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Question of the day thread number 2!

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mare:
Thought i'd start a new thread since the other one was running pretty long. I did leave the other one opened for anyone who wants to answer the questions or add on to what was said prior to today. :)

Tonight's question:

After reading the diverse answers some of you had, here is the question. How do you tend to characterize the guys when you write them? Give us a few descriptions for each guy and if you write a lot of female leads what characteristic s do you tend to give them?

Kevin
Howie
Brian
AJ
Nick

RokofAges75:
Yay for thread number 2!

Now for today's question!

Kevin - I tend to write Kevin in the cliched fatherly/leader role.  He's always a supporting character in my stories, usually the one who gives advice (whether it's asked for or not) or tries to take charge in tough situations, except for the one in which he's comatose with a bullet in his brain, of course.  I'm surprised I don't take him out of commission more often simply because he's the leader; it's fun to do, but I guess I just don't care enough to ever make him the main focus of a story LOL.

Howie - I usually write Howie in a similar role as Kevin, especially after Kevin left and Howie became the unofficial leader of the band.  My Howie is more good-natured and easygoing than my Kevin, but he's usually the voice of reason, as well as the peacemaker.  I like writing Howie alongside AJ or Nick the best.  He's usually the one looking out for AJ or tolerating Nick picking on him all the time.  I love that he still calls Nick "Nicky" from time to time; I always include a few strategically placed "Nicky"s in my Nick tearjerkers.  Howie's good for bromance!  My absolute favorite way to write Howie, though, is as Dr. Rough, his character in 00Carter, in which the tears of being mocked have caused him to snap, turning him into a power-hungry supervillain who is also super-sensitive about his shortcomings and would freak out at my use of the word "short."

Brian - My Brian changes depending on his role in the story and who he's with.  When paired with Kevin or Howie, my Brian is the goofy one, good for comic relief.  When paired with Nick or AJ, he's either equally goofy so that they play off each other well, or he comes across as the more mature, serious one.  I've written angsty Brian, who wallows in self-pity, and I've written strong Brian, who is there for whichever one (usually Nick) is wallowing instead.  Whatever the situation, though, there are certain characteristic s I always keep when I write Brian: his sense of humor, his faith, his love of music, his devotion to his family, and the back story about his heart condition.  I'm a Brian girl, and to me, those are all key components to what make Brian Brian, so even in an AU, those things stay a part of him.

AJ - Like I said in the other thread, AJ is one of my favorites to write as a supporting character, although I do like to write him as the lead sometimes, too.  In his supporting role, he's usually either a source of comic relief or a source of conflict.  He lightens the mood, cracks inappropriate jokes, and says the stuff no one else has the balls to say.  But he's also most likely to react badly to difficult situations and have a total meltdown.  Fun-loving AJ is my favorite, but dark, angsty AJ is good for drama.

Nick - Nick is similar to Brian in that I write him differently depending on the story.  When he's in a supporting role, he's usually more immature and annoying, whereas when he's the main character, he seems more thoughtful and serious.  I write him differently now than I did a few years, I think partly because of how much he's grown up and changed in past few years and partly because of how much I'VE grown up and changed.  I used to write Nick as kind of a mess - insecure, angsty, emo, even suicidal at times.  My Nick nowadays is usually more confident and chill about things.  In serious stories, anyway.  In not-serious ones, he's still silly and playful.  I use a lot of mannerisms when I write Nick, like that smirk he does that says "You can't resist me; I know I'm hot," and waggling his eyebrows, licking his lips, putting his hand in his hair, all that stuff he does that is so hot LOL.  I usually have an easy time picturing him and his body language as I write.


Female leads - My female leads are usually based on some part of myself or someone I know, or they're the kind of girl I wish I was, without being so idealized that they turn into Mary Sue.  The character Jori in Secrets of the Heart, for example, is an exaggerated version of my sister.  Cary in Curtain Call and Claire in Broken are both sort of my ideals, but with real qualities of the two opposite sides of my personality.  Cary is the girly side whose personality is similar to how I am around most people in real life - kind of quiet and reserved, a little insecure, but trustworthy and sweet, a nurturer.  Claire is the tomboy side whose personality is more similar to how I am online and among my closest friends and family - more outgoing, twisted sense of humor, not afraid of what people think, will say whatever, even if it's "Suck it up and stop feeling sorry for yourself."  They both have characteristic s that I idealize, like their looks (Cary is classically pretty and can pull off red lipstick; Claire is more plain-looking, but has red hair - I love red hair!), Cary's musical talent, and Claire's spitfire personality, but my intent was that they also have flaws that prevent them from being Mary Sues or at least enough quirk to make them likable.  I don't like female leads that are too perfect, but Anti-Sues that try too hard to NOT be perfect, yet are somehow still adored by everyone in the story (Bella Swan), are even more annoying.

Rose:
Kevin - He's always the big brother, sometimes things get to him. But because of the things he's done for the others over the years, he's the one looking out and taking care of the other four as much as he can.

Howie - I try to write Howie as understanding yet understated. I just now started playing with the idea of the Nick/Howie bond (in RMTW), and I liked it cause people forget about him. That, or I use that to mock it and have him get revenge LOL. And in stories where Kevin's not on tour with them, I want to play with the idea of Howie having had to take on the leader role.

Brian - Understanding with his cheesy outgoing sense of humor lol. I like writing him as true to his faith but I've liked playing with things that make him question it. He's usually the one I send people to for advice if Kevin's not around. He has such a perfect life, that I usually give him hell in some form or another in a fic so that way I can take his character into new places.

AJ - AJ immediately gets my morbid sense of humor. He's the one who will say what he feels no matter what. And then I like to try and give him this twisted and sometimes detached perspective on things. I'll even do stuff like write him with depression cause honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he ever got diagnosed with that in real life.

Nick  - He tends to be jaded, about what fame has taken from him, his family life. I like writing him as the brother always worrying about his siblings despite how they treat him. And then the one who needs the group more than anyone cause it's his only family. He gets little nuances like singing randomly or when he's nervous, and he gets my random train of thought cause we all know how random he is for real lol.

Female leads - usually they're built off of one aspect of myself at the time. Like Cali in Just Another Day had all my insecurities. I gave her the talents of one of my cousins, and flipped my favorite subject on to one she hated. She was really shy, which is what I used to be as a kid but wasn't when I wrote it. Riley, in Song For The Undead, is a bigger bitch than I could be lol, but its her biggest flaw. She has my temper though, my way of being cautiously detached if I worry about being hurt. She's definitely tougher than me, and far more cynical. I gave her my former love of journalism lol. Grace in Divine Intervention has my wry attitude about things, and my way of teasing when she gives Nick a hard time. She definitely will (once I write it) make mistakes that I wouldn't even consider though, back when she was alive, and have bigger regrets. So basically I take a couple of aspects of me, but not all, blow some up into flaws, and some into great qualities, and then toss in other characterizati ons from other people in my life to make someone new.

mare:
Kevin - I tend to write Kevin stereotypicall y as the older brother, leader type. He tends to be my role model and voice of reason in most of my stories. He loves and tends to be over protective of the rest of the boys, especially of Nick and AJ. When I write him and his relationship with Howie, I tend to have them be more friends than anything else. Two equals hanging out. With Howie, I tend to show the more fun side of Kevin. The one that likes to joke and have a good time. I usually make him pretty intense, and rarely give him comic lines. He's my straight man but does get a lot of ribbing from the others. LOL

Howie - I try to write him as the humble, nice guy. Always willing to listen to everyone. I guess he's my shoulder to cry on guy. Always the one people know will give them the time of day if needed. I do try to make him a protector as well because I see that in him, based on interviews I've seen where he talks about the younger guys. I like to showcase his relationship with Kevin and Nick the most. With Kevin, I usually make him the one who's not afraid to stand his ground and say what he thinks. I have always thought Nick and Howie have had a very special relationship and I try to pull that out as often as I can. I really do try to not make Howie fade in the background too much and I think I do okay with that.

Brian - He's the feel good guy. The one who always seems to be happy go lucky. The perfect life, the perfect,family. Doesn't complain a whole lot and because he's been so isolated, he's kind of close minded with things. That's generally how I approach him. I find him the hardest to write probably because I find him the hardest to relate to. I like to make him goofy but not over the top goofy but I also like to make him serious as well. I guess he's always the guy in the middle. I noticed I don't write him overly tight or close to any of them but just enough to keep that brotherly bond going with all five.

AJ - Is my comic relief. He's the one that has no internal censor and says whatever he thinks. Classic AJ moment is when I actually met him and he used the term "I woke up at the crack of ass!" LOL I have used that line in a fic and I think that sums him up. Underneath the tattoos and make up and whatever else makes AJ 'unique" I think he's the most normal personality wise. I think he's actually the glue that binds the guys all together. He seems to have a special relationship with all of the guys and I can see him being the one to never really take sides and instead see it from everyone else's perspective.

Nick - I do a very stereotypical Nick as well but he has SO many layers, that I feel like there is no such thing as a stereotypical Nick anymore. I enjoy making him the typical little brother. Care free and reckless but thoughtful. I try not to make him overly dumb because even as a kid, I never bought into that dumb blonde thing. I truly believe it was just an act. I think he has always been the most observant member of the group when it comes to watching other people's behavior. I like to make him shy, and a bit vulnerable but of course also a lot of fun when it comes to being around the guys. He lacks trust usually but not them. He would do anything for the other four in my world anyway. lol

Female leads - I don't really write female leads but my female characters tend to have a lot of my traits. I actually give Nick more of myself than I give the girls lol

FrickingKaos:
Kevin- I've written him quite a few ways. Usually he is the annoyed big brother or a jerk....in Forces Of Nature he is very arrogant and snarky. Other stories he gives advice or is the go to guy. like that father figure Nick needs. However in Still The One he was a warm, funny guy. So he can be anything.

Howie- I don't include him much but I make him the business minded serious one. The one who took over for Kevin after he left, the leader. I've made him the "new Kevin".

Brian-  He is usually the sidekick, the guy who'd do anything for his friends. I like him in my AU series, he's a cop with a ultra sensitive side....and a manly complex (no crying in front of girls). I love to write his relationship with Nick...carefre e and wise at the same time.

AJ- He's another comic relief, whether it be walking around in SPONGEBOB boxers, or cracking inappropriate jokes....he is also like a big brother to Nick. He gives advice even if it turns out to backfire, and tells things how it is. AJ is very straightforwar d, no bullshit.

Nick- I usually write him somewhat shy, a bit self conscious. He views the guys as his family more than his own, puts his friends over himself. He's the one who would do anything for someone he loves. I like writing him as the hopeless romantic, but I also write him as how he is in real life. I make him the jokester, childish at times but somewhat wise. He's the easiest for me to write.

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