Characters: They're [Supposed to Be] People, Too

So here's another little something for the novice writers out there.

How many times have you read a novel and thought: okay, plot was great. Writing style--liked that. Characters? meh.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6407514-forest-born

That's actually what I thought while reading Shannon Hale's Forest Born this week. Don't get me wrong, I ADORE her books (5 stars for Goose Girl) and have since high school. It's just that syndrome where the first book is your all-time favorite and the other books don't get quite as much love, they just don't seem as great. Which is why I don't really like the idea of writing series, because I don't know if I could trust myself to undo such a dangerous thing as that.

Anyway, it's her last book, and I thought she sort of painted herself in a corner. She has Isi, Enna, Dasha, three powerful, fun, and witty female characters (think fun bantering and threats from Enna, I've got a sassy character like her). And then she has Rin, a character who's motif throughout the book is that she's someone else's shadow. Did I mention Rin is the main character?

I'm not trying to bash Hale's story, because when one reads the book, they do get a sense of wanting to become your best self and learn who you are and refine that image. That's all fine and dandy, but Rin sounded so depressing the whole book, wanting to sacrifice herself to dangerous events to protect others--basically telling herself others' lives are more valuable than her own. If the main character thinks that she isn't worth reading about, shouldn't that be a red flag? Main characters should never think like that!

I understand readers come into the ring w/ different backgrounds; I've been very fortunate to never have been in Rin's mindset, so a lot of her reasoning and doubts I couldn't sympathize with. I say that because I know every person has weaknesses, we can't all be the best all the time. But when you have a character that has growing moments and passes w/ flying colors--and then tear themselves up afterwards, it makes reading on that much more difficult.

It turns out that Rin holds herself back because she has this power that she thinks will hurt others--but Isi, Enna, and Dasha do, too and seem to handle themselves just fine. All the characters regret something they've done w/ their powers as well, but Rin holds herself back almost the entire novel while the others get over it and lead on interesting lives. Rin doesn't forgive herself when she's been multiple instances to do so, which again, maybe I don't understand. I honestly hope I don't ever have to understand. But it doesn't seem normal.

So I decided, that in many cases, instead of arguing or venting, why not just avoid this altogether? These are my personal feelings, so I invite anyone to let me know if I'm way off the mark:

1. I feel like, if you can't write about such things as guilt, shame, insecurity or things like that w/o appearing fake, maybe you shouldn't write about them. Some people have vivid stories to tell and they should tell them, and there are people out there that can tell happy stories, and we need those, too.
2. But if negative motifs belong in your story (c'mon, you can't have a war novel w/o things like guilt, shame, hate, ect) for Pete's sake do some research! I've got lots of injuries in my story like bashed heads, stabs, twisted ankles, and I've never broken a bone, but luckily I've got a dad who knows his stuff. There are plenty of sites out there that would have information on ailments both physical and mental. When making the non-existant look real, you can't have someone stumble out of a burning house fit as a fiddle doing cartwheels.
3. I'm mainly referring to the main character when I say: if they're going to have self-esteem issues, give them some sort of redeeming value that makes you at least sympathize. I don't know how many books that I've read where the main character says "oh, I'm horrible at singing, and dancing, and riding, and I don't look pretty, and I can't cook, I'm shy, I'm weak, I'm useless..." uh...why should I keep reading? Give your character something they're good at, heck, even something they know they're good at and enjoy doing. I admit, a character that thinks too highly of himself is borderline witty or annoying. But if their personality is bland and colorless, you could cripple the other elements of storytelling.
4. Have someone read your work/read it out-loud. Editing might reveal some cliche' wordings (it sure has for me!) and especially w/ someone else reading--I tell you, if someone is willing to read your stuff and critique it--worship the ground they walk upon and take that offer. If their perception of what's going on is what you intended more or less, that's a good sign. If they don't care and don't hit the emotional level a scene is supposed to have, touch it up.
5. If it helps, map out your character: make even a mini autobio. That's right, autobiography. Have them summarize themselves, their likes, dislikes, what makes them cringe, what embarasses them, you name it. If you can draw a circle around their personality, it makes it easier to capture their essence better on the page.
6. People-watch. It's stalking but research all at once. And it's entertaining!

I don't know, maybe someone should read the book and tell me if I'm off. But as my Creative Writing professor told us in her class: every rule in creative writing can be broken, just as long as it's on purpose and for a good reason. A bestseller reason.

I know that I'm not saying all this to complain, but as self-critiquing, too. With my first drafts, my main character was rather whiny and pathetic, which is kind of what I wanted: I wanted to write about a girl who goes from not lifting a finger to really being combative, powerful and fan-flippin'-tastic.

But I realized when editing, I needed to hook my readers from the get-go that this girl I invented is worth reading about, that she has problems to overcome, but she's special, she's unique, and worth their attention and affections and above all, she feels real.

So this isn't me being mean about someone else's work (I promise, I love Shannon Hale! Forgive me!)--this is me seeing what someone wrote and deciding for me & my work, it isn't my style, it isn't what I like to read, so I'm taking an alternative route.