fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2496 ]

[ SECRET POST #2496 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2496 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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As much as I complain about SJWs, fear of what they might say about my works and me as a person is part of what made me work harder to add diversity to my works. I mean I try to do my research and not make 'token' characters, or change races of characters sometimes just because. I actually find enjoyment in it. I also would be dissatisfied with myself if I looked at my works and realized the casts were all generic and samey.

This fear made me want to branch out more and got me thinking about things like adding unneeded romantic subplots ("does this female character really NEED a love interest?" "do these best friends REALLY need to fall for one another?") and writing stuff I want to see in the world.

Bonus confession: sometimes feel guilt about one story where the protagonists are white males. Am I a bad person if I don't change them too?

Am I a bad person if I don't change them too?

Nope! White dudes exist. Sometimes in groups, even!

Ah

I guess I've just heard a lot of people getting annoyed (and understandably so) about how often white males get to be protagonists in a story. I understand where they're coming from and at the same time I feel a bit uncomfortable because I know I have a few ideas where the protagonists are white and male).

Like I said, it's nothing to feel bad about. :) Stuff does feel off when white dudes are overly common, but I think it can feel just as off when there are no white dudes around anywhere. At all. (Well, you know. Provided that the story takes place in a setting where white dudes would be common.)

Do what feels right for the story.

Sometimes a character will walk into my head, and I'll know - this character is religious. This character is African American. This character is gay.

Not because I feel a need to add "token characters" - that's just how they ARE, I can't really write them any other way. So do what feels right for the story.

Thanks.

Sometimes ideas come to me in different ways. The situation you mentioned is one.

But other times another aspect of the characters comes to light and I find stuff and try to fit it until it clicks. Sort of like trying to fit pieces into a puzzle. But rather than stick to trying one kind of piece over and over again I try something else and see if it fits and once I "see" it I can't unsee it and I can't see anything else.

Like when I started my most recent story , I developed the concept of the setting first. The setting was a magic school where magic is accessed through art. The main characters is a group of seven students. They're all different from each other. The only thing I know is their art specialty.

But I try not to make them token just for the sake of it, even though my comment seems like that's what it's saying. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

I'm sorry I probably sound so fake and stupid.

No, no, you don't sound fake and stupid at all!

The main character of my current novel is black and bisexual. Neither of those things are significant plot points in the story - it's just how he is in my head.

It just means I had to learn a bit about what it's like to be black, what it's like to be bisexual.

Other aspects of his character - his history & personality - took a lot of shaping and thinking over. Sorta like the puzzle pieces thing you were describing, though for me, it feels more like archaeology.

So, don't be afraid, if your characters take an unexpected direction! It means you get to learn about something new! :)

Thanks.

and that sounds cool!

I guess I just over think writing stuff, and when I see people talking about 'I don't like it when people do X in stories" or "people need to stop doing this or do more of this" I guess I just get nervous that I'm being uninentionally harmful.

And learning about something new is always cool. For my story I have a bit of research to do on Hawaii and life in Hawaii for my character with a Hawaiian background. It's really kind of exciting!

I love learning about stuff for writing! It's why I've always kind of boggled at those stuffy writer advice articles that say things like "OMG. DON'T JUST WRITE THINGS. YOU ALSO GOTTA DO THE HARD STUFF. LIKE RESEARCH!" Dude, research is one of the easiest/funnest parts of writing for me. I've delayed projects for ridiculous amounts of time for NEED MORE INFO reasons.

And then just having the knowledge enriches your life in all kinds of ways. Like, I've been writing something about a hitman who is obsessed with electricity. As a result, I can now explain a bunch of stuff about lightning and electrical injuries to anyone that asks. It's boss!

Exactly this. Trying to change a character is like steering a fucking tank.

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[ SECRET POST #2496 ]

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