who agrees that so often writers want you to be able to relate directly to a character and they want that character to appeal to such a wide range of people, that their main character often has little to no personality whatsoever. No quirks, no rawness, no spark! Often when reading a novel, I wish the author wrote about a charcter on the side instead of the main one, because he/she is more 'out there,' more interesting.
2007-02-01 05:45:03 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I know!!! Writers should try to make characters more interesting. After all, not EVERYONE is going to relate to a specific character. May as well make it interesting for them.
2007-02-01 05:51:58 · answer #1 · answered by Kaylie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that books with main characters who are created to be appealing to the widest population are not always enjoyable, but...
I don't think you're reading the right books. I only really enjoy a book if it is character-driven, and I rarely read a book I hate.
Of course, I'm a writer, so I might be biased a bit. ;-) But I refuse to change parts of my characters to appeal to more people. If it is an important part of the character, I will not make them more "politically correct" by taking that part away. Most other authors I know do the same. So keep looking! I'm sure you'll find better MCs out there somewhere.
2007-02-01 14:42:12 · answer #2 · answered by Kate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you're reading the wrong books. A lot of books have quirky, weird main characters. Check out "The Accidental Tourist" by Anne Tyler, "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. If you're looking for commercial fiction, try Lee Child, James Patterson, Harlan Coben, Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, or Dean Koontz. Check out new authors and expand your horizons--you'll be pleasantly surprised!
2007-02-01 13:54:53 · answer #3 · answered by dde 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on a book. Commercial fiction has this disadvantage very often. But classic literature is absolutely different. Besides the books that were already advised try D.H. Lawrence "Lady Chatterley' Lover", Harper Lee "To Kill a Mocking Bird", Ken Keasey "One flew over the cuckoo's nest"
Also read James Joyce "Ulysses" no main characters
2007-02-01 14:58:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm trying to write a novel.
Sounds like constructive criticism...
Yeah. Yeah, let me have it!!
I was wondering just the other day why it was that the more I improved my story, the more people grilled me on the littler things, and their overall opinion seemed to actually go down or stay the same. I'm not throwing my hands up and saying, "people like you just don't want to understand my character!" But I wonder, (cause you say, quirkiness) just how I need to work my character, modulate my portrayal of his strengths and his shortcomings, so that he is interesting and likeable.
2007-02-01 13:59:00 · answer #5 · answered by dinotheorist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you need to do some more reading. Maybe try some short stories. They usually have strong characters.
2007-02-01 13:50:45 · answer #6 · answered by Wanda K 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree. That happens a lot.
2007-02-01 14:41:50 · answer #7 · answered by thegirlwantstoknow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is not boring ,it is requirement
2007-02-01 13:48:59 · answer #8 · answered by Udit D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋