I find Jack by far the easiest of SG-1 to write, because he has the most distinctive and idiosyncratic voice.
Oh, interesting. Jack's voice is definitely quirky, but that's part of my issue when I try to write him. Timing is everything with Jack's comments and a perfect bon mot here can just sound like stale dialogue there. It's why I'm always impressed with good Jack fic.
Yes, Teal'c's maximum impact sentences are wonderful. That...I still struggle with sometimes. Because I think Teal'c is very eloquent and wordy *in his head* but a lifetime of knowing to keep his mouth shut means he measures his spoken words carefully.
I think it's because he's not really an observer character - he's a force of personality, in there smashing at other people with his opinion instead of sitting back and listening to them, and that tends to work better narratively when viewed from the outside.
Yes! That's very much it! I think it also goes back to something I noticed when chatting with sg_wonderland above. Sometimes it makes a difference about "reactive" characters versus "action" characters, which I'm not sure I'm explaining clearly. But different from protagonist/antagonist. To have a narrator, you also have to have an "observer", even if the observations are flawed (hopefully they are to one extent or another). Daniel often observes, processes, and acts/reacts so fast it's hard to have him narrate it all. And as you say, his personality can sometimes make him the best choice to note something, or the most stubborn and singularly focused. (It's why I love him and find him frustrating).
I'm fascinated by your observations of Sam's lack of vocal quirks.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-03-12 03:17 am (UTC)Oh, interesting. Jack's voice is definitely quirky, but that's part of my issue when I try to write him. Timing is everything with Jack's comments and a perfect bon mot here can just sound like stale dialogue there. It's why I'm always impressed with good Jack fic.
Yes, Teal'c's maximum impact sentences are wonderful. That...I still struggle with sometimes. Because I think Teal'c is very eloquent and wordy *in his head* but a lifetime of knowing to keep his mouth shut means he measures his spoken words carefully.
I think it's because he's not really an observer character - he's a force of personality, in there smashing at other people with his opinion instead of sitting back and listening to them, and that tends to work better narratively when viewed from the outside.
Yes! That's very much it! I think it also goes back to something I noticed when chatting with
I'm fascinated by your observations of Sam's lack of vocal quirks.