Characters and Viewpoint

[marycatelli]

Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card

A how to write book.

Covers topics like sources for characters, how to develop the original notion, the differences between serious and comic characterization, how to engage sympathy, the differences between bit and minor and major characters, where you exactly want to stereotype your character (when he's actually so bit that he's scenery), attitude, points of view, and more.

Comments

[mythusmage.livejournal.com]

Does Orson cover situations where that major character turns out to be a rather minor part, or where the bit character ends up becoming something major.

Example: Mohammed in Thomas Harlan's "Oath of Empire". Started out as a bit part, then Tom did some research on the historical Mohammed and so his version took on a major role.

Also changed the ur-plot so that it became the story of the origins of Sauron (The Emperor Michael) and Gandalf (The Prophet Mohammed)

[marycatelli]

He discusses how the terms are squishy, and how you can shift a character. Particularly, if you do anything to draw attention to a character, said character is no longer part of the scenery and so a bit character.