This post functions as a follow up to the last one. What if you do need your protagonist to go down into a dark basement?
I think most readers agree that one thing that immediately forces them out of a story is when a character does something out of character. Occasionally authors need a plot device to forward the resolution of the story and some poor character will have to do something totally contrived.
“Why,” wonders the reader, “would Kathy go into the clearing alone when she knows there’s a ravenous T-Rex there? She’s always been perfectly rational before…did she have a small stroke?”
Sometimes I can suspend my disbelief and just try to forge on and enjoy a book. But it’s gotten harder to do so. As a writer, I’m determined not to humiliate my characters by making them do something they wouldn’t ordinarily do.
But I still need a plot device. Usually, there comes a point in my story where I need my sleuth to confront the murderer. Naturally, this meeting never happens in the police station. Oh no, it’s got to happen in a scary, deserted location where my detective’s life is at stake.
But my sleuth is a smart woman. How to reasonably get her there? Was she expecting to have a partner present to ensure her safety during the confrontation? Did that partner end up in a car crash or unavoidably detained somehow?
I try to think like my character—what kind of excuses would they give for behaving like this? “I realized I’d seen something odd at the scene of the crime, so I went back to have another look. But the murderer went back too…to collect the evidence that pointed to him.”
I try to think of as many excuses as possible why a character would act out of their normal behavior pattern. Then I pick the most plausible reason, write it, and see if it works.
If none of the excuses seem plausible, it’s back to the drawing board. It’s worth some extra work to make sure I’m not losing a reader’s interest.
I’m thinking most fiction writers have the same problem. Why is the protagonist not using his magic powers to solve the problem? Why is the female protagonist making the same mistakes over and over again for no reason but to provide more plot conflict? I think it’s good to point out what the readers are already thinking and have the character answer their questions: (“Wish my magic powers could be used to stop time, but….” or “I know it seems like I keep making the same mistakes, but…”)
Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. I’m taking a short blog break for Christmas and reposting some of my older posts from 2009. Thanks so much to everyone for making my blogging year a happy one.
Elizabeth – You’ve got a good point. Sometimes the plot needs a character to act “out of character.” I think the trick is not to make that behavior too far “off track” or for an implausible reason. The reality is, though, that we all do out-of-character things sometimes. If the reason is compelling enough, it can be believable and add to the plot.
As a reader you do get accustomed to your protagonist acting a certain way and when they do something out of character you wonder if the author let someone else write a few paragraphs. Like you said, you can have them do something they shouldn’t (such as go alone to meet the killer) if you can explain why and as long as they don’t constantly do it.
When I needed a character to do something she wouldn’t normally do, I had her react in anger and frustration to things that had been bugging her for a long time. She really blew up. The strong emotions allowed her to act differently. It was fun and worked out well :)
Finally got through. Blogger has been most uncooperative today.
Yep, this ties into “If they buy the premise, they’ll buy the bit.” People do stupid things all the time, but there has to be a good reason.
I don’t know about mystery, but in romance, it’s the TSTL syndrome, and to be avoided at all cost.
Sometimes you need your character to do a certain action or follow a certain plot, but for me, if I know my character wouldn’t do it, I don’t force them. Often, my books go in different directions then I planned because of my characters. I usually let them decide based on their personality.
Great blog.
ann
I think this is a very true concept. It is cruel to break the fictive dream of our readers. I was explaining to my step-children that even if you are writing science fiction – there are rules to the universe you’ve created and to break them is to break the trust of your readers. As to my protagonist doing things that seem stupid or careless – I don’t much have a problem with that – it must be like us. Why do we do the same foolish things over and over knowing the results? We are hoping it will be different this time, surely. My protagonist rushes headlong into danger because she habitually ignores something that everyone else can see – that is her blindspot. We all have them. With her it is one of two things generally – she believes someone because they are beguiling or she realizes she must put herself in personal danger because an innocent is in danger.
Great post and a grea point. Unfortunately if the character is always rational and sensible it would be hard to get them into those interesting situations so it does take some thinking as to why a character might do something a bit odd.
Thanks for sharing this.
Good follow up and two part post. You CAN have a character act “out of character” but you have to write in some sort of reason or internal dialog/conflict, I think, to make it believable. Like, Mary thought, wtf? I NEVER do anything like that. Too much to drink last night, I guess.
Just an example, but you get my drift.
Marvin D Wilson
Sometimes we all act out of character, but in our heads, we have reason to do so. As long as I believe the character’s reason for doing what she’s doing, I’ll follow along. But, I’m like you, if I don’t believe it, it throws me out of the book and frustrates me.
Great post.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Oh, great points in this! I find there is usually a reason why they do it though–maybe a spell or curiousity gets the best of them.
I also think there comes a point where a character does act out of character, they learn and grow from it.
Margot–I think you’re right. If it’s TOO far out of the character’s normal comfort zone, it would need some MAJOR explanation. And that gets complicated.
Ann–And sometimes those characters have minds of their own!
Mason–And it’s hard because we usually really NEED them to be with the killer. But we also need the character to keep the reader’s respect. It’s tough.
Jan–And in the case of endangering a character’s life to save an innocent…that makes us like the protagonist *more*. Because they’re probably scared to death, acting out of character, but determined to do the right thing.
Jemi–That’s a good way to do it…the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Marvin–And I’d go along with that, absolutely, as a reader. We all know people who’ve had little episodes like that.
Helen–I think it’s up to the author. If they can make me believe, I’ll stick with it.
Sara–Curiosity is good…or a midlife crisis! And then they could say, “Well THAT didn’t work out! I sure won’t stick my neck out like THAT again!” And the reader should be able to go along with the aberration.
Terry–Oh, I know. Blogger has been giving me fits lately.
I don’t think I know that syndrome, but I get the gist of it. We’ve definitely got to just have a reason behind the behavior. Otherwise, it’s easy to get frustrated with a character.
Cassandra–It’s true. If they’re staying completely true to themselves and their personality, it can get a little boring!
Might as well respond while Blogger lets me in. TSTL = Too Stupid to Live.
I found your blog today and have enjoyed your posts.
Ann
http://www.cozyintexas.blogspot.com
http://www.annsummerville.com
Tv-tropes calls this lamp-shading: why try to hide something when you can hang a lamp-shade on it so that everyone knows it’s meant to be there – http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LampshadeHanging. You can do this too much. My first protagonist pointed out so many things to explain his actions that he ended up as much more introspective than I planned him.
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.
“..if I know my character wouldn’t do it, I don’t force them.” exactly! very well said, I love what I am reading in this blog.