Forum: Author Hangout

Liar, Liar

PotomacBob 🚫

There was a movie some years back in which a lawyer became unable to tell a lie. Always telling the truth caused him some real difficulties, blurting out the truth when something a little less then the full truth might have been better.
How do authors on SOL handle this issue when dealing with characters you wish the reader would react to favorably? Do you have parents teach children that that they must ALWAYS tell the truth? Should, for example, a truth-telling character tell their best friend that they really cannot carry a tune, that the dress really does make them look fat. If they fudge the truth in order not to hurt a friend's feelings, do they run the risk of letting that friend continue to behave in a way that others may find offensive? Should they warn the friend even if the friend cannot do anything to correct things?

Replies: REP awnlee jawking Quasirandom Michael Loucks

REP 🚫
Updated:

@PotomacBob

I think authors write scenes that reflect the personality of the character they are trying to portray.

Authors post stories to SOL for many reasons. I doubt that many authors are on a crusade to portray their characters as people who are totally honest regarding their interactions with other characters.

In the real world most of us try to avoid comments that would be hurtful to others. Although at times, we tell the absolute truth about our thoughts and feelings regarding others. Even though those thoughts and feelings may be hurtful.

awnlee jawking 🚫

@PotomacBob

What responsibilities does your character have? If they're a politician, then obviously they'll have to lie in order to get elected then re-elected. If they're in a happy relationship, then they should probably be honest with their partner and mostly honest with their kids.

AJ

Quasirandom 🚫

@PotomacBob

I've written two characters who are hardcore about never lying, one for religious reasons (she's Quaker) and one for magical (she's a fairy). The latter is very adept, by the nature of her upbringing, at misdirection and half-truths. The former needs to grow up a little, and it's in the back of my mind that in the next sequel she needs to be forced to learn that always speaking truth doesn't mean speaking all the truth.

Replies: PotomacBob

PotomacBob 🚫

@Quasirandom

Which of your stories? I read all the descriptions and it wasn't obvious to me.

Replies: Quasirandom

Quasirandom 🚫

@PotomacBob

The Quaker is in the Triad series—it doesn't come up in the prequel short story but does in #2, the NIS novel, and afterward. The fairy is in Lupe & Dana NIS.

Michael Loucks 🚫
Updated:

@PotomacBob

There were several lengthy discussions of this in AWLL in rap sessions/philosophy club meetings.

The most interesting one (in my opinion) is too long to post in the forum, so you can see it here:

AWLL 2 — Book 4 — Chapter 12: 'Little White Lies'

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Forum: Author Hangout

Liar, Liar

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