I've seen you around, mostly on Elle's blog and the humpdrabbles site. Glad that was helpful because trying to "give back" some of the knowledge I've gleaned over the years but have always been too... afraid that it would be misconstrued, I think I would say. But I put this out there to see what would happen.
You really do ask the tough questions, don't you? *grins*
In anything not Harry Potter, I pick the pairing based on what I see in my head when I take on the assignment or prompt. Some pairings I write better than others because I feel more strongly about them. I think that's when a writer is at her best - when she can see the story in her head and feels something for what is going on. I've watched the Buffy series four or five complete times now so I understand some of what is pushing the characters and I pick my favorites when I can (Willow, Tara, Anya, Xander - I like the quirky, funny characters *grins*). Also, many of the non-HP pairings were requested.
For HP, I still go with instinct but I write my RP characters as well. I'm all about writing the lesser pairings ... the ones that JKR didn't touch (I've been burned with my Tonks obsession!) so that there are more shadows to play in. More room for me to be me and not a mimic of JKR.
I RP with a friend (not anywhere public - it's just for us because we enjoy doing it) and some of those characters seep into these drabbles. They aren't necessarily PART of the RP but they take situations and character pairings.
Sometimes I pick a pairing because I like a specific character and want to try writing them with someone new. Like Goyle... I love Goyle! Partly because he was in an RP that I once wrote for and I loved him then. Partly because he just seems like an interesting character. Sure, we know Harry's POV but Harry is fallible! He saw what he wanted to see!
I write the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs because they don't get enough love. Back in the day (three years ago? Four?) I had people who accused me of writing OCs because I wrote about Megan Jones and Zac Smith all the time. I had the page of the Lexicon memorized that showed Megan on the handwritten class list. Now - she's all over the place! It's exciting that people are getting away from the little mass of people that surround the Trio and really getting into the meat of the other characters that JKR named.
So to get back to your question...
I usually have a character in mind to start out with and I give that character a personality in my head. Then I go looking for a good match (i.e. I go through the names on the Lexicon and look for someone that is the right age and then try to fit the personality that I already have in my head with that first person or I make up a new one). My head is full of one bit RP, to be honest. All the characters have a personality and usually I've come up with a PB for them, as well. I do that with original characters, as well!
With some characters, I like to mix it up. For instance, my Megan/Morag story began because I wanted to do something different with Megan. Mixing things up keeps your options open and fresh!
So... to sum it all up... don't be afraid to ever write exactly who you want to write! Pair them with someone that will make you happy! Don't ever give in to what the fandom at large says is acceptable. If we all did that, Ginny would end up with Draco and Harry would forever pine for Hermione... and there would be nothing else for us to write!
AND I'm glad you friended me! I sometimes feel uncomfortable friending friends of my friends because it looks like stalking but Elle has good taste in friends! You guys crack me up! *grins*
no subject
You really do ask the tough questions, don't you? *grins*
In anything not Harry Potter, I pick the pairing based on what I see in my head when I take on the assignment or prompt. Some pairings I write better than others because I feel more strongly about them. I think that's when a writer is at her best - when she can see the story in her head and feels something for what is going on. I've watched the Buffy series four or five complete times now so I understand some of what is pushing the characters and I pick my favorites when I can (Willow, Tara, Anya, Xander - I like the quirky, funny characters *grins*). Also, many of the non-HP pairings were requested.
For HP, I still go with instinct but I write my RP characters as well. I'm all about writing the lesser pairings ... the ones that JKR didn't touch (I've been burned with my Tonks obsession!) so that there are more shadows to play in. More room for me to be me and not a mimic of JKR.
I RP with a friend (not anywhere public - it's just for us because we enjoy doing it) and some of those characters seep into these drabbles. They aren't necessarily PART of the RP but they take situations and character pairings.
Sometimes I pick a pairing because I like a specific character and want to try writing them with someone new. Like Goyle... I love Goyle! Partly because he was in an RP that I once wrote for and I loved him then. Partly because he just seems like an interesting character. Sure, we know Harry's POV but Harry is fallible! He saw what he wanted to see!
I write the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs because they don't get enough love. Back in the day (three years ago? Four?) I had people who accused me of writing OCs because I wrote about Megan Jones and Zac Smith all the time. I had the page of the Lexicon memorized that showed Megan on the handwritten class list. Now - she's all over the place! It's exciting that people are getting away from the little mass of people that surround the Trio and really getting into the meat of the other characters that JKR named.
So to get back to your question...
I usually have a character in mind to start out with and I give that character a personality in my head. Then I go looking for a good match (i.e. I go through the names on the Lexicon and look for someone that is the right age and then try to fit the personality that I already have in my head with that first person or I make up a new one). My head is full of one bit RP, to be honest. All the characters have a personality and usually I've come up with a PB for them, as well. I do that with original characters, as well!
With some characters, I like to mix it up. For instance, my Megan/Morag story began because I wanted to do something different with Megan. Mixing things up keeps your options open and fresh!
So... to sum it all up... don't be afraid to ever write exactly who you want to write! Pair them with someone that will make you happy! Don't ever give in to what the fandom at large says is acceptable. If we all did that, Ginny would end up with Draco and Harry would forever pine for Hermione... and there would be nothing else for us to write!
AND I'm glad you friended me! I sometimes feel uncomfortable friending friends of my friends because it looks like stalking but Elle has good taste in friends! You guys crack me up! *grins*