About Jaina Expertise I am here as a guide to young and aspiring writers, to help them understand not only why they want to write, but what makes their writing "sparkle". I offer support and a helping hand to young people who want to write but suffer from writer's block, or do not know how to get started. I can also help with grammer, and writing in general. I'll also answer questions about creativity, developing a unique style, and writer's block. My extensive study of psychology has allowed me better control and accuracy in the emotional depths of my writing, allowing me to give expert advice on how to control emotion in the reader. Please, no homework questions.
Experience I have experience in a wide range of genres, including non-fiction, which most creative writers shy away from. Another of my passions is the study of human behaviour. Understanding emotions and reactions to a depth is an incredibly useful tool for making your writing "realistic". A poor understanding of emotion can result in writng becoming "unbelievable", a disaster for any author.
A lot of my fiction is "dressed-up" psychology, but the depth of the explored emotion/dilemma/character study is explored through the story. I mostly do this for young children and teens, as they prefer the fictional element that the story offers, as oppose to the less entertaining essay, while still understanding the message, or moral of the story.
One of my favourite forms of writing is fanfiction; a way of showing your appreciation for other authors' work by taking the story further. I started out that way and now I'm addicted. I write mostly science-fiction and fantasy, but often I find myself trying my hand at crime.
Organizations I belong to a countless number of chat boards (my love for fanfiction). I'm afraid you'll have to look around, though.
Publications I am looking into publishing some of my original works, which I have been putting off for a very long time! At the moment, things are looking very promising.
I have posted my fanfiction at many different sites, I'm afraid you'll just have to look around.
Expert: Jaina Date: 6/15/2006 Subject: original character
Question Hello, I love writing too, and people say I'm good but they can't get into my characters. I always have trouble creating original characters, they all turn out the same! Can you help?
Answer Hello Hannah. Sorry this was late, my email was being a thug.
Yes, characters can be tricky. Since I'm not sure what you meant by "get into" your character, I can only guess what the problem is. Here are a few hints:
When you are creating an original character, you are creating a new personality, look, and instinct; basically, a whole new person (I'm assuming they're human. Same goes for an alien.) The reason your characters may all be very alike is because you are attracted to a certain personality, or look, that you can identify with or enjoy writing. These traits you like your character to have might even be your own. The problem with this is that it can become repetitive. Readers like characters that clash, there's nothing wrong with your characters having some things in common (in personality), eg: they both like the colour red, both rarely show emotion, both like animals; they just need to be identified as being different in some way. This difference can become a major part of the story, as it can provoke conflict, attraction, confusion, and it can be an influence on the choices they will make. How the characters differ can be shown through their speech, actions, reactions and thoughts.
Some people appear to be identical at first glance, like identical twins. They make look the same, have the same mannerisms, but they are really quite different. They will have completely different personalities, guaranteed, and as they grow, these differences will slowly become more noticeable. In your case, as the story moves on, the contrast between the two (or more) characters will slowly reveal itself.
Characters need to be flawed. Everybody has flaws, and characters who don't can come across to readers as unreal. Don't go for the confident, pretty, good at sports persona. Give them a crooked nose, a shy personality, one flaw at least so that readers can identify, and sympathise with them. People generally don't like somebody who's apparantly perfect, it provokes jealousy, and who wants to read a story where the main character (MC) makes you feel worthless, or that you're lacking something?
How did you introduce your character? Was it slow, or all at once. The general rule is: show, don't tell. When you meet someone new, do you spend ten minutes staring at them. No. If there's something striking about the character at first glance, then write that down. Don't go into detail about everything they're wearing or what their face looks like. It is unnecessary. It slows everything down, and if you find your story dragging in places it may be because you've evaluated too much on the descriptions.
Half the solution to making readers care about your MC lies within the beginning. You have perhaps a paragraph to capture the reader's attention. Since not much character development can be done in one paragraph, you must fall back on situation. This means you must arrange a situation where your MC faces a dire problem which readers can identify with: they are facing a terminal illness, or their mother has abandoned them -- something compelling like that. Right away readers are interested in the character because they can imagine how they would feel in his/her situation. As this process continues, with one after another challenge being presented, the character is developed through their actions and reactions. The situation you place your character in can also reveal a bit about their past.
You have asked me a very complexed question, and I hope that this has helped you. If it hasn't explained enough, please feel free to ask me another question, and I'll be happy to help.
