Good Original Female Characters

[Keira]

I love the female characters in Nittanylizards stories. Liz has a natural way to write all females, no matter their background or purpose. In her story Tens Years Later, as well as the sequel, Ponyboy's wife and daughters are such a welcomed breath of sweet, fresh air because they are human. They have flaws and they have normal feminine issues and aren't melodramatic about it - and if they are, it's done in good tastes because... well, hello, no girl can ever claim to not be melodramatic once in a while, right?

[fairlane]

I think my three favourite stories with an added female character are Middle Ground by Marsonfire, Welcome to the Wrong Side of the Tracks by Artemis Rex and Finn by Tensleep.

They are all have a character who is real and believable and part of the story without taking it over. I love stories that have an outside perspective of the 'gang' when it is done well and with originality.

[Ryker]

I'm with artemis, I think Ruby is a great OFC. She's probably one of the only ones in Fanfiction I can stand. Usually after a few chapters OFC start irking me, but I'm still liking Ruby and we're thirty chapters into the fic.

She hasn't taken the limelight away from Tim, which is always good

[st.elmo-lover]

I agree with everybody else. I LOVE RUBY! She's such a good character in so many aspects and as a reader I can relate to her in some aspects too. Marsonfire is a great writer and she's really good with characters.

[latch22]

It's interesting how not many have touched the OFC thread.

What people want is a female character who simply cannot be replaced with any old character (namely another Sue), lest the story itself be altered. All of the characters that have been mentioned fit that description. I'm jumping onto that bandwagon.

Perhaps it's a fine line to walk. My respect and admiration goes to those that have written great OFCs.

I wouldn't really know; my only OFC is a borderline sociopath with a petty, spiteful temper and an inability to accept that she has caused a lot of the lousy things that have happened in her life. Darry thinks she's crazy, Dallas can't stand her and yet loves to bait her, she makes Pony and Johnny nervous, and only Two-Bit, Steve, and Soda seem to actually like her. I don't think she's a character that you would wish ill, but I can't see her becoming a favorite. Lol.

Seriously, though, thanks specifically to Artemis and mars (and others, but I'm too lazy to check who else was said right now and, well, I'm not too into thinking, sorry) for showing that, yes, it can be done!

Cheers!

[latch22]

That's a great way to look at it, mars. Very true.

[Nittanylizard]

latch22 said:

I wouldn't really know; my only OFC is a borderline sociopath with a petty, spiteful temper and an inability to accept that she has caused a lot of the lousy things that have happened in her life. Darry thinks she's crazy, Dallas can't stand her and yet loves to bait her, she makes Pony and Johnny nervous, and only Two-Bit, Steve, and Soda seem to actually like her. I don't think she's a character that you would wish ill, but I can't see her becoming a favorite. Lol.

Is this Annette? If so, I love that character! I think she's got a lot of depth, and the way the information about her is just being trickled out a little at a time is perfect. Great character. I haven't posted on this thread yet, but in addition to Grace, Ruby, Laura, Finn, and Passin Through, I'd definitely put Annette on my favorites list.

Oh, and something I read a while back - a character doesn't have to be likable for the reader to like them.

Liz

[latch22]

Liz, I would thank you, but you're probably referring to Annabelle, IAmOnlyMe's character... possibly. And if not her, then I don't know to whom you are referring. This character hasn't actually found her way onto the Internet yet, and I don't know if I ever will allow her to grace FF.net with a story in which she is prominently featured. She can be a handful, and I mostly just allow her to appear sparingly in the background... sometimes.

And that's true. Strangely, I was thinking of that when I posted that--about a likable character versus a good character--but I still figured that she would drive most people crazy. I mean, I like a lot of characters that aren't actually likable but I consider good character... so, who knows?

I dunno, though--this one is a bit of a pill.

[fosterchild]

ryker said:

She hasn't taken the limelight away from Tim, which is always good

I agree! In my opinion, she ADDS to Tim's limelight!

[zickachik73]

I think my favorite OFC's are Finn and Ruby, who are strangely alike in my mind, though written by different authors and in totally different settings.

I love Ruby's spitfire nature, like how she races Dally, and not just once. She's also very realisitic when it comes to dating someone like Tim and how the relationship is going to go.

Finn has a beautiful way of looking at life, but not so much that she's looking at it through rose-colored glasses. She works hard, loves hard, plays hard.

And mostly, they're fun to read because you never know what either one is going to do next. ;D

[Tensleep]

zickachik73 said:

I think my favorite OFC's are Finn and Ruby, who are strangely alike in my mind, though written by different authors and in totally different settings.

You know, that's interesting. I've never read Ruby and I doubt Mars has read Finn, but you say they're alike...Now I have to go and read Ruby. Forshame on you, Laura. Now I have two things on my to read list

But hey, it's Friday! Happy 13th to all and to all a good night!

[greasergirlheart14]

what would be you people's opinion on Dallas having a little sister? (or two.... one full, on half..)

[Nittanylizard]

Aug 6, 2010 12:36:04 GMT -5 greasergirlheart14 said:

what would be you people's opinion on Dallas having a little sister? (or two.... one full, on half..)

Good question! I've seen a few decent Dallas sister fics, but I think it's one of the harder ones to both write well, and have accepted. I myself find Dally hard to write, so I don't even attempt to add anyone else to his life.

There are certain predictable tendencies I've noticed when writers give Dallas a sister:

1. she's either exactly like him, or exactly the opposite

2. Dally either gets annoyed with her but is super-protective of her, or she's the only person besides Johnny that Dally loves, and he's quite gushy and open about how he feels about her

3. most of the rest of the gang think she's awesome and/or are respectfully afraid of her, either because Dally is her brother or because she verbally reprimands/threatens them (and they think that's funny or impressive)

4. she's either best friends with, dating, or interested in one of the other members of the gang


These are just a few of the typical cliches I've seen when it comes to Dallas sisters. If the writer can avoid most of these and write a well-rounded character while also keeping Dally believably in character, though, I think he is one of the more interesting guys to give a sister to.

[greasergirlheart14]

ok, well my story has both a full and half sister for Dall (the half sister is not my OC)

my story: www.fanfiction.net/s/5363488/1/bKeep_b_No_bSecrets_b

is based off this one: From Greaser To Country Girl And Back (by texaskid) (you can search this one at fanfiction or search FGTCGAB at quizilla.teennick.com)

ya, if you're interested or have the time you could check them out. but i'd very much appreciate if you read mine (mine is only 6 chapters vs. texaskid's 50 some chaps =D)