I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on how to keep characters consistent even if they are written at different ages. For example, my WIP has three parts, set around twenty years apart from each other. All the parts have certain characters that overlap.
How could I show that a fourteen-year-old is the same person as the forty-four-year-old I write about later, for example? A person is obviously very different at these two ages, but I don't want it to seem like I wrote two completely different characters. Shouldn't there be something that ties them together?
Additionally, if they have certain quirks or mannerisms, those might still be present at different ages. They will have the same memories, and maybe you could refer to them.
If a character seems to have changed a lot, you could bring up something that happened in that character's past, and have them say something along the lines of, "Oh, I can't believe I was so stupid back then!" or something like that.
An interesting book that has five main characters, most or all of whom are the same person at different stages of her life (it's a mind trip, but interesting) is called "Black Wine" and may address some of those issues. Or not, because that book is pretty iconoclastic.
posted
Just don't have them change that much. Heck, I still act like I did when I was five. Well, maybe not quite. But yeah, you might want to tone down impetuosity, or modify long-term goals, but most of the things that make them a recognizable character in one part should hold over to the next part. If they're thoughtless when they're young, they should be thoughtless when they're old. Or if that's the area in which they've shown growth, then the other things should be the same.
Posts: 932 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
I completely disagree with Mr. Fisher (respectfully, of course). I think, if you write one character when he's 10 and then the same character when he's 40, you BETTER make the 40-year-old a lot different than the 10-year-old. People change a lot in 30 years. Nearly everything a person thinks, says, does, everything that motivates a person, EVERYTHING will be different.
Just goes to show, you can't please everybody. Make the character essentially the same 30 years later, and I won't buy it. Make him essentially different, and Mr. Fisher won't buy it. I guess you just have to decide which one of us you like better, and try to please that one.
posted
I think that a lot of character traits are set when people are young. Vocabulary might change, tastes might change, growth will certainly occur but--there are some things that stay constant. What those things are will vary from person to person, which is what I think Mr. Fisher was saying. If you show growth, make sure that some things stay the same. For instance, I liked picking flowers when I was little. As an adult, I always have flowers in my house and enjoy having a garden. It's the same urge, but manifests in a more 'mature' way.
On the other hand, my brother and I hated each other when we were little. We're good friends now. But, I can point to three pivitol events that changed the way I thought about him. So if a character's essential traits change as an adult, there ought to be a reason that they've changed. Not just that they are older.
I didn't like cooked carrots and still don't. Icky.
posted
A lot also depends on who's narrating, and how the character is from their perspective, what they remember about that person, etc.
Posts: 284 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I would think that the easiest way for you to keep the character consistant is to make sure you know all the major events in their life that would cause those changes.
Not everyone changes dramaticaly over time, but some people do. I have discovered that most of my consistancy issues I have had are lack of fully understanding my character. I have tried to use stereotyping to skip some of the background work of fully developing a character. It shows.
If your character is alive in your mind, and the details of their life are as well, you shouldn't have a problem with the reader knowing it is the same character.
So my advice is to know your character. The beter you know them, the easier they will remain consistant when you write about them.
posted
I would use the fourteen-year old as the model for the forty-four year old.
The recipe for aging follows: Take one fourteen year old Remove most of the hope/optimism for the future Remove about half of the expressive zeal for life Add a heaping teaspoon of focus Add a little emotional restraint Season with the crushing effects of decades of adult responsibility Bake for 30 years at 350 degrees. Voila!
[This message has been edited by J (edited November 15, 2004).]
[This message has been edited by J (edited November 15, 2004).]
posted
I'm a little confused. If there are three parts to the same book, just set at different points in time, shouldn't it be more or less obvious that so-and-so is growing up? Even if they change over time, names will stay the same.
If there is some question about who everyone is after 20 years, perhaps use that confussion in the story. Characters noticing how each other used to be.
posted
Besides movies, I can't really think of a single-volume novel where consistency of character at various ages is an issue (at least, nothing I've read) ***Okay, as I was writing this I thought of one The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. This story follows a cast of characters over about 20 years or so. Each of them changes over time, some change their names, but we can always figure out who everyone is. The unabridged version can be challenging to get through at times, but an abridged version (though distrorted) can be a fairly quick read, imo.***
However, multi-volume characters are a different story. Consider the Leatherstocking Tales, by James Fenimore Cooper. There are five books that span about 60+ years. The main character even changes names several times, but we always know who he his -- the essence of the character never changes. If you haven't read these books, they are well worth the time and effort (and yes, even though they are well written, it can take a bit of an effort to get through some passages). Even if you were able to read only a couple, try The Deerslayer and The Last of the Mohicans.
Another set of multi-volume characters come from The Three Musketeers. These books (three books usually published in five volumes in English) span more than 30 years. Again characters, and even names, change, yet we always know who everyone is even though they are maturing.
I think probably the biggest key is in knowing your characters and knowing their lives. What happens to them in the time between sections? What influences them? What are the common bonds between the characters? How do these bonds change over time?
Something that may help you stay consistent and true to the charaters, is to write character biographies. Depending on how many characters you have, this could take a while, but it would probably be well worth it. You can use the biographies as a reference and also weave in and develop nuances.
posted
There's certainly a wrong way to do things. Three books into Robert Jorndan's Wheel of Time series and I can't stand it, anymore. This guy's writing a twelve-book series?
You would think that after the third book, we'd see real changes in the characters, but no. It got to a point where I read one too many times how each of the men thinks the others are "better with women." Jordan takes the idea of associating each character with some trademark move to absolutely comical heights. If had to read about Thom "blowing out his moustaches" one more time, I would've jumped into the book and given them all a good three-stooges-style group slap.
Thankfully, I have stopped torturing myself with those awful books.
As I said, I don't think you even have a problem, really. Just write it and see how it goes. If you think about it too much, your writing will come out forced and unwieldy.
[This message has been edited by Magic Beans (edited November 15, 2004).]
posted
Well, Robyn, the main character I'm thinking about is kind of an odd case. She disappears when she's fourteen and goes into hiding. We don't actually see her grow up. She shows up in the next part of the book as a much-changed adult, and she's known by a different name as part of her cover. (And I LOVED the Leatherstocking tales!!!)
Actually, MB, I guess you're right. I don't have a specific problem I'm trying to solve. But even though I haven't written myself into a corner yet, I think this is really interesting and I'm really enjoying everyone's opinions and advice. I was talking about this topic with another Hatracker, and we both thought we could benefit from some discussion. So please keep it coming!
I gave up on the Wheel of Time series halfway into the second book, MB. My brother absolutely loves it, but for me, nothing held my attention: not the story, not the characters, and not the writing. It appears to me that Robert Jordan, if he was even ever legit, has sold out.
quote:She disappears when she's fourteen and goes into hiding. We don't actually see her grow up. She shows up in the next part of the book as a much-changed adult, and she's known by a different name as part of her cover.
My only advice then is to make sure you know how she grows up. Even if the reader doesn't see it, if you know what happens to her, you can think about how she would act, what kind of character would she become...
Or, work backwards. I've done this before, several times, and it always seems to work. Decide who she is as an adult and build that character, then look back and try to figure out what happened in her past to make her who she is today.
posted
Just throwing this out there, but perhaps there was something fundamental in her character that caused her to go into hiding for so long. That fundamental thing will never go away or change. Identify it, grasp it, build her around it, and it will show itself no matter what her age.
And wetwilly, if I remember right you're quite young (in which case your name fits, as you're still a bit wet behind the ears). As I'm getting up there in years, (thought not quite so many years as the venerable Mr. Fisher) I'm going to adamantly side with Mr. Fisher on this one. The basics, the nature of who you are and why, don't change.
I was stubborn on the day I was born, and I'll be stubborn on the day I die.
[This message has been edited by djvdakota (edited November 15, 2004).]
posted
I think the nature of who you are can change, but that it takes some significant events to do it. It is too simplistic to say, I haven't changed so no one else does.
I have seen children who have changed considerably over just a few years. From 14 - 18 is a major development time for most children's interactive skills. During this stage they learn to socialise and develop some of their external personality traits. Some things will stay the same, but other things...
quote:The basics, the nature of who you are and why, don't change.
Certain things, yes. I would dissagree that people never change who they are. There are criminals who do change their core beliefs, not often, but it happens. Just as good people can go bad. Events in our lives shape us, make us re-evaluate our beliefs, and change our own behaviors. Even OSC has made mention that people need reasons to change, but they do exist.
If a character is going to change, the author needs to know why.
posted
I've done it, it was easier for me First chapter he was 10 second 15 now he is 19 and he was mature young to begin with. He changed much though, mostly in relation to his father. His nature hasn't changed yet and I'm not sure there is a cpt. 4.
Posts: 1895 | Registered: Mar 2004
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