|
Lord of the Rings Fanfiction Involving OC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
These are the things that I've notice in a lot of fanfiction that are becoming or already are cliches. From the small details to the big important ones. But it's mostly stories that revolve around female original characters (including female self-inserts) that are added to the Lord of the Rings fanfiction. Also, I have nothing against female OCs or self-inserts in LOTR stories. I actually enjoy them a lot, especially if they are done very well and realistically.
I hope that by listing why they are becoming boring and cliche, it will help writers of such stories improve in their writing of it. After all, I wish someone had told me how I could’ve improved in my own stories. XD I know I was guilty of some of these things, but it’s perfectly okay! It’s a process that every writer goes through at some point in their life. They gain experience and knowledge that eventually their writing becomes such awesome quality.
1. The female gets transported to the "past", "another world" or "alternative dimension" known as Middle Earth and becomes a tenth walker.
As awesome as it is to read about such an important adventure where all the action is at...writing a story like that doesn't leave much for creativity and originality. Is it THAT difficult to write about an adventure before the journey to destroy the one ring happen or after it ended? Especially at the end of the story because now the world isn't being threaten. And it leaves room for another adventure, one where I'm sure there's still some roaming orcs that manage to escape and/or other dark creatures that wish for power, destruction and will threaten the newly achieved peace.
What about a story where the character actually was born and raise there? If not, what about a story where the character is a time traveler or a witch or some magical being that got stuck there and has to mingle with the people of that time until their power is restored or something? Or maybe the character is some kind of wizard/witch or a fairy or an nymph or a mermaid. All those mystical beings seem to be an possibility to actually exist in Middle Earth but it's up to the writer to come up with an interesting story and see where it'll take them.
Heck, maybe someone can write a realistic story about one of the characters coming into our world for once. Just be creative!
2. The female is always a teenager.
It's not like it'll be a huge difference if the female was 21 or a little older. But it would be a nice change since the first time I read a LOTR fic I WAS a teenager. Sadly we humans do age and I can't relate to being a teenager any more...well I could but I it would be nice to see some differences in the female lead character's maturity. And how her career may or may not be some benefit for her to survive or make a living in the new world.
After all, it does get boring when the OC acts/is a hormonal, emotional driven teenager. Their reactions all feel the same and make things seem dramatic and worst than it is. They even act as though the world is all about them and that they can handle anything thrown at them (like taking a life, fighting, traveling a long distance without comforts of their world). Which is exactly what most teenagers are like but not everyone is or was like that when they were young. I wasn't like that when I was a teen. I was more shy, nice, and calm when I was in school and around people I didn't know. I'm still like that now, but I've open up more and I don't tend to let my shyness control me as much.
Either way, my point is that for once I would like to read a story with an OC that is level-headed, a realist, has good undestanding of other people's thoughts/their way of life or at least takes into consideration of their thoughts/feelings and has a believable emotional reaction for her age, when it comes to certain situations.
Oh, and speaking of age. If an elf is like 900 years old, they wouldn't act as though they are a human teenager. Honesty, if I was that old, I would have ALOT of wisdom and maturity. So it's very strange to see an elf that was born and raised in that world, acting like a spoil brat and so emotional, especially if they're that old and witiness, learn and expereince many things. I'm sure they were like that once, maybe when they were 60 years old or so but people don't act like that forever.
Thoughts, opinions and the mind change overtime for an immortal being. However, their body never grow old.
3. They speak English.
Why is it that in majority of the stories they magical speak and understand what everyone is talking about. I can understand the concept that the authors use, that "Westron" is actually English in our world or time or whatever. But I've actually heard from many that it's been proven by the author himself that "Westron" isn't English.
But I guess many don't know that or haven't done their homework. However, to make a story different, what if they thought otherwise?
Now that would be an interesting story. Writing about a character that can't understand a single thing they are saying and they can't understand a single thing she says. It would be frustrating to learn but that's the beauty of it. The character would learn and grow and we as the reader would start to connect and grow with her too. After all, if I was to blindfold someone and drop them in the middle of Japan and tell them they have to fend for themselves. First thing first, would be the culture shock. You can't help but compare and make note of the differences and how and what one has to learn in order to fit in and adapt to such a huge change. And many know that to overcome it first, it is to learn the language in order to adapt quickly.
Also...have you notice that characters from the future or alternative dimension or whatnot seem to automatically speak properly? Honesty, if I was in England I wouldn't automatically pick up an accent or the lingo, like saying the loo instead of bathroom. It would take time. If I lived there, a long time or if I was born and was raised there. The same concept should also be remember with Middle Earth. It would take time to adjust your speech to sound like one of them and to keep in mind that certain phrases they wouldn't get and would need to be explained. And the same for them because I'm sure there are some phrases or words they say that we or the OC wouldn't understand either.
4. Research.
Sometimes I see the effort the writer puts into the story but at times I don't and it's seriously lacking. It's sad to read a story when the writer didn't do their research, especially for little details that make a difference. Like when it comes to bathing, or dressing, or riding a horse or the time people actually wake up to start the day or how relationships are actually handle during those times/between certain races.
So we all would have to keep in mind that women don't do man's work. It was their way of living, they were raise thinking that and it would be frown upon or found very strange among many who truly follow that tradition. They would find it strange if a woman suddenly appeared in shorts and a t-shirt beating the crap out of a group of orcs. Because for one they would think it's improper to reveal so much skin and the males are chauvinistic, believing that women are 'maidens' who must adhere to 'male' protectionism. You know, basically let the man handle the hard labor and provide the women strength and protection.
Even if it seems or sounds sexist. At that time it was consider normal and many didn't question it because they were satisfied with it. Of course there are a few that want to be equal and rebel against it but they do face difficulties in trying to achieve that. Plus, I'm sure that for each race it might be different also.
For example: The Elves, particularly the Noldor, preoccupy themselves with various things such as smithwork, sculpture, music and other arts, and of course, what to eat. Males and females can do almost everything equally; however, the females often specialize in the arts of healing while the males go to war. This is because they believe that taking life interferes with the ability to preserve life. However, Elves are not stuck in rigid roles; females can defend themselves at need as well as males, and many males are skilled healers as well, such as Elrond.
As for the dwarves, "It was said by Gimli that there are few dwarf-women, probably no more than a third of the whole people. They seldom walk abroad except at great need. They are in voice and appearance, and in garb if they must go on a journey, so like to the dwarf-men that the eyes and ears of other peoples cannot tell them apart. This is given rise to the foolish opinion among Men that there are no dwarf-women, and that Dwarves 'grow out of stone'. It is because of the fewness of women among them in the kind of the Dwarves increases slowly, and is in peril when they have no secure dwellings. For Dwarves take only one wife or husband each in their lives, and are jealous, as in all matters of their rights. The number of dwarf-men that marry is actually less than one third. For not all the women take husbands: some desire none; some desire one that they cannot get, and so will have no other. As for the men, very many also do not desire marriage, being engrossed in their crafts." The Return of the King Appendices; Appendix A; Page 449
So this means that they look, sound and dress like the male dwarves. And it wouldn't be surprising if the dwarf-woman are treated equal by the dwarf-men if it comes to combat or something. Even though there aren't any facts to help understand how the dwarf society is like, there's just enough information to make some educated guesses. But point is, it requires research to get a better understanding on how a culture is like and how their society was like during those times.
Once you have grasp that knowledge of how things are like, than as a writer you're one step closer to making a believable story.
5. Backpack.
It seems that a lot of the characters are lucky enough to have their backpacks come with them in their jump. Sure they have an explainable reason as to why they happen to have them but it's not like they'll honesty have things in them to survive. Really, I don't remember teenagers carrying a sleeping bag or daggers in their backpack while heading home from school or going to school. Or even a change of clothes. I don't know that many teens that carry an extra set of clothes for no reason. The only thing I could think of is gym clothes...like they're going home and bringing it with them to wash. Or they're taking it to school because it's a P.E. day for them.
Or maybe they wear a uniform and they hate wearing it after school. So they change into a new set of clothes before meeting up with friends to hang out. If that's the reason why they have clothes in their bag then it best to let the readers know. It's one of those important details that we like to know and make a story feel more believable.
6. Ipods
We all love our little portable music player but come on. None of them are on steroids and can last for weeks or months if you're constantly using it. Better yet, get rid of it or save it for homesick moments or as proof
that you're not from Middle Earth. Just be prepare to explain it's not magic and what a machine is and how it works.
7. Knowledge.
Not everyone is a LOTR fan and knows exactly what's going to happen. But sadly it seems like ever female chick that gets transported or what not seems to know everything. Or has some kind of knowledge because a close friend is a LOTR fiend and give them the "gist" of it. So...would it be that bad to write as though one doesn't know what's going to happen?
It would be a nice change for once where the character reaction would feel more realistic. Especially when they honesty don't know what's going to happen next and constantly worry and stress out. Or be completely awed and freaked out by the creatures and magically items.
8. Shot.
Eventually, the OC gets hurt. The problem however is how hurt do they get? I've read plenty of stories where the OC gets shot with an arrow. That's believable. I would find it highly unbelievable if they did all that fighting and not once get hurt by an arrow or a sword. Why? Because they don't have experience in war...or don't have the endurance to keep going without falter once in a while. Usually that's determine by their age and their background in how well they would do if place into a situation like that.
Point is, they always get hurt by an arrow and it always hits them in the shoulder. I actually find that annoying, because it's not creative and I doubt that arrows would realistically hit the shoulder every single time, especially on moving targets.
If someone was going to get hit with an arrow and the OC notices, so they jump in the path of the arrow. They protect the original target but end up getting hit and somehow it lands on their shoulder. Why couldn't it land somewhere else for a change? Like the arm, or on their back, or the leg or they were lucky to get grazed only since they were still moving and pushing someone out the way.
If I think up any more or find more from my observation that I left out I'll come back and add more. However, if anyone reading this knows some or just want to leave any input feel free to do so. I don't bite and I would appreciate some feedback on this an any of my past entries.
9. Red Heads
Red hair seems to be a common theme with the original characters that are added to the lord of the rings fanfiction. As great as it is to read about a character that has such a unique feature, it tends to get very annoying when it's overdone by many other Lotr writer's. No matter how many times a writer describes their character it all leads to the same thing...
Hair that is red.
Of course, it also leads to other cliches. That in order for a character to be special they must look special/unique, something that would stand out physically in the Lotr universe. Other times, they stereotype a red head as 'fire' or 'stubborn' or 'strong-willed'. I'm sure some red heads are just like that but not every OC that's a redhead should be exactly the same. In doing so, they start to look like carbon copies and they also start to become fake or Mary-Sueish like.
For example:
"Scarlet hair and green eyes."
"Murky blue eyes with fiercely ruby hair."
"She has red as a rose hair and enormous hazel eyes."
"Lilac eyes shine and her flowing red hair blew wildly in the wind."
"Long flaming red hair, chocolate-golden speckled brown eyes."
"Crimson hair cascades down her back, over her shoulders and her blue eyes glittered like diamonds."
"She had long, red hair and fair skin. Her eyes were midnight blue."
"Red-brown hair with emerald green eyes."
"Blood-red hair streamed down her back and shoulders."
"Amidst the battle and darkness a blazing color of red dances around like a flame. As it stands still the form of a woman in armor is clear and just like her burning, the courage and determination burn in her golden eyes just as fiercely."
Nothing wrong with redheads but it doesn't hurt to plain a OC up. Heck, why can't they just be a fake redhead? The canon characters would find it strange to see her original color growing in and they'll think she's magical or something even if she's normal/boring like. Or even, what if she's not as red as blood but an auburn like color? Or a carrot color? Heck, go with a plain color like brown. Appearance isn't everything and what's important is the personality. It's what makes people love a OC and honesty come to care about them and find them special.
10. Riding Horses
It's amazing how OC are capable of riding horses without any experience or training. Or if they do have some experience they just happen to have it because they took lessons when they were younger. Or they own a horse ranch or they know a family member that has/had a horse. Sure it's possible but it starts to become a cliche if a lot of the characters all have that ability.
Honesty, I rode on a horse twice in a fair when I was little and that was when I was like 6 years old. It wasn't really training at all since all I did was sit on the horse while someone pulled the horse in circles. It was fun because not that many kids my age during then could say they rode on a horse. But point is, that wasn't any experience at all. If I was truly on the run for my life, my butt, thighs and so on would be in pain. Maybe my back too because I would need to lean close to the horse to hold on better.
As for when the OC doesn't have any experience with horses, one must remember that not everyone can get it after three tries. They need time to get the handle of it. That's the difference between realistic and unbelievable. An fake, unbelievable character would pick it up with ease while a realistic character would take time to get it right and be decent. It might even take longer if their goal is to be a master at it because that would require field experience.
It's the same concept with other things too. Physically if the OC was on the run for their life and they are couch potatoes (or not physically active at all). How in the world can they run three miles without having an asthma attack/clasping? Let alone ride a horse, fall into a raging river and swim against the current, run two miles, climbs a tree, climb a cliff/mountain, battle orcs and they supposedly did all that in a week? Realism is the key here, like I keep saying it's what makes a story more awesome and enjoyable to read.
 DamnBlackHeart · Sun Nov 21, 2010 @ 02:32am · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
