Affinity - Minerva or Albus?

[rogueinker]

Do you find that you gravitate towards either Minerva or Albus, more one than the other? This is not a question of character preference but rather which character you're closer to.

For example, when you write, do you find the Minerva parts (dialog, scene) easier to write than the Albus side? Does your plot bunny wear moon-shaped or square spectacles?

Personally, I find writing Albus dialog a lot easier. It just seems to roll out. He's an outwardly funny character and his eccentricities just make him more visible. I like to find humor where I can so that may be the reason.

I have problems with getting Minerva's character. I've been revising To Catch a Lady's Favour because I know she's not quite right in that fic yet. Writing her dialog is seldom natural at least for me.

How about the rest of you? If this is in a previous thread, pls point me in that direction.

rogueinker

[ginger newts]

I find writing Minerva comes much more naturally to me, at least from my pov, you'll have to ask my readers if I keep her in character. I've always identified with her when reading and my plot bunnies tend to come when thinking of Minerva's reaction to something. It's much easier for me to get inside her head than Albus'. When I first started writing I had to really think about Albus' dialogue and thoughts, but now that I've got some practice I think it's easier. That's how I feel and from talking to a few people I think many of them probably feel the same way.

[Sensiblyquirky]

I have to work on writing dialogue in general, so I leave which is better to you. I identify more with Minerva, so any plot I think of or facet of a story always starts with her. I think it is because, for me at least, it is easier getting in her head. From the books I perceive she is highly passionate, and her facade is just that and I think reasonably easier to see through. Albus has the greatest facade of any character in the book, perhaps because it is the most pleasant, and I find it hard to try and think of what he would think or feel.

[rogueinker]

Interesting, especially about the facade which I agree with. I think Albus is an accomplished manipulator and the facade is used to throw people off. I also think that the facade protects a mushy middle or maybe a self he seldom ever lets out.

Minerva lets her facade crack a bit both in books and movies but Albus doesn't. So, you get get to really know them.

[christytoo lazy to sign in]

I think Albus is the master at self-control, and I agree he is protecting himself. Something he needs to do considering how famous, and etc... he is. Yes, Minerva lets the facade crack; I think she does several times but the kids only notice the ones when she is in tears. Albus never does he is happy and calm and twinkles in tact, unless he is angered in which he is still in complete control. To be honest is self-control amazes me. I, also, think Albus is harder because we see him less. He only has certain interactions with Harry, while Minerva is around the students more.

[ginger newts]

I was also too lazy to sign in because I'm in a hurry. I don't see Albus as necessarily manipulative, but he does have an amazing amount of self control. I think we've only seen him angry once or twice. Christy is right we have more chances to see Minerva interacting with people, we very rarely see Albus unless he's issuing directions or explaining things to Harry. He did let the facade slip once however, in the end of the 5th book when that once tear slips down his face. That particular moment is incredibly hard for me to read, he's in so much pain and he can't retain his calm cool exterior. It's one of the few times we see Albus the man and not Albus the headmaster in control. There are more times we see Minerva like that probably just because we interact with her more so to speak, meaning Harry does, but you still have to be able to read her. There are times I think Harry misinterprets what he sees when she lets the facade slip.

[christy again]

Oh, good points pal. The end of book 5 is also hard for me to read for that reason. See, and you have heard this, but the way I read Albus the man/character is: he was born to do good and to do good you must be objective, yet he is also born with this amazing amount of love which is subjective. I think he spends his life on a tight rope between making subjective decisions his world demands, and decisions out of that immense love he feels. I think that would be very hard, personally. I agree 200% that Harry and all children minus Hermione misinterpret Minerva's slips. For example, her getting upset when he breaks the rules is because she is conerned for his safety and health. I, also, love in book 5 (i think) when she tells Neville that all he lacks is confidence: she just says it so sharp I'm not sure what the kids would think but it means she knows he can do it and etc...

Ok, I'll stop!

[Nerweniel]

Good god, Minerva is like a hundred times easier to me to write. About many things Minerva says or does in fanfics or the books, I have this feeling like "yeah I could say it that way too". I'm like Minerva in a weird way, like young!Minerva could easily have been... I mean, I know how to have fun and such, but I can also be *damn* stern and perfectionist (ask the kids I "taught" maths last summer ;D)... and well, you know, how in many fanfics Minerva kind of *refuses* to cry? Well, I have that too and it's not really healthy I guess but ah ;D. Anyways, point is that I have always felt very related to Minerva, somehow. I love writing young!Minerva fics because of that.
Though me and Albus have a love for hot chocolate in common, I don't find it particularly easy to write him .
End uninteresting rant ;D!

Love,

Lies

[rogueinker]

Part of the reason that I think it is harder to portray Albus is he rarely acts the way we think or expect he would act.

Minerva's actions are usually in complete agreement with her character - bravery, support, passion, discipline. By what she says or body language, we can tell what she's up to.

On the other hand, Dumbledore doesn't get angry when we think he should, he keeps a lot to himself when he shouldn't. Of course when he does crack, he seems to be alone like in the tear scene (after I read that the first time I had to stop before going on).

Christy remarked on his self control and she's right. I think his age and experience makes his self control so solid. He's able to show one thing while feeling something else.

[QuillofMinerva]

When I am writing a story about our couple, I must admit that I find writing Minerva easier than writing Albus though Albus is sometimes a bit more fun to write. I do prefer Minerva's character to Albus' though but I do love them as a couple.

[Karlynne]

I tend to view things from Minerva's point of view because I understand more of her feelings but I find Albus' dialog much easier to write. I think this is because there are so many unknowns about him that a lot of things can be accepted as coming from him especially if it isn't the 'norm'. I try to write ad/mm stories from her point of view as often as possible because I tend to make Albus completely out of character if I try to show too many of his thoughts and emotions. I have a harder time with Minerva's diaglog because I believe she's extremely intelligent and I don't want to have her appear as a parrot of Albus.

[Isabelle]

For me, it's a lot easier to tap into Minerva's mind. Maybe it's a gender thing, but I find it a lot easier to write a character when they are are female. Albus is fun to write too, but it's a little more difficult for me to write him. Dialogue in general is what I really need to wokr on. To me, it seems that in my dialogue the characters seem like robots. I tend to be too literal at times. It's funny, because at home, I can come up with the wittiest and humorous responses, but I can't seem to do it, with my characters.

Liz

[delenndumbledore]

I'm absolute fascinated of Albus Dumbledore. So it's more easier for me to write his part (I've written a few German FF's with always Albus as main character). I read almost everything about him what I find. And now I think I can imagine what kind of man he is. I like it to show how the human Albus behind the wizard Albus feels.

Delenn Dumbledore