comment and tell me what you think about characters! What do you hate/love about them?
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27 comments:
For me, I like characters that keep me guessing to some degree. Examples, that comes to mind is Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series. Lisbeth Salander, in the Dragon Tattoo series, and Harry Hole in Jo Nesbo's books.
In romances, I enjoy the heroes too. I think it's because I'm somehow vicariously living through the eyes of the heroine and loving the hero that way. When hot guys are douches, it makes them more of a challenge, which works in fiction. I don't think I'd put up with it in real life though :)
I love characters, too! I always say a good story starts with good characters. http://1000wrongs.blogspot.com
I love good characters that we can imagine being real. Good post.
I'm enchanted by your blog design. Love the premise as well. I love it when characters feel like friends. Waving to you from my position in the high 600's on the A to Z list.
I love characters that I can relate to and become real to me as I read the story. I love it when it feels as if I have entered into their world as soon as I open the book. Visiting from the A-Z challenge.
I prefer character-driven stories to plot-driven stories...
Characters with depth make the story "come alive"...
Wonderful post on Characters. I happen to agree with you and I spend a good deal of time developing my characters usually starting with their zodiac sign that will give me their strengths and weaknesses - then their tree sign and a few other things. Love to develop characters and name them.
I'll be watching your very attractive blog!
Billie
I agree with what someone else said: your blog is lovely! Great design!
I like flawed characters, where we don't automatically LOVE them because they're so wonderful and nice.
Very interesting article, I have to enjoy the characters of a book to continue reading it.
Stopping by via the A - Z Challenge, I've added you via GFC, liked your FaceBook.
Feel free to visit me at
http://www.scatteredmusings.net/2012/04/buying-car/
The best books are ones where the author can make the characters live inside my head. Do that, and I'll buy your books!
I am trying to read all the A to Z blogs, but coming back to the ones I really like.
Looking forward to seeing what you do all month!
Tim
The Other Side
The Freedom of Nonbelief
Very interesting post!
I agree with you-well drawn characters,ones you could imagine being real and who bring the story to life are what really make a good story. I think that's true whatever genre you like to read. I read mostly mystery/suspense type novels,but I find the characters to be as important in those type of books as well.
Characters are the most important parts of the stories for me too. Probably why I write romance :)
@Dee: Yeah, there's just something real mysterious about them, don't you think? I love Snape too! I haven't read the others though, so I really don't know:)
@lisavoisin: Ahh you just said the exact words on my heart! Douches + hot guys in books = amazing. In real life, no way! Sigh, and the actions of the heroine do affect me a lot! It's like female pride:P
@Laurisa: That's really true! Without characters, you can't have a good story!
@Diligent Writer: I like to imagine they're real and really living in this world:) Thanks!
@Leslie: Aww, thanks! I didn't design it though, I got the template from somewhere! I loved it when I first saw it:) I know, when I was younger, I used to pretend they existed and I would talk to them:)
@Kathy: I know! That's really important to me! I've read books that I haven't really enjoyed even though the plot was good because of the characters! They were just too unreal for me!
@michelle: That is entirely true!
@Word Crafter: Wow, that's really something! I honestly have hardly ever thought about how much work goes into writing a book. Keep up the amazing job! :D Thanks Billie:)
@TL: Aww thanks! I know, you just slowly fall in love with them:) And because of my character, I just wish I can help them somehow, to love them. It gives me an additional emotional involvement in the story! And flawed characters are so much more real.
@Debbie: Thanks! :D I won't stop reading the book, but I just won't enjoy it!
@Timothy: Yep, that's really true! Haha a bit of ego-ness here, but I hope my blog is one of them:P Thanks for visiting in any case! :D
@michele659: Thanks! Yeah, that's true! Without good characters, the storyline just can't flow well!
@Jemi: And that's why you rock:) Hehe romance characters are the nicest to read about! I mean, the story is about them after all!
So once again, thanks for visiting my blog and for leaving all these wonderful comments! It really means a lot:) omg is that the time? I'm late for church! :o Good Friday Service! Oh no, I better go! See you guys later! I still have my 'E' and my 'F' post! :D
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