Question of Character
Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Creative Writing Corner
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Creative Writing Competitions or Creative Writing in general.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6738
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:19am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Question of Character
Posted By: KyleMorris
Subject: Question of Character
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2013 at 4:06pm
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Hiya y'all. Being a bit pedantic about the assigned character thing. What does everyone make of having to write around an assigned character?
The rulebook says the character must be a relevant character used in the story. I'm wondering whether this means that the character has to be a main character (i.e. a protagonist/antagonist) or a peripheral character designed only to further the plot and who can be mentioned briefly in passing (e.g. a person who delivers bad news etc.). Appreciate for any advice, help, opinion, response on the matter. |
Replies:
Posted By: londongirl
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2013 at 4:10pm
| The safest route is obviously to make the given character the main protagonist of your story. However, you can certainly make them a secondary character, as long as they have a strong role in the development of the story, or a strong impact on your main protag. I definitely wouldn't make them a peripheral character. If you think about it, the point of this competition is to challenge you to incorporate the assigned elements. If it was okay to just mention them and move on, where's the challenge in that? |
Posted By: KyleMorris
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2013 at 4:30pm
| Cheers for that. Very true - just finding it too challenging & considering shortcuts. Nothing new there. I blame my idleness. |
Posted By: zolatone
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 3:57pm
| Really a mistake adding character and object in addition to genre. I've entered five or so and have been heat winner twice and finalist three times. You summed it up; with two mandatory elements there is little room to explore possibilities. Now it's more like a game of 'Clue' than a writing competition. |
Posted By: londongirl
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 4:22pm
| I don't really mind. There was always an assigned subject as well as genre. Adding one more element still leaves a lot of room for creativity. |
Posted By: Mukti Devi
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 8:36pm
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I think the 3 element assignment offers just enough challenge. I love reading the assignments from other groups and wondering where they'll go with them. Even more than that, I look forward to reading my fellow group 1-ers...I hope they make a strong appearance! Since I've already grappled with the elements, it makes me appreciate other interpretations even more. Plus, it's like a game and I LOVE a good game! As far as the character, I think the assigned character should be pretty central, but how you interpret that character description is entirely up to you! ------------- If you have a chance, Please review my first attempt at microfiction https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g43-once-after-jack-fairy-tale-or-fantasy_topic33749.html" rel="nofollow - Here . R1 G43 |
Posted By: robertsoul
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2013 at 10:18am
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Wow! This has been fun. I am in heat 7. Sci-fi, computer programmer, retirement. I have never written sci-fi. The closest thing I've come to it before was a ghost story. This has been so fun. I'm about to "fix" my first draft and turn it in. Best of luck everybody. |
Posted By: topangarose
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2013 at 2:27am
- Unless you get a freaking FIREMAN. ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-grp-23-a-light-dinner-for-dragons-fairytale-fan_topic62408.html" rel="nofollow - 250 wrd-2024 A LIGHT DINNER FOR DRAGONS |
londongirl wrote:Posted By: sootfoot5
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2013 at 2:29am
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quit yer itching Tops and go post your logline. ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r2-gp34-the-emperors-new-house_topic64419.html" rel="nofollow - My SS R2 Link |
Posted By: topangarose
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2013 at 2:33am
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posted! By the way kyle.... to answer you original question. I found the character aspect quite limiting, while the object to be included I've always found quite exciting and challenging. Not that the character wasn't challenging, it was, but for me, not in a good way.
------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-grp-23-a-light-dinner-for-dragons-fairytale-fan_topic62408.html" rel="nofollow - 250 wrd-2024 A LIGHT DINNER FOR DRAGONS |
Posted By: sootfoot5
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2013 at 2:48am
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I wasn't crazy about it either. ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r2-gp34-the-emperors-new-house_topic64419.html" rel="nofollow - My SS R2 Link |
Posted By: Mukti Devi
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2013 at 8:31am
Tell that to Ray Bradbury.  ------------- If you have a chance, Please review my first attempt at microfiction https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g43-once-after-jack-fairy-tale-or-fantasy_topic33749.html" rel="nofollow - Here . R1 G43 |
Posted By: HeatherHaze
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 9:40am
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At first I thought the addition of the character assignment would be too restricting, but I actually enjoyed the challenge. I think it pushes our creativity even farther. It should be interesting to read how everyone worked that element into the their stories. ------------- )-|-( Heather Haze MFC-100 2021 Round 2: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/c2-g12-irreconcilable-sci-fi_topic43041.html" rel="nofollow - Irreconcilable |