by Jim
Hi Jim,
I have a little problem that I was hoping you could assist me with. I’ve had quite a few people read my story and the overall criticism is that one of the characters isn’t believable. They keep saying that the way the character behaves and the things she does, don’t fit in with the story. This really bothers me as this is a story that takes place in a completely made up environment that has nothing to do with reality. Like okay, you can believe an entire planet could be a live and have a consciousness, but not believe one character because of their actions and choices they make?
If only one person had said it, that would be one thing, but a few have so now I’m starting to worry. Do you think I should change the character or leave it as is? Should I take this criticism seriously?
Thanks,
Elyssa H.
Hello Elyssa,
Awesome name, by the way. I may wind up using that for one of my characters. I actually try to take most criticism seriously. The obvious exceptions are trolls who simply say that ‘this sucks’ or ‘I think you’re stupid’. Things that have no substance are basically best left ignored.
However that doesn’t seem to be the case here. I would definitely take what they say into consideration, but not let that be the be all, end all of what you do with the character. Outside criticism is vital, especially if you plan to have your work published. You want someone who’s going to rip it apart. However the final say is yours, you need to take a step back and look at the character and see if everything fits.
Now that that’s out of the way… I want to address your other comments. “Like okay, you can believe an entire planet could be a live and have a consciousness, but not believe one character because of their actions and choices they make? ”
Actually, yes. This is what’s called a suspension of disbelief. Like it or not, readers are always going to apply some level of real-world logic, even in the most fantastical of environments. We’ve all done it, and we’re all going to do it. Like it or not, this is something that all writers have to contend with.
So what’s the best way to combat this problem? Well… I’d say the first thing to do is create a set of rules early on in your writing. If there are any real world attributes, make them known through the story, cultural differences that could explain, and by default, make your character’s behaviors more believable, explore them. Most readers are really good at following a path with little guidance, but you still need to leave some bread crumbs for them to pick up on.
This is the folly of your comparison. A reader could actually take issue with a character’s choices and development in a story where an actual planet is a character because maybe you explained the planet better. Maybe the back story you put in place actually explains better how something like that can exist. I think this is an area that you may want to really go back and re-examine, but let’s open it up.
Readers, what do you think? Is this an area that Elyssa should look at a little more closely? Is the criticisms of her readers something she should worry about, or should she simply disregard them because its her story? Let me know in the comments.
Readers,
Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.
jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com
I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.
I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.
Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.
Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:
http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU
Note:
If you have read my books, PLEASE log into Amazon and post a review. I really love to hear everyone’s thoughts and constructive criticisms. Reviews help get my book attention and word of mouth is everything in this business!
Thanks friends!
Catch you on the flip side!
-Jim
James Harringtons Creative Work 
We have to consider our reader’s point of view if we want an audience. Being the introverted person that I am, it was painful to find out my point of view could be challenged, my words being so close and personal to me. But in the end it is completely worth it to struggle with finding a way for your own voice to be heard and understood by your reader.
As a reader (or film-watcher) I want to believe every move a character makes makez in the context of the environment or I feel frustrated and not engaged..
Elyssa, I have not read your story, but I think there iz a good chance, if you work your character’s behavior and what your critics’ complaints, you will be able to find way to exprezs your charcter without compromising your vision.
Madlyn S
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That’s the last time I post a comment from my Tablet instead of my laptop. I didn’t see all the typos. Sorry about that!
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No worries! Happens to me all the time.
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Not believable?
That can be a moral problem. It is difficult to gain sympathy for a mean and evil character, like one who steals, kills and destroys with no sense of remorse and no evident conscience, unless they have a scrooge-like turnaround. Disney (in my opinion) has failed to make evil characters into sympathetic ones in several recent movies. It is not easy.
That can also be a consistency problem. I call it the Superman mistake, where one minute he strains a bit to pick up a tractor trailer and the next minute he is in outer space shoving whole planets around with ease. Consistency, especially in a story where magic is concerned, is worth double-checking.
Most of the time, it is a reader’s way of saying they could not relate to the character. That often has to do with inconsistency in the character’s speech and actions–that is, in their personality.
People can grow in the course of a story, like from fear to courage, but not without a reason to grow. And in any case, they don’t tend to flip back and forth depending on what is most convenient for the storyline. Cowards tend to remain cowards up until they have a life-changing experience… ‘Tis a far, far better thing I do now than I have ever done before…
Ditto love-hate, kind-cruel, forgiving-vengeful, etc. People tend to be consistent which is why we are surprised or shocked when a person does something “uncharacteristic.” In the context of a story, too much of that kind of flip-flopping will make a character not believable.
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Superman’s power set often changes depending on the writer. Some insist he should be the most powerful person ever, some want him godlike, and some want him to struggle a bit.
I’ve been seeing more and more that some have a warped sense of “realistic” anyway because it’s based on a more cynical or negative view of humanity rather than accepting how things are in this >fictional< world. Without seeing the story or section in question I can't quite judge if that's the case with the questioner's story so I do agree with James' comments as well. Sometimes it does come down to the individual reader having their own level of suspension from a different reader. My concern is always consistency within the world, which comes right back to Superman and the different writers.
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