From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.composition

Hi.

On one hand I sometimes think that I might have too many characters. On
the other hand, there are some characters, or rather a particular type,
that are kind of neglected.

I like a big cast, many different viewpoint characters that take turns,
in tight third, telling what's going on. They have different
personalities, too. Then there's all those that don't get viewpoints,
some more important, some only needed for one thing, getting a mention
by name when not giving a name would feel wrong.

But sometimes, after a pause in working on this story, even I forget who
this or that character actually is (good thing I have notes :) ).

So, hoping to finish the third book, I keep wondering whose viewpoint to
show next to see what happens (in most cases, I don't know what happens before writing it). And I am somewhat reluctant to add even more (as in,
a new) viewpoint characters. But then, they (whoever it would be) might
show something to move the story forwards. One new viewpoint already
solved something I'd been wondering about, and opened up possibilities
for something else, that I hadn't thought of before either.


Then last night it occured to me that I neglected an entire group of characters. Not just sometimes forgetting about most of them (I'd
noticed that before), but also that they don't get any/many viewpoints
at all.

I have male, female, and neutral genders. Males are hogging the stage,
but there are around a handful of female viewpoint characters, and there
are two neutral viewpoint characters (that in the story end up being
changed into male and female).[*] Hrmpf.

Just because the neutral genders only assist in what the others do
doesn't mean they're less important. Plus, those that are shown add
colour, variety. And it's part of the setting that in most tribes, there
are as many neutral adults in a family/household/community as adult
males and females.

Of course, the females take care of what really matters (to the
characters; bringing the children to life and raising them according to
their nature), but the males do most of the interesting (story) stuff.
The females show that they have thoughts and insights too when it suits
them. But they're really not interested in anything outside their
immediate concerns, so they don't get to do much concerning the actual
story.

And the neutrals even less. Hrmpf.

Here's a new quote I like:
--------------------------------
Jodra: "And here I thought it was the Lords who decided things."
Thay patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Only the things that
don't matter much to anyone else."
--------------------------------

So, hm... Not sure I have a question. Maybe this is just thinking aloud. Comments?


[*] Not counting bad guys in there anywhere, btw. They have a few short scenes/viewpoints. Don't have more than a vague idea of what they might
(or might not) be doing in the third book yet.
--

Mickmane

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