Getting into character...

[Chris E Smith]

Optimoose, you once wrote that you have to be in character to write your fanfics. You have two in the works right now, one in an AU and one directly in the Saiyuki Universe. Do you approach them from the same in character viewpoint, or are there differences?
For the other authors, do you have to be in character to write, and if so, what do you do to find your starting points? What is it that puts you into your characters' minds and lets you think with their voices?

[Me-Nuriko]

That's a tough one. Let's see...

I'm not sure how I think when I write. I really try to make the characters IC, and judging by the response I have gotten, I manage fairly well. The criticism I have received has not been about OOCness. On the contrary, many people have praised me for keeping them IC. (But I haven't showed them much of Hakkai yet^^;; )

When I write I try to keep in mind the characters way of thinking, reacting and talking. Some characters are easier to keep IC than other. As real, living people we are not as sterotyped as manga characters can be. That way we often share attributes from many different characters we are writing about. I guess I'm just trying to see that part of me that fits with the character I'm writing at the moment. (And no, I'm not doing self insertions, that is not what I mean!)
I also try to mimick the manga, or sometimes the anime, but mostly that's the same. Does this make any sense?

In Saiyuki, Gojyo is the easiest for me, and Hakkai the hardest. Gojyo is the one that is most open to his feelings, and that makes him easier to write about in my opinion.

I also don't like to write in a fandom where I don't know the characters well enough. At the moment I don't even think I can write about Konzen and co, because I'm not sure it would be canon characters. It would probably be fanon characters if I tried.

[kanshu]

That's a good question there.
I usually get in character by watching the anime and reading the manga. I gather all background data available and play a lot of "What if" games in my mind. Discussing with fellow fans helps tons. Basically, spending some time wondering about "What would character X do/feel/think in this particular situation" is mandatory.
Once I've reached a certain level of input, I begin to feel comfortable enough and can start writing.


Different approach between the AU and the original based fic? Yes and no.
First of all, I'm still dealing with the Saiyuki characters even though it is an AU, so they will still "ultimately" have to live up to the standards for the original based fic.
However, the AU characters do have different background stories. As you know, each and every change in the background of a character influences the character. This is why I tried to keep the AU characters as closely to the original as possible, but the changes did have an immideate effect.
I have to take that into account. What basically happens is that I start out with the Original Base, and from there have the characters run through the adjustments of the different universe. It's sometimes difficult not to snap back and write 'normal' character reactions.
Hakkai, for example, is by far not as 'recovered' and balanced in 'Slaves' compared to the original. He thinks that what happens to him is just punishment for his mass murdering.
But he has extremly strong ties with Gojyo, stronger probably then in the original while Sanzo's and Goku's influence are diminished.
Gojyo is struggling with the nasty side effects of being a love slave on top of him being a half demon.
Sanzo lost his adoptive-father's heritage because of his own mistakes, but since he was raised as a nobleman and not a monk (while being nothing but a street kid). His adoptive father was murdered as well while protecting him. Again, a background that creates a similar, but not the same outcome. And at the beginning of the story, Sanzo is pretty much catatonic.
This influences Goku's personality. Think Gensoumaden Episode 39 (The Rain episode), and make it a sort of long-term condition.
All other characters are the same, as that they are similar, but different at the same time.

So, it's a different approach, but always with the original as comparision. I sometimes have to rewrite scenes, or adjust the background story, because I realize that things won't work as planned. The entire thing is highly experimental, but it helps a lot with learning about the characters, and ultimately writing the original ones better.

I don't know if that makes any sense to you, or anyone else, for the matter.

[KarotsaMused]

Daaaaaayum you two are in-depth and understanding and all smart and stuff. :B

I'm either prodigious or reckless. I just play characters by my gut. I know how they interact, and I play upon how the group dynamic feels. That and observation of natural human nature in RL means the rest can be done with educated guesswork. I do think I haven't mangled anybody too badly (Discounting, of course, Homura. But I've been to hell for that one.) ^^;

But I relate most easily to Gojyo. I think everybody does, just because he's consciously vulnerable and vocal in the emotion area. To get inside a character's head, I suppose my starting point is how I think they'd react to whatever the scene is supposed to encompass. And then I just let the whole thing snowball...it writes itself. Then again, I'm pretty superficial ^^;

[therhoda]

Ack, you guys think Goyjo is the easiest!!

I have the easiest time putting myself in Goku's brain myself. I guess that answers the question I have to be able to actually be the character before I can write it. Saiyuki is such an angst ridden show I would never be able to write a story for it. It would hurt, I am not into mental pain.

For my fruits basket story my husband says I channel the characters. I do things like talk in cadence and for Ayame (my favorite naturally) I even start to swish around the house like a hurricane. Side note here for FB fans there is an AMV of Ayame to the willam tell overture that is worth watching. So I guess the answer is yes for me I have to BE the character. I also find if the character has a theme or a song that you associate with them that helps too.

[cesmith]

I'm finally official!! (Does Snoopy Happy Dance!)

Me-Nuriko- Do you mean you identify with certain aspects of the characters you write about, and that enables you to voice them in your stories?

OptiMoose- Do you have a favorite character that you find easiest to write? One that's the hardest?

therhoda- Goku is one of the hardest characters for me to picture and because of that, my least favorite. Usually I only see him as paired with another character, and not so much an individual. What is it about Goku that makes him easiest for you?

Read your FB Fanfic. I really enjoyed it. I would have guessed Ayame was your favorite, he was very vivid. Scary thought, BEING Ayame. More flamboyant than most of the others, but Shigure is a close second at times. Probably Aya's influence over the years. Shigure is my favorite. Wacky, but masking a more serious nature. Hari is a close second. Definately too much angst in all of the characters, but enter Tohru and her unusual friends and life looks brighter.

KarotsAmused- When you start to write a scene you said it snowballs and writes itself. How often does it end up differently than you originally planned? Gojyo's your easiest, who is the most difficult for you?

The only story I've ever written was actually from Hakkai's POV. Not a very original idea, or even passably good, but fun to do.

[iamzuul]

Optimoose pretty much said it best: remember all the little reactions they have towards things and start playing the What-If game. "If this were to happen, how would this person act? How would another person's attitude change because of the first person's reaction?" Even in humorous situations you have to wonder how each character would act.

Surprisingly enough, I think I've found through writing 'Fear Itself' that Sanzo is my best muse. I loved writing from Gojyo's point of view - the sarcastic/morbid sense of humor is a great angle to work from.

I guess what really lets us work from certain character's view points is our own personality. Who do we identify with? How often do we want to smack Gojyo and Goku right along with Sanzo? How often do we just want to laugh and come up with a remark that no one can tell is an insult or a compliment, like Hakkai? Despite the fact that Goku is one of my favorite characters, I don't think I could adequately write from his POV. He's so happy and oddly naive despite the lifestyle he lives, and that's all weird to me. I'm sure Sanzo is a difficult view point to write from for exactly the same reason for other authors.

[therhoda]

Okay, well to answer your question the reason I can do Goku better than all the rest of the boys is I think like him. I am one of those people that really just lives most of the time. That is it, all you can do. If you start dwelling on all the crap that has, could or will happen you will go mad. It comes down to a simple thing, shit happens move on. It isn't that Goku dosn't know what could happen it is that he just has to keep going forward. I think that is a lot of where you get in the first series his confusion with the motives of others. In last weeks episode you see him take that to a new level. That is where you get the confusion of Goku. Him trying to figure out why everyone else isn't seeing the truth he sees.

It is kind of amusing to me. I have acquaintances that talk to my husband and ask him things like how do You live with her? She is so pollyanna, it cracks him up. Look at it this way Goku has to live in his skin so he likes it be a nice place to live. If you are dwelling on this happened and that happened and Poor me. You live In a really nasty place. (anyone see why I will never write Hakkai?) I have lived through things that would break others and has. But if the sun is shining and I have good friends, a good book to read and enough food to eat, Man Life is GOOD! You know I even have Goku's thing with food, now that is a scary self realization, nothing makes You love food like going hungry will. Now if I havn't really gone way to deep on the question.

Anyway I am glad you liked my fic. Aya is fun!! Shigure is sort of fun, the hardest to write so far has been Kagura. I am planning on putting up the next 3 chapters some time over the next 3 days. I have them I just have to fight the manager into letting me. I am sure that the gremlins that run FF hate me for some unknown reason. *squashes passing gremlin with glee*

[cesmith]

My Husband teases me about my "OBSESSION" with Saiyuki, but he's sitting there with me when I watch the raw episodes. We even joke about me going to my son's wedding dressed as Sanzo. My future daughter-in-law just laughs and says, sure, why not. She's a Saiyuki fan. My son half believes I would do it, he knows his Mother's a little crazy. Hard times, yes, but I have always needed to look for the one good point in the situation to make them less difficult, a little more manageable. I have always tried to be an optimist. Still, it's funny how I gravitate toward Hakkai. I usually see him more as the one always giving and doing for others. The angst is there, but I see him caring for the others, more than I see the pain.

Kagura is your hardest? My son saw that and said it's because she's crazy. Me, it's because she's so in love with Kyo, she over reacts to everything. I can really understand why the characters are so mixed up. To never be able to be held by a person of the opposite sex, unless they were also members of the Chinese Zodiac, without turning into your Zodiac animal? I cried when I saw the episode where Momiji's Mother wanted to forget she had ever given birth to him because of the curse. I guess as the Mother of four children this was an unthinkable thing for any parent to do. I look forward to the next chapters when they go up.

Please take care not to squish Gizmo. I always wanted to own him. That, or a Tribble.

[therhoda]

You to can own your very own tribble...............

They make them, toy tribbles that make the noise and everything. I want one myself. Of course beware that once you own a tribble you can never go back again.


Yeah, I can do Momiji pretty well too. as You will see in later sing chapters. My Hubby says it is because I am a rabbit! On a FB note did you see they are releasing a box set In October!! I want a pretty box to put mine in!!!

[cesmith]

Too many years ago, before they sold such things in stores, I used to make my own Tribbles. I'm such a pack rat, I probably still have some in a box somewhere. Of course they'll release a box set, I just finished buying all of the DVDs at full price. Oh well, the series was worth it. My Husband did not care for it, one of the few series we disagree on. He stopped watching around when Aya was first introduced. I liked everything but the ending. I heard somewhere that another season of Fruits basket was going to be made, but I don't know if it's true or not. I hope so. It was fun seeing how Tohru affected everyone and changed them for the better. I am a sucker for happy endings, which is probably why I didn't like FB's ending. I cry too easily and really prefer to laugh.

[Me-Nuriko]

(Jumping back about six replies)
Yes, I identify with certain aspects of the characters. I'm not so sure how consciously I do it, though. It wasn't before you asked, and I had to think about what I did, that I understood that.

Coming under the skin of the character makes it so much easier to understand how he's reacting, and why he's reacting the way he does.

Sorry, can't say a thing about 'Fruit Basket' since that is an anime/manga I know nothing about.
But cesmith says she's a sucker for happy endings, and so am I. I've written only one dark fic, and that was a 'what if this never had happened-story'. (GetBackers) I had to write becuase I had read some heartbreaking GB stories, and kind of had to write something like that myself. I guess I had to get it out, so I wouldn't have to ponder about these other stories.


;D God, I love you guys! You're just as crazy as I am! ;D

[KarotsaMused]

Wow I'm late on the bandwagon again, I see. Heck, all I did was step out to go see "Collateral" Everybody go see that movie. It's absolutely gorgeous. *art-freak*

cesmith: I know I'm late, but here's my two cents on the question you asked so many posts ago. Snowballs roll in various directions, and that's why I almost never have a set plot. If I outline something, the characters inevitably take it in a different direction of their own volition. A big example is "Feverish", which was just going to be a vignette about how Gojyo likes to hang out in the cold with only his shorts on. Before I knew what was happening, it was four pages long and Hakkai was talking about cooking oil. I personally just roll with it, adapt, improvise. Like Jazz. And Vincent (Still on a "Collateral" high. Don't mind me ;D )

I think the character that is hardest for me, actually, is Goku. While I admire the other three for their stubborn complexities, such a simple character is hard to keep unadulterated. I definitely have to adjust my brainwaves whenever I'm thinking for Goku, whereas the other three just get minor tweaks between them. Yeah.

Also, I am such a sucker for happy endings, too. Heh. Sad endings are great, but the kid in me loves the laughter and happiness. But it's also great when there's a mix...I think my favorite anime ending would have to be the Trigun finale, just because of the it's-not-really-over feeling. Same goes with Hellsing (I squealed at the end of -that- one...)

Me-Nuriko: Crazy, huh? Hmm, I was always under the impression that I was a talented lazy-ass, but crazy works fine too ;D

[kanshu]

cesmith: Congrats! The registration had to work, sooner or later.

And do I find characters easier or harder to write... depends.
I can draw of personal experience in the one or other topic, so the basic emotional set for our four is fairly easy to 'put together'.
Hakkai is pretty easy to write. He has a nasty and mean streak under his niceness, and that is constantly getting stronger. I'd almost say he returns to his orphanage personality... Then you can't forget that even though he doesn't want to kill any more, he still is pretty short tempered. However, he's also very self-disciplined and educated, which allows him to stay on top of situations that would have all others go bonkers. I like his irony, too.
Gojyo is not as easy to write as he might look at first sight. He has many layers and does hide a good deal. i.E. the fact that he knew that his brother had sex with his own mother, to spare Gojyo more beatings. He has a stark fear of abandonment and therefore doesn't make any committments easily. He likes to show a sunny side up surface, but he's deep thinking and very sensitive.
Sanzo... I have little to no problems with as long as he's in 3rd person. I guess he comes closest to my own core personality. However, he's a pain to write if you have him outside of a narrative/dialogue - chapter 7 of "Simply Love" took ages to complete, because he just wouldn't talk.
Goku... His keywords are "hope", "forgive", "trust", "straightforward". He doesn't make his heart 'the pit for all crimes' ("aus seinem Herzen keine Mördergrube machen"), meaning that he doesn't judge, but speaks up what is in his heart.
I take into account that he has only 6/7 years of social experience (when Sanzo freed him from the cave prison), so he naturally would not be able to deal with all social problems presented to him. But he isn't stupid, and he learns fast. He does spend a lot time thinking and pondering problems, but they don't get in the way when action is required. So, he's a lot like a very young teenager who tries to find his bearings, while still having that fascinating mental ability to bounce back and go on. He's afraid of what he'll do when he goes berserk, and I think he harbours the fear that his recent "outbursts" are related to why he was imprisoned, and that he maybe isn't the person as which he experiences himself. But such phases never last long with Goku, he's much too bouncy.

So... I do have characters I prefer to write (Sanzo/Hakkai), but Gojyo and Goku have their part in things, too. They can be a lot more fun to write, actually, because they offer different solutions for problems.

[Me-Nuriko]

Funny, exactly those things you wrote about Hakkai is why I think he is hard to write, and the things you wrote about Gojyo is why I think he's easier to write.
It's also funny that Hakkai is my favorite even though I find him the hardest to write.

From easiest to hardest: Gojyo, Goku, Sanzo, Hakkai. Guess that's the opposite of OptiMoose's list.