Hello, all. I'm the narrator of this short story. I, myself, am a character built by Trouble, but instead of explaining how he built me, I'm going to explain things a little differently. For starters, I'm going to list the reasons that I am, in fact, not bulbagarden user "Trouble." You see, I am a speaker, a narrator. My voice and tone are different from Trouble's. I speak differently than he does in real life. In fact, I enjoy using longer sentences and I speak a bit differently. My sentence structuring is quite different from his everyday use of spoken, or even written sentences. But enough about me, I'm here to assist in a demonstration. As a character, I've been given access to Trouble's thinking process and so here is a guide I will walk you through for those like-minded to Trouble who may want to use this process to build characters. If you are not like-minded to Trouble, then you can still enjoy a take on Trouble's mind about building characters.
Welcome to the world of Main Character. Main Character hardly exists as anything, but that cannot be for long. You see, to Trouble, any character worth writing must be sentient. The character must not be a puppet simply to use as a plot device. The character must have its own thoughts, separate from Trouble's, and must make actions different from those that Trouble would consider.
So, Main Character has told Trouble that he wants to be a bit edgy, daring, and have a good sense of humor. He tells Trouble also that he wants his name to reflect that somewhat. Now, no person chooses his own name, so this character must be granted a name by his creator. However, the character certainly does choose his own personality. So, Trouble comes up with a name for Main Character that reflects his personality.
"How's Trevor?" He considers.
Trouble nods and decides that "Trevor" is the most suitable name for this character, but not after considering some others. Perhaps "Trevaunt," or Trey, or something unlike any of the others like "Jake..." No, Trevor is certainly the name.
Now, when building a character, Trouble must consider that it is not necessary for that character to do anything. The character, in order to be a character, simply needs to be. Once he exists, circumstances will surround him that make him do, or depending on who he is, not do.
However, in order for circumstances to be around, there has to be other forces, or other characters. Trouble can't just make one character, and he knows that. So the journey continues for Trevor, for you see, he does not become his own character by himself. He must have another character or force to exist to make his character become.
So what is in his environment? Parents? Grandparents? Siblings? A life-long friend? All of the above? As Trouble tries out different characters, he must remember, the character he builds next cannot be dependent on Trevor. Rather, this character must be able to exist on his her or its own. So, with that in mind, Trouble does not create another character for Trevor, he creates another character to be with Trevor. Mark the difference well.
He considers a voice that tells him, "I want to be supportive, kind, and caring." But another speaks up as well, "I want to be independent, brave, and social."
The first makes for a good friend, but the second makes for a good rival.
Trouble decides on the second one, and a name: Joel.
Trouble puts them in a scenario together where things can happen, and watches it play out. The result becomes characters that build themselves.
He puts a climbing rock in front of the two of them, and has them meet for the first time.
(Keep in mind, plot is not a factor yet, simply characterization. How do these two interact, given only limited circumstances?)
* * *
A short, dark-skinned, dark-haired boy saw a figure in the distance. Definitely human.
I've gotta introduce myself. He thought. He ran up to the figure excitedly. He loved to meet new people.
Upon observing the boy, he recognized his lighter skin, dark eyes, and light hair.
"Hello," said the darker-skinned boy, "my name is Joel. What's yours?"
"I'm Trevor." He replied. He seemed to have a proud heir about him... or maybe just smug. Joel couldn't tell yet, but he was awfully good at reading people. He had been around so many people in his life of twenty years, and reading them was easy. They were pretty predictable, but he loved people. In fact, Joel couldn't stand being alone. It had little to do with his regard for his independence, and more to do with the energy that he picked up from people, he thrived on it.
* * *
Now, notice, Trouble's character has to make a decision. He told Trouble both "independent," and "social." Those two can't always co-exist, and sometimes a person just can't be both. Here, he has decided he thrives off of other people's energy. Therefore, he cannot be independent. He must be around people. Despite the fact that Trevor was set to be the main character, and was the first one to speak to Trouble, Joel has presented himself first in this situation, making himself a more involved character than Trevor. This may sound nearly psychotic, but all these characters, to a degree, exist in Trouble. It's almost like acting, it simply has to be that way for Trouble. No "role playing" is required on his part, but he must develop a new mind and core when writing these characters, or they will simply be versions of him, and not real characters. Let's continue watching...
* * *
Trevor smirked, noticing Joel's silence. Trevor got the feeling Joel was sizing him up, "Well then, Joel, you came all the way here. Did you have business with me?"
*Note: Trevor is very direct and to the point. He doesn't like guessing like Joel does, he just asks questions and expects answers.*
"Well," Joel replied, "seeing as we're the only people around here for miles, I thought we had better get to know each other. Maybe, if we're headed the same way, we can help each other out."
*Little do they know that they're the only ones in this current universe of Trouble's.*
"You help me out? I'm not sure, I think I've got this on my own."
Smug, just as Joel would have guessed.
* * *
Notice that because of the characters, the climbing rock wasn't even mentioned in this scenario. The characters decided they were more interested in sizing each other up than competing with each other.
Well, for the sake of the actual plot, which is building Trevor and Joel up, we're going to drop that scenario now. You've had a glimpse of Trouble's process. There's more to come in his other fics, but before I let you all go, I'm going to give you one more scenario. What happens when Trouble begins "Shuppeteering," that is, putting his wants for the plot onto the characters? Well, this we must see...
* * *
A short, dark-skinned, dark-haired boy saw a figure in the distance. Definitely human.
I've gotta introduce myself. He thought. He ran up to the figure excitedly. He loved to meet new people.
Upon observing the boy, he recognized his lighter skin, dark eyes, and light hair.
"Hello," said the darker-skinned boy, "my name is Joel. What's yours?"
"I'm Trevor." He replied. He seemed to have a proud heir about him... or maybe just smug. Joel couldn't tell yet, but he was awfully good at reading people. He had been around so many people in his life of twenty years, and reading them was easy. They were pretty predictable, but he loved people. In fact, Joel couldn't stand being alone. It had little to do with his regard for his independence, and more to do with the energy that he picked up from people, he thrived on it.
Trevor smirked, noticing Joel's silence. Trevor got the feeling Joel was sizing him up, "Well then, Joel, you came all the way here. Did you have business with me?"
"I bet I can beat you to the top of that rock!" Joel paused, "Wait that's not right..."
*permission granted for this character to address the author*
"Who, what, who do you think I am?"
Trevor stood in silence, with no idea what was going on
*I didn't let Trevor in on the fact that he's a character in Trouble's world. You know, divine knowledge is only given to some... oh never mind that.*
"You... you can't just make me do or say something. Why would you force thoughts, words, or actions on me? How would you like it if someone did that to you?"
* * *
Trouble believes that everyone to some extent is a character in a story, and they build themselves by things they do or say. In the fics he's written here, he could point to different instances in which characters very much made their own decisions and developed themselves. It surprises even him how certain characters that he never imagined would be along for the journey insert themselves in the lives of his main characters.
Anyhow, as the speaker and presenter of this strange fiction... if that's what we're calling it now... I hope you enjoyed this guide and maybe use something you've learned from it.
Sincerely, Grisham (He JUST gave me that name!)
Welcome to the world of Main Character. Main Character hardly exists as anything, but that cannot be for long. You see, to Trouble, any character worth writing must be sentient. The character must not be a puppet simply to use as a plot device. The character must have its own thoughts, separate from Trouble's, and must make actions different from those that Trouble would consider.
So, Main Character has told Trouble that he wants to be a bit edgy, daring, and have a good sense of humor. He tells Trouble also that he wants his name to reflect that somewhat. Now, no person chooses his own name, so this character must be granted a name by his creator. However, the character certainly does choose his own personality. So, Trouble comes up with a name for Main Character that reflects his personality.
"How's Trevor?" He considers.
Trouble nods and decides that "Trevor" is the most suitable name for this character, but not after considering some others. Perhaps "Trevaunt," or Trey, or something unlike any of the others like "Jake..." No, Trevor is certainly the name.
Now, when building a character, Trouble must consider that it is not necessary for that character to do anything. The character, in order to be a character, simply needs to be. Once he exists, circumstances will surround him that make him do, or depending on who he is, not do.
However, in order for circumstances to be around, there has to be other forces, or other characters. Trouble can't just make one character, and he knows that. So the journey continues for Trevor, for you see, he does not become his own character by himself. He must have another character or force to exist to make his character become.
So what is in his environment? Parents? Grandparents? Siblings? A life-long friend? All of the above? As Trouble tries out different characters, he must remember, the character he builds next cannot be dependent on Trevor. Rather, this character must be able to exist on his her or its own. So, with that in mind, Trouble does not create another character for Trevor, he creates another character to be with Trevor. Mark the difference well.
He considers a voice that tells him, "I want to be supportive, kind, and caring." But another speaks up as well, "I want to be independent, brave, and social."
The first makes for a good friend, but the second makes for a good rival.
Trouble decides on the second one, and a name: Joel.
Trouble puts them in a scenario together where things can happen, and watches it play out. The result becomes characters that build themselves.
He puts a climbing rock in front of the two of them, and has them meet for the first time.
(Keep in mind, plot is not a factor yet, simply characterization. How do these two interact, given only limited circumstances?)
* * *
A short, dark-skinned, dark-haired boy saw a figure in the distance. Definitely human.
I've gotta introduce myself. He thought. He ran up to the figure excitedly. He loved to meet new people.
Upon observing the boy, he recognized his lighter skin, dark eyes, and light hair.
"Hello," said the darker-skinned boy, "my name is Joel. What's yours?"
"I'm Trevor." He replied. He seemed to have a proud heir about him... or maybe just smug. Joel couldn't tell yet, but he was awfully good at reading people. He had been around so many people in his life of twenty years, and reading them was easy. They were pretty predictable, but he loved people. In fact, Joel couldn't stand being alone. It had little to do with his regard for his independence, and more to do with the energy that he picked up from people, he thrived on it.
* * *
Now, notice, Trouble's character has to make a decision. He told Trouble both "independent," and "social." Those two can't always co-exist, and sometimes a person just can't be both. Here, he has decided he thrives off of other people's energy. Therefore, he cannot be independent. He must be around people. Despite the fact that Trevor was set to be the main character, and was the first one to speak to Trouble, Joel has presented himself first in this situation, making himself a more involved character than Trevor. This may sound nearly psychotic, but all these characters, to a degree, exist in Trouble. It's almost like acting, it simply has to be that way for Trouble. No "role playing" is required on his part, but he must develop a new mind and core when writing these characters, or they will simply be versions of him, and not real characters. Let's continue watching...
* * *
Trevor smirked, noticing Joel's silence. Trevor got the feeling Joel was sizing him up, "Well then, Joel, you came all the way here. Did you have business with me?"
*Note: Trevor is very direct and to the point. He doesn't like guessing like Joel does, he just asks questions and expects answers.*
"Well," Joel replied, "seeing as we're the only people around here for miles, I thought we had better get to know each other. Maybe, if we're headed the same way, we can help each other out."
*Little do they know that they're the only ones in this current universe of Trouble's.*
"You help me out? I'm not sure, I think I've got this on my own."
Smug, just as Joel would have guessed.
* * *
Notice that because of the characters, the climbing rock wasn't even mentioned in this scenario. The characters decided they were more interested in sizing each other up than competing with each other.
Well, for the sake of the actual plot, which is building Trevor and Joel up, we're going to drop that scenario now. You've had a glimpse of Trouble's process. There's more to come in his other fics, but before I let you all go, I'm going to give you one more scenario. What happens when Trouble begins "Shuppeteering," that is, putting his wants for the plot onto the characters? Well, this we must see...
* * *
A short, dark-skinned, dark-haired boy saw a figure in the distance. Definitely human.
I've gotta introduce myself. He thought. He ran up to the figure excitedly. He loved to meet new people.
Upon observing the boy, he recognized his lighter skin, dark eyes, and light hair.
"Hello," said the darker-skinned boy, "my name is Joel. What's yours?"
"I'm Trevor." He replied. He seemed to have a proud heir about him... or maybe just smug. Joel couldn't tell yet, but he was awfully good at reading people. He had been around so many people in his life of twenty years, and reading them was easy. They were pretty predictable, but he loved people. In fact, Joel couldn't stand being alone. It had little to do with his regard for his independence, and more to do with the energy that he picked up from people, he thrived on it.
Trevor smirked, noticing Joel's silence. Trevor got the feeling Joel was sizing him up, "Well then, Joel, you came all the way here. Did you have business with me?"
"I bet I can beat you to the top of that rock!" Joel paused, "Wait that's not right..."
*permission granted for this character to address the author*
"Who, what, who do you think I am?"
Trevor stood in silence, with no idea what was going on
*I didn't let Trevor in on the fact that he's a character in Trouble's world. You know, divine knowledge is only given to some... oh never mind that.*
"You... you can't just make me do or say something. Why would you force thoughts, words, or actions on me? How would you like it if someone did that to you?"
* * *
Trouble believes that everyone to some extent is a character in a story, and they build themselves by things they do or say. In the fics he's written here, he could point to different instances in which characters very much made their own decisions and developed themselves. It surprises even him how certain characters that he never imagined would be along for the journey insert themselves in the lives of his main characters.
Anyhow, as the speaker and presenter of this strange fiction... if that's what we're calling it now... I hope you enjoyed this guide and maybe use something you've learned from it.
Sincerely, Grisham (He JUST gave me that name!)
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