On Character Composition

Creating characters in fiction, and giving voices to them, is very satisfying. Upon close inspection, one must consider what characters constitute- whether they are, on a certain level, Classical archetypes, or if they are extensions of the self, or a certain mixture of both. In my case, I believe that many of my characters are extensions and logical progressions of certain views which I hold. Inevitably, some of these positions are in direct opposition to each other, and the exaggerative nature of fiction amplifies this effect to a palpable extent, which produces conflict and by extension impetus. 


I've always tried to subvert and defy narrative expectations for as long as I can remember. I've never been a very big fan of the three-act structure in particular. Maybe that's why I find authors like Vonnegut and Pynchon so captivating, because their stories, while coherent, do not adhere to well-established models for what does and does not create a satisfying story. Experimental fiction of this nature is often far more satisfying and far less predictable. It has the capacity to legitimately disturb or surprise the reader, and I believe that's practically a necessity in quality entertainment. 

Creating characters from scratch is a lot like starting up a Sea Monkey colony. I remember getting a pack of the little brine shrimp for my birthday once. They were packaged terribly, with almost no food, lived only around a month or so, definitely didn't have any of the flippers or baubles you see on the ads. In fact they were some of the most boring creatures conceivable. Yet I can definitely see why ant farms and sea monkeys and the like are popular. The fantasy of playing God to a race of small yet intelligent beings is an attractive one, and the most humane option is to explore that possibility via the written word. 

The ants in your story should interact in a plausible manner, should never take drastic measures or behave in a way you yourself would not. They should, however, possess a certain agency, leap off the page at you, strike you with their own uncanny brilliance, their own impossible individuality. Constructs of the human mind they may be, yet they should live, eat, and function independently of your pen or keyboard. They should go on living even if you don't, their world should contain enough intricacy and layering to sustain infinite adventures, a world so captivating and mesmerizing it may as well be directly in front of the reader, right past a magical gateway. 

Characters can also serve as a sort of perspective expander, particularly if their own morals and beliefs don't line up entirely with your own. Through their actions, you can discover how it would feel to live in a given area, occupy a certain period of time, or view certain events from a firsthand perspective. It is a sort of diabolical possession characters invoke upon the author, they will the initiation of the writing process, to tell their oddly specific story despite their stories never taking place and functioning against all logic. 

It often legitimately frightens me, how well-developed and multifaceted my characters are. I can only hope that this multifaceted structure makes itself apparent and digestible in the finished product, that readers will see something of themselves in the character and relate to the character, though not too much. As I said, characters offer new perspectives, and I've found that relatability, while appealing on a gut level, is to be avoided for the sake of innovation. Characters should behave realistically, and that should suffice in terms of relatability, however they must possess hyperbolic traits we in the real world do not. That is the appeal of fiction, the siren song of all manufactured narrative, the wish fulfillment and the gratuitous fantasy. 

If one's methods are reliable and the aforementioned possession is allowed to commence, then your characters will stand out from the rest and become iconic in the consciousness of those who knew them. If not- if your characters fall too neatly into established archetypes, or if their beliefs align too closely with your own- then they will have very little to get by on. It must be mentioned that as a benevolent universe-creator, you should treat the inhabitants of your manufactured simulacra with respect and dignity, lest they torment you in the wee hours. 


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