Need Some Opinions

[Nyx]

I am not a perfect writer.
While I have come far, especially with Nyx, I feel like I have made several mistakes with her. I am a perfectionist, always have been, always will be, and I constantly obsess over whether I'm writing my characters correctly. As such, I have been considering completely revamping Nyx, starting over on day one with her.
What do you think? Should I wipe the slate clean and start over with her? Or is the character fine as it is?
I want honest opinions, I promise I will not be offended. In fact, I would prefer a more harsh takedown of this character, to better make this decision, as I'm torn at the moment.

EDIT: My original post was a bit vague. Allow me to explain what I believe are the mistakes I have made with Nyx.

The first one in my opinion was pursuing Knighthood as quickly as I did. Nyx had not grown as a character since I started her, at all. Honestly, I regret accepting the promotion, now, as I feel like it has changed Nyx into something she was never meant to be: a Jedi. She has moved away from what I feel like the essence of what she is, which was a criminal that likes to punch things.

Another mistake is just how cliche she is. While I understand what James Justice is saying, I have to disagree. Nyx is nowhere near original. Everything about her is simply cliche and overdone, and eye rollingly dumb, in my opinion. I feel like that comes from my own failures as a writer, out of a lack of having the skill of doing anything else. I have vastly improved since I came here, and I think I could do a better job a second time around.

Those are a couple of the mistakes I feel like I've made with Nyx, in an attempt to clear up why I'm considering going back to square one.

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

looks fine to me.

 

[Miss Blonde]

[member="Nyx"]

The character is great! Keep her the way she is

 

[Soldiers By Kage]

I am not a perfect writer.

I constantly obsess over whether I'm writing my characters correctly.

Wo wo. Stop there. There is no such thing as writing a character wrong.

The only feedback I have is that you need to -not- worry about if you're writing the character 'right' or 'wrong'. There's no such thing, and so long as you and the people you RP with are having fun, you got nothing to worry about.

And from what I've seen, you and the people you RP with are having fun.

 

[James Justice]

[member="Nyx"]

I, personally, find her character to be great. She is one of the more originals on this board. I think that her entire quest is great, her persona is lovably rough, and her entire sense of who and what she is is great. There are a lot of self-proclaimed bad girls on this board, but Nyx is one of the few that I find both believable and enjoyable to read. When I say she is my favorite ganglord, I mean it literally, my favorite ganglord.

If you wanted some things that could be better, the things that I could offer as advice are pretty minimal. Perhaps, more emotion? I am not saying every post becoming a melodrama, but well, perhaps just give us a few more insights to what is going on in her head and heart. That's pretty nominal in what could be re-vamped, in my opinion. But that is just me, and I enjoy that kind of thing.

All in all, I would give her seven out of seven rubber chickens, though.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

[member="Nyx"]

If you feel at a loss with what to do next, or even estranged by your own character, then perhaps a reimagination could be helpful. Maybe you just need a new mountain to climb? Another set of short-term and long-term goals to keep you invested and interested.

In terms of quality of writing or the character itself, I don't think you've got anything to worry about. She seems like a fun and interesting character to me. I don't know what mistakes you refer to, but if you feel you've made them, use them to grow! If they come from Nyx's IC actions, it can create interesting character growth and internal conflict. Sometimes people do things that may seem a little out of character or do things they regret immensely later.

To sum up... If you've lost the will to write Nyx, then perhaps a restart is worth considering to rekindle the muse. If it's because of concerns you have about yourself as a writer, then I'd say there's no need! You probably judge yourself way harder than anyone else does.

 

[Nyx]

[member="Miss Blonde"] [member="Darth Pyrrhus"] [member="James Justice"]

My original post was a bit vague. Allow me to explain what I believe are the mistakes I have made with Nyx.

The first one in my opinion was pursuing Knighthood as quickly as I did. Nyx had not grown as a character since I started her, at all. Honestly, I regret accepting the promotion, now, as I feel like it has changed Nyx into something she was never meant to be: a Jedi. She has moved away from what I feel like the essence of what she is, which was a criminal that likes to punch things.

Another mistake is just how cliche she is. While I understand what [member="James Justice"] is saying, I have to disagree. Nyx is nowhere near original. Everything about her is simply cliche and overdone, and eye rollingly dumb, in my opinion. I feel like that comes from my own failures as a writer, out of a lack of having the skill of doing anything else. I have vastly improved since I came here, and I think I could do a better job a second time around.

Those are a couple of the mistakes I feel like I've made with Nyx, in an attempt to clear up why I'm considering going back to square one.

 

[James Justice]

[member="Nyx"]

Well, if you want, you could do what I did when promoted to knight, just be like, "NOW I CAN PUNCH STUFF HARDER!!" James doesn't even know he's force able, which I find hilarious.


I personally, enjoy threading with Nyx. And I ain't buttering up. If I felt differently, I would tell you. However, if you wanna change her then I look forward to seeing what you do, but I will regret seeing the old Nyx go, that's for sure.

 

[almightysmiley]

Starting a character off on a higher track than most isn't necessarily a bad thing; on one of my other sites, I had a Jedi Master that started as a Master-in-all-but-title, and it worked out pretty well. I'd reckon it all depends on the story you want the character to tell. Every character has something of a point to them; a goal for them that the writer wants to accomplish. Where you see Nyx deviating from the path she was - dare I say it? - destined to be on, someone else may see character development. How hasn't she grown? How hasn't she evolved? Questions worth asking, I'd think, if I was going to reboot a character that a lot of people seem to enjoy the hell out of.

So far as cliches go, there's nothing new under the sun. Nothing. So take an archetype (the lone warrior, the fallen angel, the princess in the castle, the evil witch, whatever) and make it entirely your own. I don't mean just make a few little alterations here or there, I mean well and truly own it. Characters and arcs will wash over the blank slate, and with time, enough of the old tropes will have been weathered away to create something new and wonderful.