Being a Better Writer: Uncertain Characters · 9:11pm February 26th
Welcome back, writers! Bit by bit, things return to what’s regularly scheduled. Work on Axtara – Magic and Mayhem has resumed, Being a Better Writer is finally coming at the usual rate again, and I’m kicking out a nasty flu that has long overstayed its welcome.
It almost feels fitting then that today’s topic would return to a bit of uncertainty. Today, I want to talk about uncertain characters. Which I realize is a bit of a strange topic. Most of the time when writers talk about characters its about foils or nailing subplots. “Uncertainty” seems to be a bit of an odd jump to make. But as with most topics on the list, it’s there because I saw something in it, something reflected in writing or that wasn’t being addressed, and felt it warranted discussion.
So hit that jump, uncertain as you may be to the topic, and buckle in. Because uncertainty should be a tool in our toolbox, both of character and narrative. And sometimes, I worry that new writers are completely setting it aside.
I don't know if it's just changing tastes, being more conscious of a story's quality, or getting worn out by the same old, same old. But these days, I'm honestly more likely to be suspicious, and thus be less interested, of a story with a hyperconfident, unfaltering lead character than one with an uncertain protagonist.
I obviously don't mean that as an extreme. As you note, there are greys to both. Part of my stance here is that many authors confuse, or intentionally mix, confidence with competence, and while what you say about the thrills to be had with a character who doesn't falter and just gets the job done is right and true, that just doesn't do it for me without quality writing or hefty compensating factors. Or, at least, it makes it harder to be invested.
Of course, by no means do I desire an uncertain character questioning their own skill and being indecisive at every turn either. There's a reason folks tired on how Twilight was in every two-parter once she became a Princess.
Many characters arcs that pivot on uncertainty turn out as stock as they come, make no mistake. The trick for me is a character that is skilful and competent, but not insurmountably so, and is uncertain at the right moments and in ways that make sense or were properly built up to. Which probably sounds "well, duh", as those are just specific hyper-examples of being a better writer.
That's just of course my general preference: examples of either can and do hook me right and fierce when done right and in a fitting manner. But by default, these days, I certainly am less attracted, rather than more so, by media the "inviting" point is characters with egos who are narcissistic, even if it's charmingly and justifiably so. Both because it's done horribly even more so that Sturgeon's Law normally applies, and because when it's done bad, it's not even fun.
Of course, this changing stance could just be a result of shifting from the ambition of my younger days to more modest, domestic values as I've aged a little. I don't think that's it – my attraction to fiction has almost never being how much I personally rate to characters – but I won't fully rule it out.
5770028 Well, that and the number of hyperconfident, unfaltering lead characters who happened to be red-and-black alicorn stallions... I wrote a response-fic to that particular ilk, as well as a response fic to the vast number of Twilight Sparkle ships that roughly went "Hello, we've never met before and now we'll fall hopelessly in love and bang before Chapter 2." That particular fic (ahem) got a bit out of control, but I stopped at three stories. Mostly.