Idiosyncracies. The spice of character?

[CharleyH]

I often take note of the strange deeds people do, though rarely see my own unless pointed out. They are the quirky little ticks, oddnesses and anal behaviours that we usually miss most when those close to us are gone. However, from time to time I see one or two in those around me, and put them into a character.

Example: a person who seperates laundry thus: blacks, blues, colours, creams and whites using different detrergent for the darks. :| To me it is quirky and anal, and can work nicely into a character.

How many of you write personal quirks and idiosyncracies of those you experience into your stories?

And how many let them read it after you write? Do they then think you are writing about them? Even if only one quirk? Do they mind?

 

[brightlyiburn]

I write a lot of quirks and such into my characters anyway. Not necessarily ones based on people, though.
I use a lot of little ticks. Not just things like habits, but also all sorts of fidgetting, ways of holding yourself when you stand...lots of little things. The most recent thing I can think of was a character stirring around the ice left in her cup with a straw. I very rarely have someone just say something, either. They do something while they're speaking or speak a certain way.
I think that's what people like about my work. That the characters do things they can imagine themselves doing.

 

[CharleyH]

I write a lot of quirks and such into my characters anyway. Not necessarily ones based on people, though.
I use a lot of little ticks. Not just things like habits, but also all sorts of fidgetting, ways of holding yourself when you stand...lots of little things. The most recent thing I can think of was a character stirring around the ice left in her cup with a straw. I very rarely have someone just say something, either. They do something while they're speaking or speak a certain way.
I think that's what people like about my work. That the characters do things they can imagine themselves doing.

So, do you find yourself, erotica writer or not, observing 'people' more often than perhaps others who don't write . . . do? I always subscribe to the thought that any good writer needs to take an acting course just to find out how it is to be any age, and thus describe it. Of course we do that by observation as well. How do you observe, if you don't mind the ask?

 

[brightlyiburn]

Oh, I'm always observing people. There are generally about 3-6 folks in my classes who I'll notice things about more than others. Sometimes there is a single person who I'll notice more than any other, too. I begin putting together things about them...why they do what they do, what they'll do, how they'll answer.
I don't think others are as observant as me, at least non-writers aren't. The things I can tell about people just by watching them would probably unnerve the hell out of them.

 

[CharleyH]

The things I can tell about people just by watching them would probably unnerve the hell out of them.

LOL, I hear ya! Thanks for you input Brightly.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

I don't have that many stories posted. Of them, only one has deep enough characters based on people other than myself, and that was The Literotica Olympics, which I kind of had to let all of you read.

 

[CharleyH]

I don't have that many stories posted. Of them, only one has deep enough characters based on people other than myself, and that was The Literotica Olympics, which I kind of had to let all of you read.

You want tips to write about me?

 

[Lauren Hynde]

You want tips to write about me?

Aside from the whole ropes thing?

 

[gauchecritic]

I tend to invent things for characters rather than stick things on them from other people.

As I write my characters they do things by themselves which makes them a little more concrete, at least for me.

The danger with character quirks is falling into stereotyping (which is ok if you listen with both ears) and then, intentional or not, the character can become someone entirely different to the one you started out with. Which then makes some of his actions at odds with his story line.

The most fun you can have with people watching is doing it in concert with a friend and supplying speach for them realtime.

 

[CharleyH]

Aside from the whole ropes thing?

Go ahead, promote your Olympic day 24. But have I taught you to tie me up

 

[cloudy]

I tend to invent things for characters rather than stick things on them from other people.

As I write my characters they do things by themselves which makes them a little more concrete, at least for me.

The danger with character quirks is falling into stereotyping (which is ok if you listen with both ears) and then, intentional or not, the character can become someone entirely different to the one you started out with. Which then makes some of his actions at odds with his story line.

The most fun you can have with people watching is doing it in concert with a friend and supplying speach for them realtime.

You mean someone else does that?

(You're right, though, it's hilarious)

 

[CharleyH]

I tend to invent things for characters rather than stick things on them from other people.

As I write my characters they do things by themselves which makes them a little more concrete, at least for me.

The danger with character quirks is falling into stereotyping (which is ok if you listen with both ears) and then, intentional or not, the character can become someone entirely different to the one you started out with. Which then makes some of his actions at odds with his story line.

The most fun you can have with people watching is doing it in concert with a friend and supplying speach for them realtime.

But an anal character might just do laundry that way . Well Gauche, you must get your character traits from somewhere, even if imagined . . . imagined from who?

 

[gauchecritic]

From the top of my head.

In one story I had a character who pressed their finger between their eyebrows when concentrating, I don't actually know anyone that does that. I had a PC I think that said they did it too.

In actual fact, my character only appeared to be concentrating, when they were actually simply touching a dry spot on their skin where they regularly use spirit gum in a disguise.

 

[steve w]

Someone should invent a "quirk wheel". The premise is simple; the wheel has a number of concentric circles that can be turned independently. Each circle has a different type of quirk on it - speech habits, appearance, career, accent, etc. To get a character, you simply shake the wheel and put together the quirks that line up.

[I just realised that this sounds less simple than it seemed when it was in my head]

I suspect Carl Hiaasen uses such an instrument. Much as I adore his books, several of his quirkier characters all seem to end up with something unsuitable attached to their arm - a WeedWacker, the severed head of a dog, etc. Surely his quirk wheel is in need of some WD40.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Someone should invent a "quirk wheel". The premise is simple; the wheel has a number of concentric circles that can be turned independently. Each circle has a different type of quirk on it - speech habits, appearance, career, accent, etc. To get a character, you simply shake the wheel and put together the quirks that line up.

[I just realised that this sounds less simple than it seemed when it was in my head]

I suspect Carl Hiaasen uses such an instrument. Much as I adore his books, several of his quirkier characters all seem to end up with something unsuitable attached to their arm - a WeedWacker, the severed head of a dog, etc. Surely his quirk wheel is in need of some WD40.

Blech.

I'm sorry, but I've always been a fan of on-the-fly quirk making. Each character has to be interesting, have a tic that carries him along, so make it up as it occurs. If you need to resort to a wheel, you're not using your imagination enough.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I'd aruge that quirks are more useful to some genres than others.

I go with Yeats on this. Comedy and character pieces are indeed about delineating realistic characters - homely creatures you'd know if you met them. But tragedy I think - as does WBY - more about archetype and symbol, more about pure action and motivation and the breaking down of differences between people. Tragedy is about seeing eternal human truths rather than amusing foibles, and so there's less call for little quirks.

So I suppose I'd say it depends on what you're writing. Most of the time I'm too in love with symbol and archetype to put much quirkiness in my characters. When I move to comedy or more realistic pieces, then I pull them out. But I think that they should match or have something to say about the character. As CharleyH points out, little habits communicate character. They should communicate the right thing.

Shanglan

 

[CharleyH]

Blech.

I'm sorry, but I've always been a fan of on-the-fly quirk making. Each character has to be interesting, have a tic that carries him along, so make it up as it occurs. If you need to resort to a wheel, you're not using your imagination enough.

So do you resort to little things you see around you? In people you know.

Hm, raises question can we create characters ex nihilo? :|

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

So do you resort to little things you see around you? In people you know.

Hm, raises question can we create characters ex nihilo? :|

Not sure. Sometimes it's related to a personality type or role I've picked out for them or a theme I want to express. Sometimes it's something that just sounded right and went with it. Sometimes it's based on quirks I have or have seen on others. Mostly it's the first two though.

 

[Guest]

Shang, I don't think you meant to say that tragedy and comedy are genres, but I think they hardly come into a discussion of writing erotica, or even a modern novel.

I'm guessing you've long surpassed even thinking of quirkiness.

Perdita

 

[BlackShanglan]

Shang, I don't think you meant to say that tragedy and comedy are genres, but I think they hardly come into a discussion of writing erotica, or even a modern novel.

I'm guessing you've long surpassed even thinking of quirkiness.

Perdita

Apologies. My mind wanders of late. I don't know what I meant by using genre there.

That said ... I suppose I look hopefully to the possibility of sexually stimulating literature that does more as well. I'm having a shot at it, but I'm probably just crucifying myself on an obscure ideal.

Shanglan

 

[Jonathan Pryce]

Originally posted by CharleyH

How many of you write personal quirks and idiosyncracies of those you experience into your stories?

And how many let them read it after you write? Do they then think you are writing about them? Even if only one quirk? Do they mind?

HA! Almost everything I write, no... let's make that everything I write utilizes behaviors and quirks of those closest to me. Most prominately myself, but I dip freely into the well of most everyone else I know too.

Hence, the need for a pseudonym and the fact I rarely ever let those closest to me read what I write. On the rare occasions I do, it's almost always come back to bite me in not-so-very pleasurable ways.

I truly envy authors who can write freely, especially autobiographical texts like Augusten Burroughs, who wrote the amazing "Running with Scissors". My own family and friends would ostrasize me in a heartbeat if I ever exposed skeletons like those from my closet, and god knows I have a few.

Maybe one day I'll get there, but in the meantime thank heaven for my friends here on Lit who offer encourgement and an avenue for sharing.

 

[Guest]

... I suppose I look hopefully to the possibility of sexually stimulating literature that does more as well. I'm having a shot at it, but I'm probably just crucifying myself on an obscure ideal.

If anyone can do it, you will, Shang. P.

 

[BlackShanglan]

If anyone can do it, you will, Shang. P.

Perdita, you made me smile. I read it as "if anyone can crucify him/herself on an obscure ideal ..." No doubt true as well.

But shhh. Pretend you meant it otherwise.


Shanglan

 

[Guest]

Pretend you meant it otherwise.

Awk! No pretense, I meant it 'otherwise' you daft equiness. P.

 

[elsol]

I prefer to give character primary motivators and branch out from there.

If the character is anal and in a 'laundromat' I might write something like you state... but usually the behavior of 'people' I see around me aren't going to fit in a story.

Something similar like 'How would my Sig-other who panics at the thought of X react... if she were actually the type of person that panicked at the thought of Y like my character."

ElSol