Neil:

Reprographic characterisation was mentioned by Tavia (who in turn was apparently citing me).

'How many ways back' by Neil Faulkner (on Judith's site). An excellent essay, Neil...

I've generally taken this to be the writer saying,"Look how well I can write the characters" - an act of appropriation. (At the same time, stories written in this way can read like applications for some kind of Brownie Badge. Fan Writer Assignment 2: Write no more than three hundred words capturing the essential qualities of each of the main characters in Season X and exposing the primary manner in which each character interacts with the other. All lines of dialogue must be accompanied by a suitable adverb. Each character must be referred to by a binomial descriptive eg Burly Rebel, Snarly Tech, Little Thief etc. At least one incident from a broadcast episode must be explicitly referred to.)

All characters must be presented in a positive light. All characters must be involved in the action.

'Good' writing, on the other hand, is IMO about sharing a vision with the readers, not imposing one on them. 'Good' prose should give the readers enough material for them to construct something that is not entirely their own and not entirely the writer's. Writers should therefore be prepared to restrain themselves when it comes to description, exposition and dialogue.

Agreed. Though it's easy to go too far and get faceless people operating in a vacuum again. (Though maybe that's what the story demands...)

Tavia