"Have I met you before?"

Have you ever asked somebody that question? More importantly, have you ever asked your character that question before?

If you answered yes, then you know where I'm going. Let's face it, we all have certain character patterns that we like to follow. We all have certain molds that we feel obligated to fill again and again each time we take to the pen or keyboard to bring another character into existence. This is not a bad thing all the time, though if done improperly it can be damaging to your story and detrimental to your growth as a writer, (note, only if done improperly) and it should be acknowledged and addressed. If you know what pattern you typically follow when creating characters then you can learn how to work this pattern differently to create a wider variety of more colorful characters in different stories.

So what are your patterns, out of curiosity?

Mine are damaged/wounded characters. I typically create a character with something as simple as an image or phrase that pops into my head to describe them and then go about to find out something painful or tragic in their past. It will be either something they regret, resent, fear or have experienced but still suffer effects from that experience. This is important to me because their past often defines the reasons behind what they do, or their hesitancy to do certain things, in the present.

So what's yours? Have you ever met a character type more than once in your stories?

(Note to mods: I have no idea if this is in the right place or not, I'm just guessing. )

Interesting topic... *will think on this*

(WD works well, though Village Lore would work just as well, if not better. )

I'll be interested in seeing your answer.

After thinking it through, I've realized that I tend to use obsessed characters. I don't usually create them this way... it's usually just ends up popping up in the story as an aid to plot. However, once I discover my character's obsession, I'll run with it -- even to the point where one of my main characters turns evil and then later dies because of an obsession he wouldn't control.

(That's the same charry I discussed in the Tragic Hero thread, if you were wondering, Kaitlyn. )

This is actually something I have always wanted to avoid from series to series, which is why I am thinking about a new way to shake things up when I go to write my next series.

*nods* Because the characters would end up becoming too similar?

Yes. I don't want Valiah to end up being similar to Airianna, you know?

*nods* Yeah, I see your point. Thankfully, the Main MC (I've got three ) for my WIP doesn't fit this pattern, but seeing several other characters (including the second-most important MC in my WIP) with this pattern makes me a little worrisome.

On the other hand, I might be confusing 'what gives motivation' with obsession...

I tend to kill off everyone biologically related to a major character... got loads of charries running around with dead/slain/murdered parents and/or siblings

*marks that down as something not to do, because she could so see herself doing that *

That reminds me of my sister's stories.

Killing entire character's families can be useful. It's useful for development in the long run.

I (nominally) (plan to) base many of my characters on people I know (using the method of "what would this person, translated into this other world and changed by these experiences, do thereafter?"). But there are probably some character traits that are far too common among all my characters as described, that I'm too close to my writing to see ...

There's precedent for this---Asimov was infamous for having stories hinge on characters having strange, irrational fears.

My characters tend to have dark pasts. I just find those sorts of characters easier for me to write than someone with super happy lives. I don't know for sure why.

Hrmmm... I tend to use characters from a safe world that are then thrown into one of chaos. That probably reflects a lot of my personal experience though, since I've always had a very safe home and being thrown into unfamiliar situations is often a challenge for me.

Hmm. Many of my characters have dead family members. And the ones that don't have dead family members have somewhat dysfunctional families (starting out, at least). Other than that I can't think of very many similarities my characters share, most of 'em are pretty different.

It's my plots that have a tendency to resemble each other.

Many of my characters have the tendancy to be sarcastic, either to be mean or to tease. (Usually to tease.) They are good with coming up with quick come-back remarks. (I am myself, usually. ) I'm figuring out what ones need I need to cut down on that aspect so they aren't so much alike.

Larger than life action heroes. *nods*

With variation, of course.

My characters are philosophers. * grins * Not all of them, of course...but I usually have at least one in every book.

One trend that my characters tend to have as a whole though is that they think a lot...I keep thinking I will have to minimize that to a more realistic level...but I like them thinking a lot....

I find that a lot of my characters die. Especially the 'good' characters.

I find that my characters generally have a lot fear originating from their past and they often deal with it by suppressing it from others and becoming closed off. While it may be overused right now in my writing, eventually I hope to write something using this type of situation...

And my characters also generally end up getting one older brother whom they're close with.

My characters are usually trying to help someone - occasionally a friend, but more often a lost or endangered sibling. I don't think it's a coincidence that my worst nightmare is seeing my little brothers in trouble, and being unable to protect them. My characters also tend to be kind of snarky.

My characters typically have a sad or depressing back story and are just trying to push through in life. They also tend to have dysfunctional families or bad relationships with their parents/siblings.

Interesting. I've yet to delve into fear-related obsessions (heh, maybe I should ), but so far I have a blood-revenge/parental approval obsession, and a need-to-wholly-belong-to-fantasy obsession (I had not realized 'til now how odd that last one sounds ). I'm certain I have a few more, but they're not coming to me now. (Been too long since I've been writing. )

It has.