Writing against type

[maeve_of_winter]

I'm writing a fic right now that's somewhat challenging in its characterization, and it got me thinking: how do you tackle characters dealing with emotions or reacting to situations they've never come close to encountering in canon? Or them consciously choosing to change who they are as a person?

For me, my fic is a Riverdale/Archie Comics fic for the FP Jones/Kevin Keller pairing called "Second Time Around." It has FP Jones, a rough and tough gang leader in canon, now trying to step up in his role as a newly single parent, as well as trying act more like a gentleman in order to convince Kevin Keller to stay with him. It can get difficult, because the situation in itself requires FP to change from how he is in canon into someone who's more gentle and caring, so it can very easily stretch the willing suspension of disbelief.

And now I'm curious! How do you, as a writer, believably keep a character as themselves while writing about them acting differently than how they are in canon, or willingly choosing to act unlike themselves?

Comments

[tielan]

I try and give them a reason for doing it - character based, history based, and then try to lead the audience through that journey to that point. Also, as the_rck pointed out above, nobody is all one thing all the time, and canon tends to leave gaps for extrapolation and possibility which can be effectively used.

And then, to some degree, exactly how un/characteristic a behaviour or action is depends on your audience and how willing they are to be led where you're taking them.

[maeve_of_winter]

I try and give them a reason for doing it - character based, history based, and then try to lead the audience through that journey to that point.

Always a solid idea--nobody consciously decides they suddenly need to change their lifestyle or behavior without a reason.

And now I think you've got me considering this issue from a different angle: instead of trying to convince the audience, focus on convincing the character to change in-story, and if if the character is able to buy it, your audience should be able to as well.