Thread: The Theory of Fictional Characters as Reflections of Writers’ Personalities.

I have a theory that a writer’s fundamental nature determines the voice he/she displays in their fiction writing; that if they are taciturn and reserved by nature, their writing will reflect this, if they are exuberant and boisterous by nature, their writing will reflect this, if they are sensuous and erotic by nature, their writing will reflect this, and so on.

Put another way, a person who takes life seriously could not successfully write about a character acting the fool, a person who habitually acts the fool could not successfully write about a serious character, a person who is highly-opinionated could not successfully write about a character of wishy-washy nature, and a wishy-washy person could not successfully write about an opinionated character.

And to wrap it all up, male writers cannot successfully portray female characters, nor female writers male characters.

What do you think?

to put it another way, writers can only write about what they know

but you've taken it too far regards the male and female characters

i think that's just horse shit

i disagree. i think that people can more easily create characters that they can relate too but that doesn't mean that they can't successfully create a story or character that is the opposite of their own life or personality.

through practiced empathy, we can all better understand people other than ourselves and then write about them. people who dont consciously make an effort to understand why other people do what they do, will probably just end up writing what comes naturally, their own personality traits.

Originally Posted by Sigg

people who dont consciously make an effort to understand why other people do what they do

Now that could be an entire Debate topic on its own.

Originally Posted by ash somers

i think that's just horse shit

Lotsa that around Melbun this time of year. My fav is Allez Wonder. The hoop has nice tits.

too true
i've put money each way on Alcopop
Shocking, Daffodil and Roman Emperor
i'm feeling lucky

and in your case, i probly should'a used the word bullshit
but i'm studying the form guide for tomorra's racing
*shrug* must'a got caught up in the moment :p

Most of us have personalities that are multifaceted -- some traits are just more dominant than others. I think a good writer can tap into all of them.

You're also ignoring that good writers are likley good observers too -- and that they can write characters based on how others behave and react. Of course, to a degree this will be filtered through their own experience.

I don't think writers are constrained to write what they know at all. That's where imagination, research and observation come into it.

You're really generalizing OX. Perhaps you are struggling with your own characters -- getting outside yourself. But you shouldn't assume that's the way it is for everyone.

Originally Posted by JosephB

Perhaps you are struggling with your own characters -- getting outside yourself.

Would you care to express that "getting outside yourself" in another way so that I understand what you mean?

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Would you care to express that "getting outside yourself" in another way so that I understand what you mean?

OK. It has to do with that thing we've discussed before -- empathy.

Originally Posted by JosephB

OK. It has to do with that thing we've discussed before -- empathy.

F*ck. I knew there was something wrong. That's what it is. I'd forgotten all about that in the excitement of a growing word count.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

F*ck. I knew there was something wrong. That's what it is. I'd forgotten all about that in the excitement of a growing word count.

OX, I don't see that as a problem in what I've read of yours. I think this may be yet another case of you obsessing and over-thinking things.

Ordinarily I'd say that this is an issue that separates the pro from someone who needs to work on their craft a little more. But I'm not sure how much is you asking from the empathy standpoint, Ox, and how much might be a wind-up.

As usual I'll just take this at face value and toss in my two cents which, in the era of the falling dollar, will probably simply fall to the dust and get run over. Oh well, a fool and his money are soon parted...

I've written from a masculine POV and it's a lot of fun. After all, males are people, too (arguably ) so there is some common ground between sexes. For reference points I use what I've gathered from real life observation and interaction. I guess whether I write the opposite sex POV at all well is up to the opinion of others. In fact, if you want to see for yourself you can click The Noise Machine for a story I wrote that is narrated by a male but I experimented with several other kinds of 'voices' as well.

A female with a different personality from myself is actually harder to write than a male POV. It is easiest if I find some aspect of her personality that I can identify with.

So, yes, it's fair to say that so far I've not written a character so totally alien to myself that I can't imagine what they're thinking or feeling.

So anyway. Yeah.

*shrugs*

Originally Posted by Foxee

But I'm not sure how much is you asking from the empathy standpoint, Ox, and how much might be a wind-up.

Moi? Wind-up?

A female with a different personality from myself is actually harder to write than a male POV. It is easiest if I find some aspect of her personality that I can identify with.

So, yes, it's fair to say that so far I've not written a character so totally alien to myself that I can't imagine what they're thinking or feeling.

So anyway. Yeah.

*shrugs*

Thanks. I'm not as silly as I look, then.

Originally Posted by Foxee

I've written from a masculine POV and it's a lot of fun. After all, males are people, too (arguably ) so there is some common ground between sexes. For reference points I use what I've gathered from real life observation and interaction. I guess whether I write the opposite sex POV at all well is up to the opinion of others.

Yeah, you're right, it is fun. I'd forgotten that I put something in Workshop ages ago written from a female POV and it was quite well received. I might just drag it out, tidy it up, and run it through again.

In fact, if you want to see for yourself you can click The Noise Machine for a story I wrote that is narrated by a male

But how do we know you're not really a man anyway? This is the internet.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Yeah, you're right, it is fun. I'd forgotten that I put something in Workshop ages ago written from a female POV and it was quite well received. I might just drag it out, tidy it up, and run it through again.

Now that would be interesting!

But how do we know you're not really a man anyway? This is the internet.

You caught me! I'm actually a fifty-year old truck driver who has a gambling problem and a five o'clock shadow by noon. In which case I've written some stuff from the female perspective, too...