The Struggles Of Living The Wattpad Life

Common Characters On Wattpad

We've all written original characters of some sort that has come solely from out imaginations- even if you've only created an OC. I love coming up with a new, fresh character- it makes me a little happy on the inside. You get to come up with a new name, a look, a past, a family, a story, and even get to think up little details down to pets and personality. 

But, of course, there are so many completely new characters you can come up with before your 'new' character is just a walking cliche. Which isn't bad, don't get me wrong, but a lot of 'original' characters (I'm guiltily of this myself) are just like a ton of others on Wattpad- even if it's by accident. 

I was reading an article about how there are only seven types of stories in the world- because I am very grow up and mature and I don't love a fictional character whom does not exist (forgive me Bucky I have lied)- and I stumbled upon this phrase: "There are only seven stories in the world. I used to think there were a lot more than that, based on visits to Blockbuster and my school reading list, but my high school Creative Writing teacher, Mrs. Post..... She said that all plots are a variation of one of seven basic themes. She used a list made by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch. Here they are: man against man, man against nature, man against himself, man against God, man against society, man caught in the middle, man and woman."

I just thought that was pretty friggin cool. And somewhere through my very adult-like reading, I realized that while this may be true for stories, this was no different from characters. And since I conveniently have this book where I rant about things on a writing website- I asked myself, "What the heck, Elise! You already have a new chapter, because you are totes not already running out of ideas for this book! Also, you are totes not sleep deprived and listening to Lana Del Rey while sulking in self pity!"

So, here are the six types of characters on Wattpad and/or just in general. Because I am totes not already running ideas for this book!

ONE: THE CHILL ONE. This character is like, just legit chill. He/she is totally cool with everything- even if their pet just died. I guess some people are really like this, but I think this character also comes from lack of knowing how to write emotion. I suffer myself from this not-knowing-how, but I try my best to write my characters emotions. Even if I fail. 

Some people do this to, but like me, all writers have their weaknesses. 

And then, of course, there are those characters who legit just don't care- and the writers know this. 

Example: 

"Oh, my gosh, Tyler! Your dad just died of a heart attack!" Gabby yelled, hanging up her phone call. "You must be devastated!"

Tyler shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. He's in a better place, though." He smiled. "You wanna go get a taco?"

TWO: THE ROOTED ONE. Okay, so take the character I just described- The Chill One- and add a huge, unnecessarily giant backstory to her/his life. One that's very confusing and has the readers scratching their head in confusion.

I mean, we get it, this character was hurt back in the day- but come on, that person he/she just passed in the street was someone who looked like a person who witnessed he/she's first cousins murder, which is an event she/he's remembered since he/she were still a little baby in he/she's mother's arms?

It's okay to have a flawed characters with a dark background- but don't make it so over dramatic that the readers are left thinking a plant on the side of the street had something to do with her/his dark past. 

Example: 

I looked at an old sock. "Darn you, Paul." I grunted. Paul Rock was probably wearing that sock when he murdered my mother. "Never again will you hurt me or my family!" I shout, throwing the old grey sock I found in a dumpster into the sky. My yell reminded me of my screams that horrid night. I broke down and cried in the middle of the road. I don't know how I got in the street- I was by a dumpster. This reminded me that time travelers possibly exist, which made me scream in confusion. Cars tried to avoid running me over. The sound of cars going by reminded me of the car I was taken away in as a child to be tortured for information I didn't have. I heard a cat's meow. The meow reminded me of the time I was thrown into a giant pit of angry tigers who-