What I Learned From… Community

Time once again (Yay!) for Robert Hruzek’s monthly WILF on Middle Zone Musings. This month’s subject is all about community. So, in keeping with the current theme here on A Writer’s Journey, I’ll be discussing what I learned from community in relation to characters.

---

Within each community, be it a ‘real life’ community, an online one, or one written into fiction, each person seems to have a place. A position, a status, a ‘rank.’ When creating our characters, it is vitally important that we take these positions into consideration.

From the newbie, to the seasoned veteran within a roleplay community; the king of a country in comparison to a chimney sweeper. All will have certain attitudes on towards the other. When our characters interact, we need to always ask ourselves, “What attitudes would this person have towards that person?”

These will of course then affect how your characters interact, their dialogue, and also their behaviour around each other. All of these things add to how easily your readers can suspend disbelief and ultimately how successful your story/roleplay/novel is.

In regards to how your characters develop (a subject that will be covered later this week), it is important to also consider other communities that already exist. Positions within communities are always shifting. The newbie roleplayer may well become as renowned and respected as those who were the veterans when he/she first joined. The chimney sweep may well find himself married to the king’s only daughter. These will change your characters viewpoint, attitudes and demeanour.

However, you must take into consideration how these changes occur. One does not simply change positions overnight. It is a gradual process that not only requires time, but also work. So too must your characters’ different changes (personality, attitude, even attire) be gradual.

Any community you are in can work as a great study piece for you to ensure you keep your characters within the realms of their ‘rank.’ All you need to do is spend a little time watching. Be it in your school, your work, an online community, or even within your own friendship circle. All communities are similar in this sense; or so I have observed for myself.

What do you think?

Am I talking rubbish? Or does my idle musing here make sense? How do you ensure characters act according to their position? Give me some feedback, I value all your thoughts on this area!