Emotional detachment is always required if you need to write a story from an objective viewpoint. Most writers however, end up falling in love with some of their characters and go to great lengths to save them from pain that would have helped them learn some important lessons in life and so on.

I'm guilty of that myself. I always want my protagonist to be on top of the game all the time.

Do any of you get emotionally entangled with your characters?

Why don't you look at it like this....they can't be on top of their game if they are always right and ok...You have to have periods of down to know what up is, periods of darkness so you can see the light. When you're always in the light you don't know what darkness is and there's nothing to compare it to.

Also, it's in our darkest moments that we are strongest. So: Really, you're robbing your character of their defining moments and moments to shine .


And to answer your question I am ruthless lol.

For me it's a matter of shifting gears. I can't think up of good events if my basis for "event" is "what coddles the character". On the other hand, if it remains an intellectual "attachment" or just recognition that, yeah, the character is there for the plot to flow through... well, those characters just don't come to life.

In fanfiction, there's this character type called the Mary Sue, which is usually an original character introduced into a work of fanfiction. Fanfiction readers often dislike Mary Sues because they come in expecting to read more about the characters they like in a setting that they like, with a spin on plots that they're actually familiar with. Not all about this new character who is a stranger to them, which is usually made to dominate the entire work as an expression of the fanfiction writer's own wish-fulfillment fantasy.

To an extent, though, all of our characters are us--our interpretations, our experiences, and such. Every fanfiction that I write, even though it doesn't have any original characters, are Mary Sues because they're my interpretation of characters that already exist. All of my original characters in my stories are Mary Sues because they come from my own psyche and imagination.

I think the trick would be making it intuitive/instinctive instead of egoistic, which is where character development comes in. I don't know how to explain it, I just cheer for awesome things happening for characters that I like because it somehow serves something bigger than they are which is the story. I can't do the same for awesome things happening for likable characters (that I just don't like) that just seems to have nothing but instant gratification driving it.


And then there may be the case of getting too attached in that you undergo the same conflicts and changes as a character and so every succeeding work kills you a little bit more inside. I, uh, have fortunately not felt that... Norman Mailer said this, though: "Every one of my books has killed me a little
more" but I wouldn't know if that referred specifically to too much attachment to the characters. It might have been themes or just the slog of hammering out word after word.

I absolutely get attached to them!

But not necessarily in the same way you just described.

I do find that I end up falling in love with certain characters or having favorites instead of being objective. It doesn't mean I won't still tear them down, though. I don't necessarily try to "save them" usually. I usually already know what's going to happen to them, but my 'love' for them does help me make the story even better.

QuirkyJessi (07:18pm Mon, May 26, 2014)

I absolutely get attached to them!

But not necessarily in the same way you just described.

I do find that I end up falling in love with certain characters or having favorites instead of being objective. It doesn't mean I won't still tear them down, though. I don't necessarily try to "save them" usually. I usually already know what's going to happen to them, but my 'love' for them does help me make the story even better.

Yeah that is pretty much what I was thinking but couldn't put to words. I love them but I am ruthless still lol.

It's normal to become attached to the characters you create , you have to be somewhat emotionally invested in them to write their story. However if you really care enough to what to make them multi dimensional they must experience conflict to help expose their true nature. For example you can say that you heroine is fearless , but if you don't get to see this proven though some type of challenge or struggle . the character becomes less believable. You can also use hardships your characters face as an opportunity for change. They can suffer , overcome obstacles and emerge stronger and wiser. A weaker person can learn to become stronger a passive character may find their voice by overcoming pain.

Currently I do not get attached to my characters, but this is new for me. I used to be similar to some of my fellow posters and would go to extreme lengths to save my favorite characters, but in doing this I found my writing was becoming somewhat cliche and a little too unbelievable for my liking. I fixed this by not writing for long periods of time, which is what I would always do, I found by stepping away from my work it helped me not created a biased view of my characters.

Well, since I am only embarking upon my first fiction story then I have no idea if I will get attached to any of my characters...but I don't see how I couldn't.  It makes sense. I would think after investing all that time and effort into anything and everything about a story means you'd have to get attached, fall in love, etc.

As I embark upon this new frontier of writing I will let you know how I do with my characters.

forextraspecialstuff (12:34pm Thu, May 29, 2014)

I found by stepping away from my work it helped me not created a biased view of my characters.

That is a really good tip. I mean it seems common sense but I never thought of it. I think its beauty is in its simplicity .

Bunny (11:16pm Thu, May 29, 2014)

forextraspecialstuff (12:34pm Thu, May 29, 2014)

I found by stepping away from my work it helped me not created a biased view of my characters.

That is a really good tip. I mean it seems common sense but I never thought of it. I think its beauty is in its simplicity .

I completely agree Bunny. I've actually done that with a lot of the stuff I've written. I step away and take the doggies for a walk and then come back and read it. Usually I end up making changes and tweaking it. Works like a charm! 

I do get attached to them which is exactly why I'm invested in how the character must develop no matter what they have to get through and end up in for the story. There are supporting characters who, despite how intimately you came up with their background and their quirks, should remain as supporting characters. You have to curb that sudden urge to make them stand out and overshadow your protagonist just because they are your favorite. Personally, one scene of epicness would suffice. And if that still is not enough, then write a separate story about that character for that chance that your story becomes world renowned and people would want to hear tangential plots about it.

Yes! I'm guilty of that. But I've thrown the habit away ever since I became aware of it. When I wrote my first short story, I was so engrossed on the character that I've established that I can't get out of the template that I created, which resulted in me recreating the same character traits, personality and mannerisms in each story that I make, making my characters look and sound too generic as far as my stories goes.

I get attached with them, too! But I don't coddle them, because, I'm a fan of great character development as a reader. So as a writer, I try hard to develop my characters. So I don't bow down to them when needed. I just promise them that there would be lots of benefits for them in the future if they would let me write down the scene that would cause them a little suffering.