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Weird Characters?

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:53 pm
by Night-Hunter
When writing weird characters is just in the dialogue or is it some thing else?

Re: Weird Characters?

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 3:26 pm
by Aesir
abhorrent behaviour is often useful in weird characters, like a peculiar facial tick or a piece of compulsive behaviour

Re: Weird Characters?

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:41 pm
by JazZeke
First, I'm not exactly sure what your asking because that sentence is grammatically incorrect. Second, "weird" is a vague, subjective term. Weird in what way? Third, never rely solely on dialogue to establish "weirdness." Otherwise you'll just create the next Jar Jar Binks. Just like with every other form of characterization, you must also rely on action, subjective thought, and a whole list of other tools to shape a character.

Re: Weird Characters?

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:58 pm
by Night-Hunter
First, I'm not exactly sure what your asking because that sentence is grammatically incorrect. Second, "weird" is a vague, subjective term. Weird in what way? Third, never rely solely on dialogue to establish "weirdness." Otherwise you'll just create the next Jar Jar Binks. Just like with every other form of characterization, you must also rely on action, subjective thought, and a whole list of other tools to shape a character.
Um, ok. Does "off his rocker" or "crazier then a sh*t house rat" help? Characters that are so creepy that they should belong in a nut house.

And i'd rather not want to creat the next Jar Jar Binks thank you very much, that's why i asked if creating a strange and unusual characters is just more then dialogue. And as you pointed out I must also rely action and subjective thought.
abhorrent behaviour is often useful in weird characters, like a peculiar facial tick or a piece of compulsive behaviour
Thanks.

Re: Weird Characters?

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 12:26 am
by JazZeke
Aesir wrote:abhorrent behaviour is often useful in weird characters, like a peculiar facial tick or a piece of compulsive behaviour
That doesn't automatically equal crazy though. It's a common enough devise to show that an otherwise-normal protagonist has some psychological "issues," ranging from minor to major.

Re: Weird Characters?

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 3:12 am
by Aesir
JazZeke wrote:
Aesir wrote:abhorrent behaviour is often useful in weird characters, like a peculiar facial tick or a piece of compulsive behaviour
That doesn't automatically equal crazy though. It's a common enough devise to show that an otherwise-normal protagonist has some psychological "issues," ranging from minor to major.
I did say "often" remember though