Comments on: Original Character Altitis http://check.animeblogger.net/2008/07/18/original-character-altitis/ Unsurprisingly Still Single Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:51:08 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Balorn http://check.animeblogger.net/2008/07/18/original-character-altitis/comment-page-1/#comment-19852 Balorn Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:34:07 +0000 http://check.animeblogger.net/?p=227#comment-19852 Nothing wrong with original characters, as long as a good job is done of introducing them and they're not blatant mary sues. Heck, a few of my favorite fanfics have a pretty big focus on original characters. The trick, I think, is to introduce them slowly, one or two at a time, letting the reader get a feel for them before introducing another, and <i>not</i>, say, bringing in a dozen new characters all at once with minimal descriptions, with the expectation the reader can remember them all (yes, I've read... and stopped reading... fanfics that did this). Nothing wrong with original characters, as long as a good job is done of introducing them and they're not blatant mary sues. Heck, a few of my favorite fanfics have a pretty big focus on original characters.

The trick, I think, is to introduce them slowly, one or two at a time, letting the reader get a feel for them before introducing another, and not, say, bringing in a dozen new characters all at once with minimal descriptions, with the expectation the reader can remember them all (yes, I've read… and stopped reading… fanfics that did this).

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