General Writing Techniques

by clichebusters

How to write a story that won't make people barf. Includes everything that you need to know about saving your reputation as a sane author.

4. Chapter 3: In Character or Not?

General Writing Techniques

Applying to the Harry Potter FanFiction

Volume 3: An In-Character Cast

My least favorite mistake, next to good ol' TYping POop, is the out-of-character Draco. This happens mostly in stories where he falls madly in love with Hermione Granger and turns into some sweet, caring, gallant boyfriend. This indicator of the disease Carelessae Mistakeae can happen with any character-a timid, passive Harry; a sex goddess Hermione, or a likable Pansy Parkinson.

Section 1: Harry

As the most important character in the books, I think it is only reasonable to address Mr. Potter first. There are three different kinds of Harry I've noticed dominating the FanFictions:

The In-Character Harry-

A) Traits:

-Courageous

-Reserved

-Slightly quiet

-Not prone to too much irrational behavior

-Powerful, or is it just lucky?

-Occasionally funny, but not the class clown type

-Likable but not overly friendly

-Smart but not intellectual

B) Things he is likely to do:

-Mess up a potion

-Use his invisibility cloak to talk to Hagrid

-Get a tissue for Christmas

C) Allies:

-Hermione & Ron

-Teachers (sans Snape) and Dumbledore

-Hagrid

-Most of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw

D) Adversaries:

-Slytherin in general

-He-who-must-not-be-named

-Draco, Crabbe, Goyle in particular

Harry Pothead-

Traits:

-Has none, as the author was too wasted/stoned/high to know what a character trait is

B) Things he is likely to do:

-Nothing with a point or a plot, as the author was too busy drinking to know what a plot is

C) Allies:

-Mary Sues

-Ron & Hermione, if they exist

D) Adversaries:

-Uhhhh…is that the word that means enemies? NO, WE CAN'T USE THAT! IT MAY VERY WELL ADD A PLOT OR A STORY LINE! AAAAH!

The Mary Sue's Boyfriend (Oh what's his name again…OH! That's right! It's Harry!...Wait, maybe it's Hans…)

Traits:

-Exists purely for the Mary Sue to toy around with

-Passive

-Quiet

-Amazing at all that he does

-OMG, HE'S SO…LYKE, HAWT!

B) Things he is likely to do:

-Snog Mary Sue

-Win the Quidditch match

-Skip classes to go buy Mary Sue something nice and expensive

-Ask Mary Sue to go to Hogsmeade with him

C) Allies:

-Mary Sue

D) Enemies:

-Anyone and everyone the Mary Sue doesn't like

The next character that is often butchered for the sake of FanFiction is Draco Malfoy. There are two kinds that I've seen-

In-Character Draco

A) Traits

-Haughty

-Self-serving

-Intelligent

-Irritable

-Malicious

-Impatient

B) Things he is likely to do:

-Suck up to teachers

-Brag

-Buy a new-and-improved-wow-that's-great whatever

-Primp

C) Allies:

-Slytherin in general

-Snape

-Anyone who will be bribed with a sizeable amount of his father's money-or with their lives.

D) Adversaries:

-Harry, Ron, Hermione. He will never date any of them, good god.

-Gryffindor in general

The "feeds-off-of-Mary-Sue-or-Hermione" Draco

Traits:

-Exists to make the Mary Sue look wonderful

-Sweet and caring

-A lot like his Harry counterpart

-Sometimes secretive (NO ONE CAN KNOW OF OUR SECRET LOVE!)

-Clingy

B) Things he is likely to do:

-Send Mary/Hermione a mushy love letter

-Snog Mary/Hermione

-Things the Mary-Sue dependent Harry would

C) Allies:

-Mary Sue/Hermione and her friends, excluding Harry/Ron if that is the case

D) Enemies:

-Anyone the Mary/Hermione doesn't like

The third character that I think gets put so far out of character it's nauseating would be Hermione. I'm only going to put the in-character version because the butcherings are as varied as the cuts of meat at a Meating house. They usually smell like a Meating house too.

Traits:

-Smart

-Hardworking

-Intellectual

-Semi-reserved

-Not overly pretty (or ugly)

B) Allies:

-Ron

-Harry

-Gryffindor, Hufflepuff in general

-A few Ravenclaws

C) Enemies:

-Slytherins

-Malfoy. With a passion that will keep them from EVER going out. EVER.

D) Things she's likely to do:

-Study

-Ace a test

-Watch Quidditch

So, there you have it. Three snapshots of people I love so much that get butchered so ruthlessly. It's a shame, really. The in-character stories go so much deeper and end up SO much better. So, use this little guide and what common sense you have to save yourself from our wrath.

-Rudy