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The Burning Furnace

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 9:27 am


...Making a person in a book seem more "human". I'm writing a Sci Fi series at the moment, so making the characters seem realistic and with emotion has proven difficult, since half of the characters are aliens or cyborgs. I've done a good job with one of the aliens, but I don't want to repeat the same pattern for others. Any advice would be appreciated 3nodding
PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 12:41 pm


Go to a coffee shop or a bus station and watch people. Humanity isn't just about what we say, it's also in our mannerisms; our posture, or fidgeting, the way we make eye contact (if at all).

They're things you wouldn't notice unless you're looking for them, because as humans, we're so used to them. So, go to a public place where you can observe people just being people (being bored, social, busy, etc) and try writing down exactly what you see. These mannerisms might not translate well to robots/aliens if they have different anatomy, but they're a first step.

Also, go up on TVTropes.org and look up 'uncanny valley'. I think you can learn a lot about what humans act like by looking at examples that are trying to be human and failing (and succeed only in beeing eerily not-quite-like ourselves.) It might help, it might not. But it's a source.

Don't know what else to say...

avearia

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The Burning Furnace

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 12:43 pm


avearia
Go to a coffee shop or a bus station and watch people. Humanity isn't just about what we say, it's also in our mannerisms; our posture, or fidgeting, the way we make eye contact (if at all).

They're things you wouldn't notice unless you're looking for them, because as humans, we're so used to them. So, go to a public place where you can observe people just being people (being bored, social, busy, etc) and try writing down exactly what you see. These mannerisms might not translate well to robots/aliens if they have different anatomy, but they're a first step.

Also, go up on TVTropes.org and look up 'uncanny valley'. I think you can learn a lot about what humans act like by looking at examples that are trying to be human and failing (and succeed only in beeing eerily not-quite-like ourselves.) It might help, it might not. But it's a source.

Don't know what else to say...

alright, thanks alot for the advice 3nodding
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The Gaian Literary Journal

 
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