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Gingerbread men make me smile. I think they add a touch of whimsy to ordinary life.
They never say a word, yet they tickle my funny bone. In fact, I collect them.
The little fellows grace my laundry room walls and they come in various sizes. And…yes. I have borders to match. (If I must wash and iron, I think my little niche should convey delight. I know. Somehow, that just doesn’t seem right, does it?)
But I digress.
If you’ve ever made gingerbread men you’ve probably used the standard gingerbread cookie cutter.
Cookie cutter sizes may vary, but generally, they’re all about the same shape: a head, two arms, two legs, etc. And they’re usually standing upright.
When cookies (or in my example, gingerbread men) are created, initially, they all look the same. To add “character,” eye appeal, and of course, deliciousness, some craftsmanship is involved.
It takes time to gather the ingredients, mix, stir, roll out, bake, cool, and decorate. Dimension and depth are added to my make-believe friends by getting the recipe just right. Not only should the gingerbread men capture my attention (by the cuteness factor), but they certainly better taste good, too!
It’s the same with (great) fiction. Whether we’re writing it or reading it, cookie-cutter characters leave us bored.
Frustrated.
Unmoved.
We want to write/read about characters who are different.
Interesting.
Unique.
We want to see how the characters are decorated.
Choice of clothing showcases characters’ fashion sense.
Facial expressions and body language reveal inner turmoil.
Feelings give us a glimpse into motivation.
In other words, our characters are brought to life by individual traits, mannerisms, and genetic make-up uniquely their own.
I once read a book in which every character seemed the same—just with a different name. That’s not good either. As writers and readers we should immediately spot why this is wrong.
The characters seemed lackluster.
Everyone wore the same color.
Everyone “rolled their eyes.” (And eyes should never roll anyway. It’s painful.)
Most of the characters liked the same dessert, and I’m certain everyone owned a dog for a pet.
Somewhere in the first chapter, I wanted to shout, “Mauve! Please let Sally Sue wear mauve and Barbara Jean choose saffron. And enough with the eye rolling already. You’re making me dizzy!”
And why not have some of the characters try Baked Alaska instead of having the entire town be partial to strawberry shortcake?
And I also love dogs, but throw in a lizard, a turtle, or a chimpanzee for a little something off-beat.
While I love my cookie-cutter gingerbread folks, what brings them to life isn’t that they’re all the same. It’s the understated awareness they’re all different.
In an inanimate, yet alive, kind of way.
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SHARE THE LOVE
What to avoid when creating memorable and compelling characters.
Somewhere in the first chapter, I wanted to shout this.
WRITING
10 Things You Should Know About the Writing Journey
ENCOURAGEMENT
What tips can you share to avoid the cookie-cutter calamity?
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Blessings Always,
Comments 2
My characters start out with little description; they’re defined by dialogue and action in the first few drafts.
When I get to know them better, I can accessorize them, so to speak, in a way that makes sense according to what they do
And I avoid – diligently – basing a character on a physical type, or even worse, or a specific person. They need room to develop organically, because they’re not bonsai.
Author
Ahh… “they’re not bonsai.” I like that.
My character development process is different. I make detailed notes with description traits—eye/hair color, clothing choices, physical mannerisms/habits, and even little witticisms that are unique to each character. Each character gets a colored note card or Post-it and that helps me keep everyone straight as I write. Preliminary character sketches prevent mix-ups for me in the long run.
You must have a mind like a steel trap. =)