tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post4923276098186948266..comments2024-03-19T09:28:40.384+00:00Comments on MOODY WRITING: Sympathetic Characters Part 5: Betrayalmooderinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-23102352082263629702013-02-14T09:43:08.674+00:002013-02-14T09:43:08.674+00:00@Rusty - once the reader's in, they're in ...@Rusty - once the reader's in, they're in all the way.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-13365277790096512912013-02-13T22:07:19.380+00:002013-02-13T22:07:19.380+00:00In reading this series I've been thinking of w...In reading this series I've been thinking of when I've been the most sympathetic to a character... and the quickest. For that I'd have to vote for American Gods - I thought the plot of that book got a bit away from me, but I loved it because I was so committed to seeing this guy have something good happen to him. So, that would probably be a good case study in a sympathetic character... I mention it because betrayal took place there too.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-79935547004375730792013-02-04T18:19:49.193+00:002013-02-04T18:19:49.193+00:00@Melanie - to be fair, people who know me have ple...@Melanie - to be fair, people who know me have plenty of reasons.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-45046123567371279442013-02-04T16:32:58.225+00:002013-02-04T16:32:58.225+00:00THe ones closest to us are also the ones most capa...THe ones closest to us are also the ones most capable of crushing us. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11622191037152999869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-27711270054940978142013-01-31T17:00:04.539+00:002013-01-31T17:00:04.539+00:00@Lee - Cheers, glad to be back for 2013.@Lee - Cheers, glad to be back for 2013.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-24846930217636635202013-01-31T16:15:31.687+00:002013-01-31T16:15:31.687+00:00I think most of us have experienced some kind of b...I think most of us have experienced some kind of betrayal in our lives so it's easy to relate to a character who is going through something like this if it's done well. Betrayal is a classic theme.<br /><br />Glad to have you signed up for the A to Z!<br /><br />Lee <br /><a href="http://wrotebyrote.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Wrote By Rote</a><br />An A to Z Co-host blog<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-88190542494216705852013-01-31T10:31:00.220+00:002013-01-31T10:31:00.220+00:00@Golden - painfully true.@Golden - painfully true.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-91048347246849951452013-01-30T23:53:28.121+00:002013-01-30T23:53:28.121+00:00It always hurts more when there's something (o...It always hurts more when there's something (or the reader/MC were led to believe that there was) meaningful between the betrayed and the betrayer.<br /><br />Great post!Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-30380865860503215202013-01-30T20:23:51.268+00:002013-01-30T20:23:51.268+00:00@Michael - in the end it only really matters if pe...@Michael - in the end it only really matters if people enjoy the story. I think all this craft stuff helps, but story is the most important thing.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-77173888275765444562013-01-30T19:18:54.844+00:002013-01-30T19:18:54.844+00:00This really hits close to home because the manuscr...This really hits close to home because the manuscript I have on submission right now has a betrayal in it. I tend to think (of course I am biased) that I did the betrayal well and was not at all cliche about it. But who knows. Maybe I really suck at it.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-49541538565124797772013-01-30T12:18:56.061+00:002013-01-30T12:18:56.061+00:00@Jay - withholding information from the character ...@Jay - withholding information from the character often works better than withholding it from the reader. Hard to do in first person pov though (but not impossible).mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-39033367477268476412013-01-30T02:58:54.679+00:002013-01-30T02:58:54.679+00:00Fantastic! I love creating dramatic irony when the...Fantastic! I love creating dramatic irony when the reader knows more than the character. I want my reader to scream at my book (or their kindle)Jay Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04757777693161610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-58627461219365786142013-01-30T02:54:59.413+00:002013-01-30T02:54:59.413+00:00@Damyanti - thanks. Planning to put up the badge a...@Damyanti - thanks. Planning to put up the badge as soon as I get a mo.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-65081828205495802822013-01-30T02:14:22.263+00:002013-01-30T02:14:22.263+00:00I must go back and read all the posts in this seri...I must go back and read all the posts in this series -- this is awesome!<br /><br />Stopping by to welcome you on board the <a href="http://amloki.blogspot.sg/2013/01/a-to-z-april-blogging-challenge-2013.html" rel="nofollow">A to Z Challenge April 2013</a> once again.<br /><br />Please consider putting up the Challenge badge so it is easier to identify your participation.<br />Twitter: @AprilA2Z <br /> #atozchallenge<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283371140346602856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-42952434073830882492013-01-30T00:13:55.647+00:002013-01-30T00:13:55.647+00:00@Jack - it's one of the most important things ...@Jack - it's one of the most important things to learn, I think, that the most visceral emotions can end up dull and unaffecting if executed poorly. mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-15235195082781322092013-01-29T22:04:18.116+00:002013-01-29T22:04:18.116+00:00I really liked the line, “The important thing isn’...I really liked the line, “The important thing isn’t that a character is betrayed, it’s how they’re betrayed.” This is an excellent point. Nearly everything is considered cliché, so a writer needs to be able to take something like betrayal and use it in a way to make the reader feel something. The same holds true for other things like friendship, redemption, the fall from grace, etc. Too many think that all they have to do is a have a character experience betrayal, and that’s it. But you’re right, it’s not about the betrayal, it’s about how it happens.Jack Dowdenhttp://100stories100weeks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-37219701593029513902013-01-29T21:11:04.878+00:002013-01-29T21:11:04.878+00:00@nutschell - trust is such a delicate thing that c...@nutschell - trust is such a delicate thing that can so easily be broken.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-78137824604543379862013-01-29T18:23:35.958+00:002013-01-29T18:23:35.958+00:00another great post, moody! And I do agree that a c...another great post, moody! And I do agree that a character who gets betrayed (especially by someone they love) always gets my sympathy vote. :D<br />Nutschell<br />www.thewritingnut.comnutschellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967710710805174781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-30305022916686803752013-01-29T11:20:06.660+00:002013-01-29T11:20:06.660+00:00@AJ - you'll be very welcome.
@Donna - But al...@AJ - you'll be very welcome.<br /><br />@Donna - But all the more rewarding when you get it right.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-71819130039384040422013-01-29T08:02:52.748+00:002013-01-29T08:02:52.748+00:00Trust and betrayal are hard concepts to build into...Trust and betrayal are hard concepts to build into the story.<br /><br />.......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-33583169536978322772013-01-29T03:40:09.419+00:002013-01-29T03:40:09.419+00:00Haha, right you are. This isn't the first time...Haha, right you are. This isn't the first time I've contradicted myself. ;) You've got lots of useful advice. I'll be coming back here for sure. -AJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-10158733663055040232013-01-28T23:55:08.899+00:002013-01-28T23:55:08.899+00:00@Alex - I don't think that would have the same...@Alex - I don't think that would have the same effect. The character would receive the same sympathy they would from suffering any hardship, but it wouldn't be real betrayal if it was accidental. mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-52111721319532741032013-01-28T23:05:28.842+00:002013-01-28T23:05:28.842+00:00What if the betrayal is unintentional or accidenta...What if the betrayal is unintentional or accidental? The choice of a close friend leaves the main character 'stranded' in life for instance?Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-19365800407083040012013-01-28T20:28:32.262+00:002013-01-28T20:28:32.262+00:00@AJ - If they're treated badly their treatment...@AJ - If they're treated badly their treatment might be justified, but if it's unfair then by definition it can't be justified. mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-18513741413017755202013-01-28T20:17:32.467+00:002013-01-28T20:17:32.467+00:00"The more unfairly a character is treated the..."The more unfairly a character is treated the more sympathetic the reader feels towards him." Well, I suppose it also depends on why the character is being treated unfairly. It might be justified. Great post, mooderino! -AJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com