Omniscient Characters

12Jun13

Here’s the problem about writing fanfiction where you insert a character into the action: you already know what’s going to happen.

You may be asking, well, why is that problem? It doesn’t have to be but it usually is. Remember what I said about Mary Sues? How they know everything? And that is BORING. Yes, with all caps.

There is a way to do a character who knows everything. Many fanfiction writers either lack the skills or the talent to do so well. So it’s mostly Mary Sues who suddenly have knowledge they shouldn’t. There was one author who at least made the attempt to explain why her character had the knowledge: the character belonged to a race of Mary Sues faeries who were among the firstborn of Middle-earth. This of course spits on the history Tolkien came up with for Middle-earth but otherwise, it’s at least an answer. The problem was the character still came across as an entitled bitch. Especially as said character was actually in the form of a Hobbit girl. So while the character has this special knowledge, when she reveals it–it’s suspicious to the people around her. But when they react that way, she is snotty to them–though no doubt the author thought she was being “mysterious”–and they let her be. It might make sense from the author’s standpoint–the character is right and so the other characters can’t reprimand her. Probably because the author thought “Why would they reprimand her? She’s right!”

And there’s another problem with writing omniscient characters. You as the author know they are correct. But the characters don’t know s/he is right. So they should react as such and it’s okay if the character is indignant. And it’s okay if the characters apologize after the reveal. But it’s also cooler if a character calls them out on it even after. Like “You took a chance revealing that information” or “You were quite condescending when it was uncalled for.” Something like that.

So how do most fanfiction writers end up inadvertently writing an omniscient character? Mostly by copying the movie or episodes verbatim. By then giving lines to your original character without explaining why they would have that knowledge, a writer creates an omniscient character.

The remedy? Well, do not copy the script! Come up with original dialogue for your original character. But also do the following:  Come up with a plausible reason for your character to have this knowledge. Perhaps it’s something your character is passionate about so s/he tries to learn everything s/he can. Or the person is close to an older person with the knowledge and s/he has absorbed it over the years. But be careful. Choose only one or two topics for your character to be knowledgeable about. If s/he has all the knowledge needed, no plausible explanation will save him or her from Stu/Suedom. Also, your character will not have a chance to make mistakes and learn. And, I cannot stress it enough, characters need to make mistakes and learn.

Please…no omniscient characters. Please.

Filed under: Fanfiction, Lord of the Rings   |  2 Comments
Tags: characters, omniscient