tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post9009848268430979091..comments2024-03-06T09:18:35.326-07:00Comments on Crossing the Helix: Imperfection vs. IdiocyR.C. Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694900270053314978noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post-4589987104010786102011-07-21T08:55:20.081-06:002011-07-21T08:55:20.081-06:00Thank you. I hate, hate, hate it when YA character...Thank you. I hate, hate, hate it when YA characters are Too Stupid to Live. Well, any characters, really, but it seems more common in YA.<br /><br />I once read a novel where the protagonist SNUCK OUT OF THE HOUSE to go work on a school project.<br /><br />Um . . . what????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post-17374750420961132432011-07-18T11:03:00.334-06:002011-07-18T11:03:00.334-06:00Christine, glad it's not just me, but not glad...Christine, glad it's not just me, but not glad that it's actually happening repeatedly. :-\<br /><br />Mary Kate, I'm with you. Though I do prefer choices to have *some* kind of motivation I can buy into. Doesn't have to be a choice I'd make or even a smart choice, but I have to believe it.R.C. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15694900270053314978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post-38024965299153003512011-07-18T10:04:42.832-06:002011-07-18T10:04:42.832-06:00Stupid MCs are my pet peeve. I don't mind mi...Stupid MCs are my pet peeve. I don't mind miscalculations or poorly motivated choices, but when they don't know to come in out of the rain then I get extremely irritated. There is a difference between making mistakes, even in a teen who may be doing it intentionally and acting out, and being an idiot. Great post.Mary Kate Leahyhttp://houseoflaoch.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post-20788128918246842692011-07-18T02:46:20.141-06:002011-07-18T02:46:20.141-06:00'Sidenote: Is it just me, or is there a trend ...'Sidenote: Is it just me, or is there a trend lately of throwaway lines about MCs being in AP [fill in the blank] and having a 3.9 GPA, yet nothing in the story supports those claims? Yes, there's a difference between book-smarts and life-smarts ... but there IS overlap most of the time.'<br /><br />Yep, I've noticed this too. It's a particular bugbear of mine, actually.Christine Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08168406879681616375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post-91099516130533599622011-07-17T22:37:01.737-06:002011-07-17T22:37:01.737-06:00Oh, if that's a trend, thank God I haven't...Oh, if that's a trend, thank God I haven't seen it! I'd be downright pissed if my supposed intellectual equal went and did some dumb crap. XD Not, of course, that courseload and GPA say TOO much about intelligence in the extended scheme of things... but it's a pointer in the right direction, anyway. :PRiley Redgatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11630001267841081266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post-10660950077342183642011-07-17T22:21:58.792-06:002011-07-17T22:21:58.792-06:00Thanks, Riley. Love your connection with personali...Thanks, Riley. Love your connection with personality and focus on natural mistakes. Very good things to keep in mind.<br /><br />Yes, there's a teen species. Fortunately, I have a visitor's pass.<br /><br />Sidenote: Is it just me, or is there a trend lately of throwaway lines about MCs being in AP [fill in the blank] and having a 3.9 GPA, yet nothing in the story supports those claims? Yes, there's a difference between book-smarts and life-smarts ... but there IS overlap most of the time.R.C. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15694900270053314978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post-45433156092995357902011-07-17T22:10:05.450-06:002011-07-17T22:10:05.450-06:00Also, I love that there's a teen species now X...Also, I love that there's a teen species now XDRiley Redgatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11630001267841081266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224377501657529009.post-3244899322659818812011-07-17T22:09:15.169-06:002011-07-17T22:09:15.169-06:00Oh, great post, RC! You hit the nail on the head (...Oh, great post, RC! You hit the nail on the head (as per usual). I feel like a big part of making realistic decisions is having a character that has a biiig personality. Like, if you have a snappy, sarcastic MC, then I'll totally buy it if she mouths off and gets herself suspended. But if the MC is sort of bland and flavorless, it's hard to get her into a situation where she'd get suspended without it seeming just plain dumb.<br /><br />One of my favorite ways to characterize is to ask myself, "What mistakes is this character prone to make?" I feel like our mistakes define us. So if our characters make mistakes that indicate nothing more than stupidity, I assume their chief characteristic is... well, stupidity. And that's, er, bad. I'd rather read about someone INTENSELY unlikeable who gets herself in trouble because she's a bitch than read about someone with no personality making seemingly-senseless choices.<br /><br />(What I really love is when someone's <i>intelligence</i> gets them in trouble! [Hi, Ender's Game!] How's that for a changer-upper? :P)Riley Redgatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11630001267841081266noreply@blogger.com