#unpredictable characters

[writing-ideas-inc]

How are you supposed to write a character that's unpredictable and maybe slightly insane?

Hi! Well, I think you have to decide how you're using the word 'insane'. If you mean clinical insanity (which is actually a legal term) then a fair amount of research must be done. Here's some starting places: •https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-therapy/200907/the-definition-insanity-is• http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-types-illness•http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/mental-health-psychotic-disordersIf by insane, you mean eccentric, loony, strange, etc. then I reccomend some of the following behaviors: • illogical, 'out there' plans • spontaneous actions that aren't the most simple ways to solve a problem • rapid speech • big imagination • bizzare hobbies/ obsessions (ex. fondness of 15th century poetry) • lack of sympathy/ empathy (not a complete absence though) • emotional or rapidly changing moods • isn't good with social nonsense like small talk • uncommon habits (ex. wearing a different hat for every day of the week)

[cpd-55055]

do you think that Jay's character is very easy to read while Hailey's character is very unpredictable?

At this point, I feel like all the characters are very unpredictable. Especially with the writing style happening. In one episode, certain characters have tension, but then a few episodes later, they are completely fine without ever resolving the tension between them.

And to be fair, Jay's writing this season has been very unpredictable. Like it came out of nowhere. There was no build-up or scenes that made us guess that Jay would leave.

We may think that we know characters really well, especially since we have seen them on our screens for many years. But at the end of the day, the writers can do whatever they want to any of the characters, even if it seems unrealistic or unpredictable.

[wordsnstuff]

Good day! I‘d like to ask for advice on making events or characters unpredictable – how do you write something so that readers would rarely expect what would happen next? Thank you!

Hello! I’ve been wanting an opportunity to talk about this for a while, so thank you very much for bringing it up. 

Here’s the thing: you’re the author and you control what your reader knows and sees. Yeah, you need to set up all events in your story, but sometimes you’re setting up your reader to be shocked, and that requires withholding certain information. You don’t have to make what will happen next obvious. 

If you want your character to be unpredictable, keep their motivations unclear. Your reader makes connections to themselves and other characters. Don’t give your reader the links to do so. The more your reader knows about why your character does what they do, the easier it will be for them to predict what their next move will be. Readers will recognize patterns or they’ll mistake them. Use that to your advantage.

You will never fool everyone, but that is how you can fool the majority. Happy writing!

x Kate

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