Can we make a theme song named "Wall of Text"? Because it could be applied to many users here. Oh, here's one now.
What is an engaging character? (In a nutshell)
"When writing a novel, a writer should make living people--people, not characters. A character is a caricature."
That quote was by Ernest Hemingway, I name I vaguely remember and assume is a master of the pen and paper. His quote caught me off-guard one day, when I was writing an admittedly cliche assassin-like character who was... well, just like the rest. Dark, brooding, emotionless, a scowler: all interesting characteristics in separate pieces, but allegedly drab when meshed together.
An engaging character is not a character at all, but a human being (or whatever race). They have emotions, they have feelings, and they portray them in a way that provokes empathy from the reader. They react to times in such a way, it's quite normal for one of their disposition. Now, they can act differently from each other; one may react in anger towards a lost loved one, while another reacts in crushing depression. But the reactions are real.
To put it in a nutshell, an engaging person reacts. A character remains stoic after shedding a tear or two. Now, this is only a small bit of what an engaging character is, but I'd rather not fill the text box with so much info.
What makes a character engaging?
I mainly explained it in the previous question, but I'll relent to relay a little more information. (Flails in sarcastic reluctance 
). Engaging characters are new. Or, should I say, not exactly normal.
Now, when I say normal, I don't mean human. I mean ordinary -- as in drably humdrum and standard. Consider your standard hero: sympathetic towards those in need, but brutally aggressive when need be, has a good heart but a bad temper, occasionally clumsy, occasionally noble, and forever the same. That is your average hero, and he seems almost... mundane. Why? Because he's the average "engaging character" that writers automatically assume are interesting. Sometimes they can be--if executed well--but most of the time they honestly aren't. You see them everywhere, so often that you grow tired of them.
Thus, in order to make an engaging character, you must both play on the provoked empathy of the reader, as well as a new twist on things.
There are always exceptions, of course. Occasionally I'll find fantastic characters that are quite ordinary, but so incredibly human you must like them. But those are very well-written and well executed characters in a marvelous story.
What are some pitfalls to avoid?
I practically answered this previously. I should stop doing that. XD
Give an example of an engaging character, possibly your favorite.
To give a favorite is like trying to pull out just a single hair strand from my hairbrush without seventeen others coming with it; it's virtually impossible. But I'll give one that I've been thinking of recently.
Altair from Assassin's Creed. He's engaging by the fact that he made mistakes -- a LOT of mistakes -- and began to learn from them. He transformed into a man of wisdom, but it took a very long process. I enjoy seeing that kind of character development in stories/games.
Bonus Question! Does every story have to have an engaging character in it?
No, in the same way that a story doesn't need an interesting plot. You can do it, but the quality can be stacked much higher with one.
Can we make a theme song named "Wall of Text"? Because it could be applied to many users here. Oh, here's one now.
What is an engaging character? (In a nutshell)
"When writing a novel, a writer should make living people--people, not characters. A character is a caricature."
That quote was by Ernest Hemingway, I name I vaguely remember and assume is a master of the pen and paper. His quote caught me off-guard one day, when I was writing an admittedly cliche assassin-like character who was... well, just like the rest. Dark, brooding, emotionless, a scowler: all interesting characteristics in separate pieces, but allegedly drab when meshed together.
An engaging character is not a character at all, but a human being (or whatever race). They have emotions, they have feelings, and they portray them in a way that provokes empathy from the reader. They react to times in such a way, it's quite normal for one of their disposition. Now, they can act differently from each other; one may react in anger towards a lost loved one, while another reacts in crushing depression. But the reactions are real.
To put it in a nutshell, an engaging person reacts. A character remains stoic after shedding a tear or two. Now, this is only a small bit of what an engaging character is, but I'd rather not fill the text box with so much info.
What makes a character engaging?
I mainly explained it in the previous question, but I'll relent to relay a little more information. (Flails in sarcastic reluctance ). Engaging characters are new. Or, should I say, not exactly normal.
Now, when I say normal, I don't mean human. I mean ordinary -- as in drably humdrum and standard. Consider your standard hero: sympathetic towards those in need, but brutally aggressive when need be, has a good heart but a bad temper, occasionally clumsy, occasionally noble, and forever the same. That is your average hero, and he seems almost... mundane. Why? Because he's the average "engaging character" that writers automatically assume are interesting. Sometimes they can be--if executed well--but most of the time they honestly aren't. You see them everywhere, so often that you grow tired of them.
Thus, in order to make an engaging character, you must both play on the provoked empathy of the reader, as well as a new twist on things.
There are always exceptions, of course. Occasionally I'll find fantastic characters that are quite ordinary, but so incredibly human you must like them. But those are very well-written and well executed characters in a marvelous story.
What are some pitfalls to avoid?
I practically answered this previously. I should stop doing that. XD
Give an example of an engaging character, possibly your favorite.
To give a favorite is like trying to pull out just a single hair strand from my hairbrush without seventeen others coming with it; it's virtually impossible. But I'll give one that I've been thinking of recently.
Altair from Assassin's Creed. He's engaging by the fact that he made mistakes -- a LOT of mistakes -- and began to learn from them. He transformed into a man of wisdom, but it took a very long process. I enjoy seeing that kind of character development in stories/games.
Bonus Question! Does every story have to have an engaging character in it?
No, in the same way that a story doesn't need an interesting plot. You can do it, but the quality can be stacked much higher with one.
