No, not the philosophers, the character type. :p
I was wondering... having a particular fondness for the archetype of the dark, brooding anti-hero who barely speaks at all, is there anyone with any tips on making one who can play to the sympathies of the audience without becoming too tedious or alienating?
I have written several, but they all turned out to be overly dramatic/angst-ridden, to the point of annoying the readers. The current one I have in my head is basically me, thrown into a blender and then forwards several years in time.
Now, proper questions. For discussion, hopefully.
Backstories. How would one create a sob story that actually pulls the heartstrings of the reader? I mean, not in a 'MY PARENTS ARE DEAAAAAAD' way, but more of a subtle manner that defies the standard apathetic response from us jaded readers? There's also the issue of cliche and predictability. How many dead parents have we seen before? Or dead younger sisters, or dead entire families?
Characterization. Has anyone else run into this problem before? There is a point where a person who refuses to talk to the protagonist becomes annoying to the reader, and yet there might be perfectly valid reasons for the brooding person not to talk to the protagonist, just unrevealed ones. It's a very fine line, and quite difficult to pull off perfectly. Thoughts?
Character Development. Some people, like me, actually enjoy dark and brooding characters for their dark and brooding personalities. Scout from Stefan Gagne's brilliant Anachronauts series, for example, had a nice sad backstory and an icy personality, and the badassery to match. He was eventually softened up by his relationship with the lead female. However, if any character stays dark and brooding and mysterious and generally unhelpful forever, it's going to go stale. Has anyone come across the problem where you just don't know how to pull your angster out of his angst in a plausible, sensible way? And if so, how? Through the power of love? Through getting Bright Slapped (hee, Gundam) in the face repeatedly? Through the innocence of a child?
And after someone stops being angsty, what is there left for them to be? My previously mentioned traumatized and completely changed self-insert, in my projected characterization, becomes less despairing due to a sudden realisation that there really is some good in the world. Fast-forward twenty years and he's become a zen-like, calm figure, with a gentle kindness that stems from the immense hardship he's experienced. Cliched? Probably. What about you guys?
Well, that's it for me. You guys can come up with the rest. I'm new to this place, so if I'm in the wrong board or someone else already made a thread for this purpose, you may shoot me and bury my remains in a suitably demeaning place.
Yup.
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