 Action/Adventure: February 10, 2010 Issue [#3541] |
  Action/Adventure
This week: One, Two, Three Dimensions! Edited by: esprit  
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One, Two, Three Dimensions!
Q: I'm a new writer and I was told that my main character was one dimensional. What is a one dimensional character? Are there other dimensions and what does that even mean? Thank you!
Don't ever be afraid to ask questions--that's how we learn. You can ask your reviewer to explain, ask on a forum, or ask a newsletter editor--someone will attempt to answer. The terminology of writers is like a foreign language to beginners, and it's important to understand.
Dimensions are also called layers. Layers apply to plots too, but this is about characters. The first layer (one dimension) is the part the world sees--the physical traits, quirks, habits and the 'public' personality that they are willing to share with the world. Every one of us wears masks of different densities that hide our private selves. Some hide dark and troublesome secrets--the stuff stories come from.
New writers sometimes believe that when they give their characters quirks, they are giving them depth and interest. But quirks won't add depth by themselves. Why? Because we, the readers, don't know what, if anything, is behind those behaviors or quirks. We won't know why they act the way they do. With heroes and villains, we need to know. Minor characters, not so much.
Without a reason for the quirk, the character is still flat and one dimensional, and that's enough of a reason for agents to reject it. To learn the reason, we need to apply dimension two.
A two dimensional character shows those dark secrets and the reasons behind them through the backstory. Where they came from, the scars and memories that left them with resentments, fears, habits, weaknesses and inclinations that connect to why they are as they appear to be. Even when the quirks are a smokescreen mask. Such as: the constant joke-teller may be painfully shy inside.
Backstory doesn't have to be a long entry. Glimpsing bits and pieces as they are needed allows the reader to understand--which is the key to feeling empathy--which is the key to hooking the reader--which is the key to writing a book that can't be put down. Gaining the reader's empathy is the goal of every author. Think of the books you love. The reason you love a story has as much to do with the character as it does the plot. You feel for the character, you know where he's coming from, you root, you cry, you feel his loss and you share his joy. You care because you empathize with him. You can't do that if you don't know why he acts as he does. The way he deals with his demons through positive and negative interactions with others makes him human and brings him to life. As he changes is known as character 'arc'.
The third dimension of character lies in his or her actions, behavior, decisions and world view. It's how he deals with the important stuff in spite of his flaws.
 A hero takes a stand, takes risks, makes decisions for the good of others, not for himself.
A villain rationalizes behavior and is insensitive to, or refuses to accept responsibility for, the costs and violations of accepted social standards.
Character (in this sense defined as moral substance, or lack of) is defined not by backstory or inner demons, but by decisions and behaviors. What he does when the chips are down.
You may have been angry enough to kill someone at some point in your life. But you didn't. Why? Because of your character. That decision defines you. Now imagine that you had yielded to that impulse. Same backstory, same inner turmoil and agenda, same inciting series of events, same emotions... different decision.
The first two dimensions may or may not determine the third. It's up to the author to create the most compelling, complex, frightening, endearing and empathetic character that they can, layer by layer. The art of storytelling lies in being able to blend the layers so they make perfect and compelling sense.
There's no how-to manual to read, just a need to understand the principle. The craft of writing well depends on being able to grasp principles. Read good books and study how those authors did it. Study those 'negative' in-depth reviews that some members hate so much, they hold good advice to be applied to all writing, not just a single item. Search for good reviews on the public review page and read them for yourself. They hold valuable lessons for all writers. Once you grasp the principles, you'll have one more tool to add to your writer's toolbox. If your goal is to be published--you'll be one step closer.
Keep practicing!
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SUBMITTED ITEMS
Comment: This is my first, new interactive story. I want to add a chapter a day, but I wish someone else could help me speed up the progress for this, and to do that, publicity doesn't hurt. Thanks for considering my entry!
Sincerely, Imbamuffin
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Comments on "Invalid Item"
By: THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! 
Comment: Thanks for highlighting the benefits of free writing. In a playwrights' workshop I once attended, we were also encouraged to 'meditate' on our character - close our eyes, shut out everything else, and just be with the character. This was followed by immediate free writing, without any discussion in between.
Thanks again for the insights! I love the 'fudge' and the emphasis on letting the subconscious speak.
- Sonali
Yes, just letting the creativity flow is fun. Working on the first draft isn't, and by then--we deserve any fudge the characters left us. 
By: NickiD89 
Comment: I discovered during Nano that creating characters is very similar to meeting someone in real life. Introduced to a person, you notice things: her name, hair color, eye color, ethnicity, etc. But first conversations are polite, body language is self-conscious, and people tend to mirror the person they're talking to. But get to know her over time and she relaxes, showing more of herself in less guarded moments. You see how she reacts to life and who she really is. Writing characters is the same experience. As I place them in different situations, I witness their reactions and I learn more about them. I've decided I'll devote every Friday blog entry to one of my novel's characters. I'll take a walk, work out, run errands, as the character. The entry will be an account of the outing from the lips of the character, his or her impressions and commentary. Thanks for this NL; I'm more inspired than ever!
Thanks so much, Nicki. It was your comment of how you built your characters that influenced the topic of this newsletter. Thank you for the inspiration. 
By: Just an Ordinary Boo! 
Comment: I agree with exercising one's inner spirit. I learned the value of instinctive writing during Nano. No editing, no thinking, just free-wheeling down story-lane and the ride becomes so much fun! I found characters in there I had not visualized before; I found a side track that might lead to a destination of its own. There's much to be said for this, but no substitute for reviewing and pruning/polishing/perfecting.
Jyo
You make it sound fun, Jyo, and finding new ideas among the old is a great benefit of freewriting. It isn't intended to be a substitute. As you know, there's so much work to do between the freewrite, the first draft, and the review, that's it's best to write (the story) as well as we can first time around. Edits can come later.
By: Acme
Comment: Another smashing newsletter, esprit. Dialogue between two characters is great for plot development as well as character. I remember an interview with Terry Pratchett where he said that was how he started a story: two characters chatting. Ultimately, this gave him a good idea for the bones of a story, even though the conversation itself did not feature.
Thanks for the tip, Acme. Good tips apply to more than one area of writing once we understand how they work and someone tells us they will.
BTW, I could use some good articles for beginning writers on plot. If anyone is interested just submit them to Noticing Newbies.
By: bronxbishop
Comment: What a great idea. When I first read this I thought to myself, "I don't need to do that." The next morning, I tried it anyway. I figured it could not hurt. The ensuing dialog was so incredible that two new characters were introduced in the book I am working on. They are more colorful and realistic than any of the original cast! I also wound up taking notes for half an hour afterwards because the exersize spawned dozens (literally) of new ideas for shorts, my current work, and even poems! Thank you for introducing this writer to free writing, or as one of the emerging characters said, "Thanks for opening the box, it's cramped in there."
Wonderful, thanks for letting me know of your success! No more boxes!
By: StephBee 
Comment: Great exercise in writing. It really helps to define a character's voice.
Thanks, I'm glad you found it useful..
By: percy goodfellow 
Comment: esprit, I use this technique all the time and it is very effective. If you can get the characters talking they will lead the story right along.
Percy
Great, Percy!
We always appreciate feedback--thank you!
Editor:
NanoWriMo2018 Into the Earth
Your guest host this week is esprit
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