serious character & 'showing' ? - Writers Forum

Emma LB · 10-20-2004, 05:01 PM

Hi all! I have a problem, I’m not sure it can be solved, but you never know, I mean I’m very inexperienced. I have a character and in some important scenes this character should be very serious and I would like him to seem above all the other characters in that scene. In other scenes I would like him to be less serious than all the others, and I think I might just be able to manage less serious, but how do I make a character seem more serious? I’m afraid I’m at a loss here. I do not want to make the other characters seem silly or anything like that. And I know the rule: show not tell! I could just say that he’s more serious but how can I show seriousness (when confronted with his fears for example, or in a situation where he must act fast). The way in which he acts should be inspiring, not the deeds he does, he should just seem cool

. I hope someone can help me, generally I’m not very good at ‘showing’, but even though I’ve still not finished the ruff draft, I fell I need to know how to show this, otherwise I might have to add some other bits to my story to convey what I want to about the character.

eMBeR Chan · 10-20-2004, 05:02 PM

Don't make em smile or laugh.

Emma LB · 10-20-2004, 05:23 PM

Eh... I wasn't going to have him smile in the face of death or laugh in the face of death, but I don't think most people do that, so not laughing will not make him seem more serious in such grave situations.

eMBeR Chan · 10-20-2004, 05:25 PM

Well I would laugh....Hmm well then...make him say hn all the time to answer people questions its the cleshe serious guy universal answer.

Rob · 10-20-2004, 06:10 PM

Firstly, Show Don't Tell is not some kind of rule that can't be broken. It's useful advice, but not, on its own, the be all and end all of creative writing.

Secondly, start reading up on body language. Also, observe those around you. What do people look like or behave like when they're serious?

Thirdly, sometimes you can convey something just by a transition. If someone is smiling, then drops the smile, it implies something more serious.

Lastly, if you're stuck, just tell. Probably no-one will even notice.

Good luck,

Omni

DawnMorningStar · 10-20-2004, 06:21 PM

I agree with Omnius about the body language. Depending on what type of "serious" you're trying to convey, a straight set of the shoulders, a solemn expression, a commanding voice--all of these help establish a sense of seriousness.

Also, the way he speaks is a good indicator as well. Perhaps he'd drop some of the more casual dialogue and replace it with more carefully structured phrases.

I hope this helps...

Selorian · 10-20-2004, 06:34 PM

Omnius and Dawn both gave some great advice. Body language and the way the speech changes when someone becomes serious is usually very noticeable. That would be the things that I would concentrate on first.

Also, dialogue itself could be useful. The other people around may not take something as seriously as him, leaving an opening for him to say something like "C'mon, not now" or "This isn't the time". Just a suggestion.

Cliff

Talia_Brie · 10-20-2004, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DawnMorningStar

I agree with Omnius about the body language. Depending on what type of "serious" you're trying to convey, a straight set of the shoulders, a solemn expression, a commanding voice--all of these help establish a sense of seriousness.

Also, the way he speaks is a good indicator as well. Perhaps he'd drop some of the more casual dialogue and replace it with more carefully structured phrases.

DONK. The sound of a nail being struck on the head.

Emma LB · 10-21-2004, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Firstly, Show Don't Tell is not some kind of rule that can't be broken. It's useful advice, but not, on its own, the be all and end all of creative writing.

Secondly, start reading up on body language. Also, observe those around you. What do people look like or behave like when they're serious?

Thirdly, sometimes you can convey something just by a transition. If someone is smiling, then drops the smile, it implies something more serious.

Thank you all!

I knew you guys (and gals) would come up with a solution to my problem. I'll try that... that is I'll start taking notes to work out how to write it. Maybe I need to watch some films too, with good actors and serious situations in them of course

. Now I hope I can get it to work...

pfunktion · 10-21-2004, 09:09 AM

Also consider how the other characters react to the serious character. I've got co-workers who are 'all business' (drives me nuts), so I react with them differently than with someone who I know can joke around. Perhaps this character is only very serious around certrain groups of peoples or in a situation, but is still able to 'let thier hair down'.