Link's character and handling his dialogue - how do you do it?

OK, we all know about the way Nintendo handles Link... he doesn't talk so in essence you actually become him and fill his shoes, his personality is whatever you make it out to be, yaddi yadda yadda... But when it's time to write a fic about Zelda, well....

As for Link's character, after playing the N64 games, I tend to view him as your typical nice-guy and do-gooder, and so definitely NOT a hard-ass like other game characters (like Snake, Chief, and many of the Final Fantasy leads) . Also, I get the impression that he's totally clueless when it comes to encounters with the opposite sex. I think it was that whole situation with Ruto that made me think that way.

As for his dialogue, well, since he's never said anything besides "I found a mirror under the table" and "Come on" in the games, I feel kinda awkward whenever I come to a part where he has to talk. Heck, sometimes I feel awkward writing about precisely what he's THINKING. At first when I started up Back In Her Hands, I didn't think much of it, but now, I make an effort to try and keep his speech to a minimum. For the rest of the story, I'll probably only make him chatty when he's around Zelda.

Anyway, I'm done. What about the rest of you?

Originally Posted by Grey

I make an effort to try and keep his speech to a minimum.

I'd go with that. When it comes to some fan-fics I write (not shown here at ZU), I usually keep these things in mind:

"Actions speak louder than words": Sometimes it's not what Link says, it's what Link does. tWW Link shows a prime example of this. Instead of having (Link thinking out loud/having the reader know his thoughts) while he's in a dungeon, be specific and detailed on how he reacts to the environment he's around.

"If something needs to be said, make it important": What I do is not make Link like an average talkative teenager. Only make him say crucial lines (warcries and other burst such as "Ow!" "Hey!" ect... count because they are expressing emotion). Try to keep Link's mysterious side to him. Make him speak when it's crucial to the outplay of the story. Don't make him say "Hey Zelda, what have you been up to", say something to the importance like "If Ganon gets possesion of the Triton of Power, his power over Hyrule can be catestrophic"

-BGS

when I started up Back In Her Hands, I didn't think much of it, but now, I make an effort to try and keep his speech to a minimum.

Is that story posted here? I think I'd like to read that.

But to your question. Writing dialogue is hard. Probably the harder than writing descriptions. But what you really need to decide is what are the base personality traits of the character.

It really all depends on how you 'see' the character. If your not sure, you should take the time to write out what that is. Then you have to stick with that 'view'.

At some point the reader (and you should too) will think they have a handle on how a character will behave in a given situation. Readers will notice if you take your 'view' of a person Out Of Character and will have what I affectionately refer to as a WTF moment. (If this is intentional, then another character should take notice - because it's not 'normal behavior')

I'm not saying your character should remain static either, but even when they are faced with change or a challenge (ie; grow up, trauma...blah blah blah, whatever) the base personality traits should remain intact. It makes the person you're creating more believable to the reader.

Not sure if any of that helped - but I'm tired now, so shall head off to bed - g'nite

Here's how I like to characterize Link:

-very adept at handling weapons and very athletic, but horribly clumsy when it comes to everything else
-very loving and caring of everyone around him, especially the ladies
-can speak very properly or laid-back, depending on what the situation requires
-notices the little details of his surroundings when outdoors (this tendency is somehow lost in dungeons)
-possesses incredible luck when it comes to finishing a task, but horrible luck when it comes to things outside of his control
-very humble when he needs to be

Link talking in fan fics haven't been a problem with me. I tend to protray Link as a average teenager who happens to be a great swordsman. Link in my eyes is just like everyone else. He isn't some war hard hero, but a boy caught up in destiny.

Originally Posted by Grey

OK, we all know about the way Nintendo handles Link... he doesn't talk so in essence you actually become him and fill his shoes, his personality is whatever you make it out to be, yaddi yadda yadda... But when it's time to write a fic about Zelda, well....

As for Link's character, after playing the N64 games, I tend to view him as your typical nice-guy and do-gooder, and so definitely NOT a hard-ass like other game characters (like Snake, Chief, and many of the Final Fantasy leads) . Also, I get the impression that he's totally clueless when it comes to encounters with the opposite sex. I think it was that whole situation with Ruto that made me think that way.

This is my thought as to that, Link primarily didn't know in OoT... but he was learning, keep in mind he had the knowledge of a 10 year old towards the beginning, wisdom too. For other zelda games, when he's older, like the up coming game, I think he'll have a much better idea of it... simply because he's actually grown up, rather than jumping to a 17 year olds body.

As for his dialogue, well, since he's never said anything besides "I found a mirror under the table" and "Come on" in the games, I feel kinda awkward whenever I come to a part where he has to talk. Heck, sometimes I feel awkward writing about precisely what he's THINKING. At first when I started up Back In Her Hands, I didn't think much of it, but now, I make an effort to try and keep his speech to a minimum. For the rest of the story, I'll probably only make him chatty when he's around Zelda.

Anyway, I'm done. What about the rest of you?

I think when writing from Links point of view, you simply don't. You show his movements, actions and such. Things like eye movements, foot steps, swet, body position etc. They describe his emotion, and sometimes part of his thoughts. It's a wonderous thing to try to pull off. Good Luck to those who care to try

Originally Posted by achitka

Is that story posted here? I think I'd like to read that.

But to your question. Writing dialogue is hard. Probably the harder than writing descriptions. But what you really need to decide is what are the base personality traits of the character.

It is. But be warned, it's something that'll make you think it was written by a deranged madman. And that's because it was. :cool:

But I disagree. Descriptions are WAY harder than dialogue, but that's just me.

And BGS, that was some good advice. I really shoulda tried that from the outset, but I didn't. I sorta made Link a bit too talkative. I think the problem was that I started it up right after finishing a METAL GEAR story, and I was still in that frame of mind.

But for the rest, I think I'll try scaling down his dialogue. Shouldn't be too hard, since I'm coming up to the dungeon-speulunking bits. That and the fic focuses on Zelda as much as Link.