Character development, oy, yes madame editor, I get the point!

[KillerMuffin]

How much effort do you put into character development? Outside the story and in it? Does this depend on the story? How important is character development to you in stories you write and read? When you develop a character, do you have a plan how to do it? Or do you just "do" it and go back and tweak? What do you consider character development?

I think character development is the single most important aspect in erotica. If your characters aren't interesting, then your story sucks. My personal opinion, not necessarily the opinions of the editors, siteowners, sponsers, or the torts. Most of my stories have little outside development, just a few thoughts of what kind of person the character is. Some of them have "character sketches" which are word pictures of the characters I refer to in order to make sure the behave consistently in the story.

 

[CreamyLady]

Hmmm. Many of my characters are me, or a fragment of me. I tend to project the rest of myself into them, rather like an amoeba in motion, and become them while I am writing. It's almost as if I'm in the middle of all the action, being the character, watching it through his or her eyes.

The family just thinks I'm having "one of those spells of hers."

I have a few stories that scared the hell out of me, because if that was me, somewhere I'm sporting a pointed tail, cloven feet and horns.

I don't externalize them outside the story. They are all in my head, or, I'm in their heads . . . it's a very schizophrenic way to write, I can tell you. I just hope that at some point I don't need medication.

 

[masterhypnotist]

I think the readers could care less about character development. Character development makes the story work and it certainly makes it more interesting for me. My "characters" are from real life. Having said that, they still need development so the reader can understand what is going on, (I wish there was spell check on the BB)

 

[bluntforcemama]

Character development is like putting icing on a cake. It can only help. Some of the newer readers like the straight sex stories, I'm sure, just so that they can sort of feel out the site and figure out what it's all about. After they become more comfortable, and bored with just straight, meaningless, unemotional sex, they search farther into the reccesses of their minds and find that they are longing for something deeper, maybe something kinkier, something on a different level. Sex in an erotic story goes without saying, that's why it's called "Literotica" here, so character development is an added bonus. Just sex can sometimes be like a small, short penis: it's not enough to make you cum unless the owner knows what it's all about. Character development in an erotic story is like the mythical 10-inch-long-5-inch-wide cock that almost every girl dreams about.

 

[christo]

I thought size didn't matter. I was counting on it, in fact. Damn.

Good character development, a good plot, and plain good writing raises the basic story about sex into what I consider erotica. It should arouse the intellect, the emotions, as well as the 10-by-5 inch thunderstick.

A picture is worth a thousand words, the old saying goes, so if you want to create as much excitement as a picture of a sexy woman (or man, if that's your preference, or horse, if you're sick) it often takes more than a thousand words. You have to immerse the reader in the situation, make them feel the desire the characters feel.

 

[bluntforcemama]

Oh CHRISTO! Come hither, I want to kiss you!

 

[genderbender]

So tell me about this thing called "character development." I like to put my characters into context, to elaborate a bit about who they are and how they've come to be in the situation they find themselves. But "development," what're you talking about? The term "character development" has a nice literary ring to it, but is anyone really portraying changes in their characters resulting from erotic encounters? What kind of development are we talking about? I'd love to read a story with what is considered good character development. Any suggestions?

 

[Whispersecret]

Character development, to me, is when a character changes, like you said GB. The character starts out one way and by the end of the story, he has grown and changed in some way, and I'm not just talking about his dick getting big.

Some stories are too short and not meant for that type of development. These are fuck scenarios that don't need character development. Hell, sometimes they don't even need characters with names. That's fine. I dig those stories sometimes.

Some stories are just long enough and complicated enough that you need a hint of backstory to understand the characters just a little. It helps to know that she's the rabbi's daughter so that sex with the gentile becomes that much more forbidden and juicy.

And some stories have a plot that isn't sewn up the minute the protagonists have sex. In those stories, you need real character development to keep the readers interest and to make the story satisfying at the end.

 

[genderbender]

Whisperer - Your name reminds me of the book and film "Horse Whisperer." Are you whispering secrets to all of us aspiring writers regarding our erotic fiction or do you have other secrets?

I just read a couple of your articles in Writer's Resources and took a look at Hostile Takeover a few moments ago. I'll read more to see how your heroine comes to terms with having been raped. I appreciate your thoughts on writing and have no doubt it will affect my writing. I've submitted a large number of pieces over the last few days, most of it written years ago and sitting on my hard drive. It was fun writing it, and to a certain extent I've enjoyed revising it for submission. I've certainly appreciated the response from readers on this site. But I recognized as I've continued editing other stories for submission that I'm getting bored with the sex scenes. Its not that they're poorly written, necessarily, but rather that I've "been there and done that." I enjoyed doing short pieces built around rather hot personals ads, a series published as "Walk the Wild Side," but my inclination is toward longer fiction with an erotic element woven through a more elaborate storyline. No doubt, character development as you describe it is essential in such fiction.

 

[Weird Harold]

So tell me about this thing called "character development." I like to put my characters into context, to elaborate a bit about who they are and how they've come to be in the situation they find themselves.

You've described the essentials of characte development in your question -- letting the reader know who they are and how they got into a situation.

Some specifics:

Don't make all of your characters talk the same way. IRL people don't speak perfect english, and many people have accents.

Different people see the world in different ways. An Artist sees things and describes them in terms of colors and lighting. A Mechanic thinks of things as how they are connected and function.

Some people are serious and others make everything into a joke.

People have quirks and habits that make them unique. Writing the little quirks into your characters make them more "real" to the reader. Think about all of the people you know and those you see in public and write some of their mannerisms into your characters.

An example:

Geordy leaned back and observed the young woman waiting to be interviewed.

Vs

Geordy leaned back and steepled his fingers under his chin. Looking over the top of his glasses, he studied the young woman intently.

The second gives more clues to Geordy's character than the first. If you scatter enough little clues through a story, the character "develops" into a recognisable person the same way you get to know someone IRL. Describing a character this way is more enjoyable to read than a "reward poster" type of description lumped into one spot in the story.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Most of the things that come across my inbox that could use some character opinion (in my august, omniscient, arrogant opinion) don't actually need the author to go back and give life histories. That's actually not character development.

Giving characters dimension, as Weird Harold said, is the biggest part of character development. Making them human, believable, and someone we may be able to identify with, like, or dislike. Your character should be able to evoke some kind of feeling in your reader.

Read the first few bits of Two Bags for the Bride. Okay, now go back and read the first few bits again and figure out why you liked the story. No, it's not hip-writhing cum all over the keyboard at the first paragraph hot. There is, actually, no such thing for everyone. It is a wonderful story. There was no real "plot" just four characters interacting and fucking. It does not rely on the situation or the sex to be good. Pick the story apart and see why you liked it (you know you did).

Now go check out Extra Credit. It's a solid plotline, but it relies on the plot and sex to be good. The characters have little or no development. You'll notice that there isn't many adverbs in the story, nor adverbial or adjectival phrases. There isn't thoughts or feelings about the other character, or what they characters might be thinking or feeling.

Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to throw away that box of choclits Forrest.

 

[CW]

So tell me about this thing called "character development." I like to put my characters into context, to elaborate a bit about who they are and how they've come to be in the situation they find themselves. But "development," what're you talking about? The term "character development" has a nice literary ring to it, but is anyone really portraying changes in their characters resulting from erotic encounters? What kind of development are we talking about? I'd love to read a story with what is considered good character development. Any suggestions?

Came upon this late, as usual,,,

Perhaps in the context of this site, and short stories in general, 'development' is misused. Perhaps, as Killer Muffin said, 'dimension' is a better choice.

I like to see a basis for the primary characters in a story that extends beyond '38dd perky, creamy, breasts' and a ' massive 10" cock'. Number one, that gets boring after awhile,,, number two, the descriptions that focus strictly on sexual aspects reminds me of a blow up Barbie doll or a walking dildo. For sure, there are readers that just want this type of character in a story that reads like a Penthouse letter.

But, at the same time, a character that is grounded somewhere in reality usually tends to make a better character and a better story that will flow.

As WH says, not all folks speak perfect English, nor do they have perfect bodies, nor do they have perfect centerfold attributes, nor are they all blond haired and blue eyed hunks, nor are they extremly confident in their sexual needs or cravings. By deviating from perfection a bit you create a character that has a basis, one that can now be believable and can be related to by the readers. You also will have a set of characters that will enable your story to flow smoother,,, simply by following the nature of the characters that you have established, most stories will loose the hurky-jerky randomness,,, thus a smoother story that is easier to follow.

For me at least, characters that are grounded in reality and have a bit of depth are what enhances an erotic story and moves the story beyond the level of a b-grade porno flick. It's also what inspires me to post a 5 rating along with a short note to the author saying thank you,,, good job.

 

[Ray Dario]

I agree with the general theme of this thread. It is hard to develop a character in a story limited to less than 10,000 words but it can be done. Sometimes the change of attitude isn't quite believable because it has to happen so quickly but this is the struggle of the erotic short story author. I like the stories that I write that do develop a character or two through some changes but I have also written stories where there is just sex. Just sex gets lower ratings by far, more email feedback but not more useful email feedback ( but I love all feedback )

There are lots of examples of good character developement on this site by many different and excellent authors so it can be done. It is not easy but I think the result is worth the struggle.

Ray

 

[SteamyChik]

Character development to me means making the character in the story come to life by their actions, feelings and emotions. I want the reader to understand why they did something, not just that they did it. That means spending a little time on flashbacks, explanations and "inner thoughts".

I think character development is based on the story. What is it about? How long do you want it to be? Is it about a quickie in the night or a long term seduction? The character development will be different in different types of stories.

I don't anticipate or try to develop my characters before the story. Usually, I get a "feel" for how that character will behave as I am writing. Actually, my characters take on a life of their own and I have to follow them. There have been times when it would have been easier to make a character do something, only to have my fingers refuse to type it because it didn't fit the characters personality!

I think the importance of character development depends on the story and the mood of the writer and the reader. Sometimes I'm in the mood to write a hot sex scene and forget the characters. Others, I can't get to the sex until my characters are "people". As a reader, sometimes I want to read about sex and not wade through a long, thought out character development and plot process before getting there. As a writer, all I can do is write the story the way if feels right to me and hope that it matches what the reader wants at any given time.

I have enjoyed the responses on here, you just gotta love this board and the people on it.