Dollars BBS | Literature

feed-icon

Main

News

Animation

Art

Comics

Films

Food

Games

Literature

Music

Personal

Sports

Technology

Random

What defines a good book character? (6)

1 Name: ajjbb123 : 2016-12-06 13:20 ID:wYXyaocs [Del]

I need help with a inquiry question, I need to know what a good character is made of and what parts of a character are most important.

2 Name: Kadosawa : 2016-12-06 14:18 ID:rwcuCEa9 [Del]

is weird
you one a character would be strong or weak and sudden have super powers in a tragic accident??
i mean, i like most part males in a introduction, but females are good too
those are realy use and mainstream in all the times
you should need to use animals or hybrids
those are amazing!!

3 Name: Neivu : 2016-12-07 13:28 ID:2jt2tn7t [Del]

A good book character honestly depends on how fleshed out s/he is and how s/he is presented to the reader. It's typically best when characters are lifelike. One of the best ways to express the character's personality and opinions, ambitions and inhibitions, is through interactions, gestures, and dialogue with other people and the world around them. I must admit some curiosity why you want to know what defines a good book character specifically, but in the end that's up for the reader, or you to decide isn't it? Everyone else has different definitions of good book characters. For instance, I don't entirely agree with the previous comment, but at the same time, I don't entirely disagree. It could work if done the right way, but that happens quite rarely with hybrids. And someone else could completely disagree with me. Well, another factor is how interesting they are, or how likable they are, etc. But there are some really well written characters who people love to hate since they're written to play the part to be hated. Well, these are just my thoughts. I hope you find the answer that you're looking for.

4 Name: Someone!1z8qrtCRGc : 2016-12-07 14:57 ID:vWj2TfOQ [Del]

As >>3 said, it is entirely subjective
My opinion is as follows:

If by good, you mean well designed, then a good book character is one whose existence and development are essential to the reader's understanding of the story's plots, themes and messages, within set limits of (ir)rationality dictated by the author. The effectiveness with which the author uses/fleshes out such a character (and all their interactions)would dictate how good a character it is.

If by good, you mean "to be used as an example during a character creation workshop or during moralistic debates," then a character is good when they exhibit qualities which are deemed "good" and previously praised/immortalized by any given society at any given time of human history.

5 Name: Scarface : 2016-12-08 12:39 ID:nbtka394 [Del]

I'd say one of the most important things is that you imagine him to be real person who has a past that defined him in some way, strengths and weaknesses and not to forget emotions. Don't try to make him either good or bad but something in between, because no one is entirely evil or a saint (depending on how you want to define being good or bad, it’s completely subjective)

This thread might help you a bit, especially the last 7 replies: http://dollars-bbs.org/literature/res/1476573758.html


6 Name: 玉橋濃園 : 2016-12-13 17:35 ID:gA2LP6xj [Del]

One would say "their appearance", when really it's not about how you see the character, its about how the reader sees the character. Build character development. Make sure the character has a full backstory, even if it's never revealed in the story. Make a generally relatable character, that has at least one trait in which every reader can say "oh me too". Fill the character in. Make sure he/she is a stable character. Not saying to make a flat character, (a character that doesn't change within the story), but make sure they don't change moods, personalities during the story, (unless that's what you want) or else you'll make it hard for the reader to really connect to the character.