To Create an Epic OC and updates to LoP · 11:53pm Mar 23rd, 2014
Greetings All,
Hello again. Hope you're doing well. Just thought I'd share something that's been on my mind.
As I continue to write Legacy of the Pegasi, I've been thinking about OC characters and how to do them well. In particular I've been thinking the really epic characters, those that carry weight with the reader. It seems like such a difficult task. How do you create a three dimensional character that is significant? A few authors on here seem to have captured that concept. Cyborg Samurai's characters from The Powers of Harmony come to mind. The guards in particular are very well done, each with distinct personalities and characteristics. I've often thought about how to create an epic and powerful character on the scale of Luna or Celestia would take several stories to establish. The princesses have the benefit of the show and the embellishment of the fandom over time.
It's almost as if I would need an origin story for said character, to grow into a hero. Then to switch to another story centered around another character, only for the first character to show up in this story. Only this time, the audience has the benefit of the first character's deeds and history, they carry weight, their personality is established, readers might even anticipate actions of the character because they know what they would typically do given a situation.
That's really the only way I can think of creating a an original character to be on par with Luna/Celestia so to speak. Although I'd like to think all the snippets of info pertaining to the Archon courtesy of Soarin', Silver Wings, etc. have hopefully created a little bit of weight before his eventual reveal. That's something that I've always used as a real measure with successful stories here on Fimfiction: the mane 6 have general character parameters that most people expect (unless you're going for a crack fic or such as this), but to create a character from scratch, without a cartoon, without three years of collective fan consensus (personalities for background ponies), to create a character that readers can come to care for/grow attached to and believe in, all within the breadth of a single story, that truly is commendable.
In other news, I realize I'm a bit overdue with Legacy of the Pegasi. I have chapter 16 started, but it really should be farther along right now. I blame the usual suspects (Titanfall, XCOM, Diablo III, a huge backlog of games, trying to keep up with all the stuff the fandom throws out there, the stupid amount of read later and favorited stories I haven't touched in months,work, etc.). But I'm still chugging away at it. Concerning revisions, expect the first few chapters to receive some reworking, while most chapters may also receive small edited/added snippets. At this point expect no changes to the plot. I've also reworked the second paragraph in LoP's summary, I believe this flows better and is less jarring and spoilerish.
I would also like to say thanks to everyone for reading and sticking with my story. After one of you commented (very constructively I might add) on the slow pacing of the story, I'm glad so many of you have stuck to what might seem like a boring story at times. I won't be changing any of the previous chapters in regards to the pacing, but I'm definitely going to pay more attention to it in the future so I can actually finish this story. Good thing season five is coming, I've got other stories to write and I want to finish before the series is over!
Also, Luna needs to be a dream warrior or something. Battle with this sentient nightmare that jumps from victim to victim and can do real harm (ala Freddy Kruger). That would be awesome. Just another story idea. Damnit...
Until next blog,
-secret89
Well I'm no expert but I'll give the advise I can, when creating a pony that you want people to like I guess you could take a moment to think about how this character can connect with the readers( know what I mean?) you might wanna take a little time and really develop their character throughout the story like say they start off mean and distant and they soften up a bit as time ( er story) goes by and maybe give them a little bit of a sad back story(and this is if they're gonna be really important characters like the main character or whatnot ) anyways like I said I'm no expert and I really hope this helps
I would generally argue that any OC has the potential to be a good OC, yes, even ones who have what might seem to be "game breaking special abilities" or unique defining traits. The key is in your presentation, namely does the character you create fit within the story your trying to write? Are they fully fleshed as a character? How is said character integrated into the setting? What role does he or she play within the story...etc?
The big problem is that there is a huge bias against OCs on general principle in this fandom, particularly those with any qualities that might set them apart as distinct. So popular opinion causes a lot of backlash against people who try to write the way actual authors would (by presenting an OC's interesting traits to draw readers in and reveal more of their depth throughout the course of the story) and instead fuel demand for some sort of ridiculous idea that OCs should be presented right away with a complete list of all their flaws and foibles in order for the author to assert that they are a balanced character and head off any criticism they might get, which sabotages the flow and development of the story.
So yeah, if you ignore the brain-dead morons who are willing to pass summary judgment on a story in the first chapter and shout "Mary Sue/Gary Stu" at the slightest provocation (not that they actually know what those terms mean anymore), then you can make a descent OC out of anyone if you know how to present them properly.
1950544
This is a very good point. I hadn't thought about the disposition of readers toward fan-fiction as opposed to those of literature. You are correct; the typical development of a character in an original story would (and most likely does) stand to fall prey to accusations of Mary Stu/Gary Stu, but it seems some have prevailed over such obstacles.
1950423
Good points. Moving from a harsher personality to less so over the course of the story would defiantly open up opportunities to explain the character's backstory, etc.