Is my character too Cliche? 10 Points?

Question

I'm writing a novel, I'm at the half way mark.

I've recently had my best friend read it, who is an amateur publisher and tells me that the novel has a very original idea and that the story line is good, and MOST of the characters. She says that if she would change anything however, it would be the character development of my Main Character.

Example of my Character:

Name: Alistair Klaus Kurqubon.

Age: (Unknown) Looks to be 17-21.

Description: He's not exactly a looker, and as the novel proceeds and he gets into quite a few tight spots, including the loss of a finger and a burn that denies him the privilege to re-grow his hair. Has a scar up the down the entire length of his back. He's tall and lanky, about 6'2. Slightly tanned with a few freckles, brown eyes. Curly, shoulder length copper hair. He wears whatever clothes he can find.

Personality: He doesn't know who is his, so I had to give him a fairly bland personality to begin with. As the novel proceeds under the influence of his less-than-normal friends, he's short tempered, sarcastic and paranoid, and also a little bit of a coward (although his cowardice fades as the novel continues). He's very trustworthy, though, awkwardly romantic and he's all about doing the 'right thing'. He leaves the corrupt to his "friends".

My friend says that his character needs more. But considering he doesn't remember who he is, exactly, until a few days before he wakes up (long story); I don't have much past trauma and experiences to work off to deepen his character.

What would you suggest I add/change?

What are some things I should avoid with this character?

Helen · Accepted Answer

The most important thing in writing a character is to make them realistic. Don't define them as 'fictional.' Act as though they are your siblings, like they are REAL people because if you don't believe in them, no one will.

     I think what your friend means is that your male character's personalty doesn't change in the story what so ever and at the end, despite everything he's gone through, he's the same. The goal in writing a book is to show progress!

     I mean, in everything! Whether he gets a make over, becomes meek, becomes sarcastic, becomes mentally damaged or even bipolar, someone, something, NEEDS. TO. CHANGE.

     I mean, in Harry Potter, at the beginning, Harry isn't exactly innocent but still some what naive to the real world. At the end of the series, he has seen things and witnessed things that change him but not to much!

     This is always the tricky part. *sighs* You can't let your character develop too much or not at all, you have to imagine YOURSELF in that  position and imagine what YOU'D do. :)

    Good luck! <3

? · Answer

genuinely one of my fashionable authors (Jim Butcher) has stated how he were given into an challenge one time about the challenge of what concerns extra: having a excellent theory, or having large execution. Jim's position fell alongside the execution side -- it would not count number how dumb some thing sounds, in case you may write it convincingly, it will succeed. someone on the option fringe of the argument threw down the gauntlet and suggested, tutor it. i am going to provide you a very cliché, horrific theory, and also you write some thing with it. Jim's answer: i am going to do you one extra sensible -- provide me 2 undesirable techniques, and that i will nonetheless do it. the different guy gave him the misplaced Roman Legion and Pokémon. Jim then proceeded to position in writing his 2d series, The Codex Alera, quite a few books of which made the properly 20 on the enormous apple cases superb broking service record. when it comes on your question, i imagine an similar concept applies. in case you write in this kind of fashion that the reader accepts and enjoys the actual undeniable truth that your characters have "powers," then they can nonetheless succeed. for my area, i imagine that the wide variety of sorts of powers accessible recommend that they do no longer should be clichéd. there is potential. For some examples ... In Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time series, no longer anybody can use powers (should be born with the potential), even if the rules of utilising them are complicated sufficient that merely having the potential would not remedy complications as a lot because it may reason them. yet another be conscious is a few thing Orson Scott Card has suggested concerning sci fi and fantasy is that there should be rules for it -- as in, you do not without word provide a personality infinite potential without some variety of disadvantage or result. i imagine that it truly is real. to bypass again to Jim Butcher, the completed setup with the Codex Alera grow to be that his protagonist did no longer have powers in a international the position anybody else did -- he grow to be seen a freak. So there is yet another twist. besides, now that i have written a novelette of an answer -- no, i do not imagine characters born with powers are cliché so long because the author handles it nicely. (And if the most purpose of your question grow to be the BORN with it ... then i ought to assert there remains each and each and every of the radioactive spiders accessible, lol ...)

Sonja Van leeuwe · Answer

My idea would be to add in some flashbacks or bits and pieces of his past to give readers a better idea of who he is and where he comes from.  It sounds like you have a pretty detailed physical description of Alistair which is good.  It would be great if you could give the reader some clues to his past but not give away the whole story right away.  Hope this helps!

Sonja V. 
http://aballooninthesnowstorm.tateauthor.com

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Is my character too Cliche? 10 Points?

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