Labels

 One thing I don't like in writing (and in day-to-day life) is labels.  We have a tendency to slap a word onto our characters or real people and use that to describe them.  "He's OCD."  "I'm an INFJ."  "This character has depression."  "She's a Jesus freak."

Now, using a label isn't always bad.  We sometimes need a way to briefly describe someone, and using such a label often works.  But people are so beautifully complex, and we can't just be described completely with one word.  And even if someone is diagnosed OCD, they can be totally different from another person with OCD.  So when we put labels on people, we're often just calling to mind the stereotype or cliché of that word.

Using labels for the people in our stories often leads us to writing cardboard characters.  Imagine you're creating a new character, and for their description, you put something along the lines of  "They have PTSD from a tragic past (witnessing a murder).  This leads them to be moody and guarded and have random flashbacks."  This is an excellent way to start off creating a character, but do not end here!!! We need to dig deeper and really get into how the character thinks.  It will help us make them more real on the page.

For example, knowing the above information doesn't really help me with the character.  I'm end up making him/her crabby at everything, saying nothing at all about their past, and whenever I'm stuck with the story, I'll give them a flashback to make things lively.

But let's strip that label off, shall we?

Grab a piece of paper and think about that character.  What worries them?  What triggers those "random flashbacks."  Sirens?  Flashing lights?  Screams?  Maybe the sight of a knife or something seemingly harmless - like a cat?  A movement, even as friendly as a hug?  Flashbacks aren't really random.  They usually are triggered by something.

Why are they so guarded?  Hopefully it's not because you think guarded and "tough" characters are cool and fun to write.  This character needs a reason and slapping "PTSD" on them does not do the job.  Is it because he/she is always worried someone is trailing them?  Because they're embarrassed of their flashbacks and are always afraid of having one?  Maybe they're worried people will hate them if they talk too much.  Maybe they think that everyone else is just annoying and irresponsible.  On the other hand, what would make them smile and open up?  Do they like jokes?  Maybe they enjoy playing with children or animals.  Or when they see people get hurt they run to help them.  Maybe, once the others start working together, they get less snappy at them.

Now I can go back to that original character and fill in a little more about them.  "They don't like it when people scream or move quickly, because it reminds them of when they witnessed a murder, a few years ago.  They don't like bringing it up, because everyone is always asking them questions about the scene - who did it, who was murdered, etc - and they want so much just to forget it.  So they don't talk a lot, afraid that people will recognize them and the questions will begin again.  Once that character realizes the others aren't really interested in getting answers, and just want their help with the current task at hand, the character opens up a little more."

Do you use labels in your writing?  Can you toss them away and flesh out your characters a little more?  Remember, people are complex, and characters should be no different.  Don’t be a lazy writer. :)