A Fun Way To Build Characters.

[PinkWode]

The way I usually build characters is by thinking up a story plot for example:

A girl in France finds her mother after 12 years.


I'd think, French name...

Madeleine

Then I would think she's finding her mother; lets make her similar, Brown Hair Brown Eyes?


Anyway, if people are finding it difficult too makes characters then I suggest that they get Sims 2, because you build characters and you are in complete control of them.

[othman]

Hehe, first time I've ever heard a recommendation to acquire Sims. My sister used to play it when she was like 12 and it was really bad as it took so long to load. You click a button, go off to bake a cake, come back click something else, go for a little walk around the town...

But if it works for you, just ignore me. But in my opinion Sims' character creation is very limited compared to imagination or real life.

[PinkWode]

Sims 3 is coming out and its better than ever

[Leaka]

But in my opinion Sims' character creation is very limited compared to imagination or real life.

All though limited in creation it still helps.
Cause its fun to make some super hype neat freak.

Hey PinkWode, I do that sometimes make characters then fit stories around them

[Piracy is Liberation]

Sims hehe, thats only really giving you a visual basis surely, why not just take someone you know and just exagerate on some of their more interesting personality traits

[AnonyMouse]

Sims is depressing. Every time I play it my character(s) spend all day, eating, cleaning, going to work, and (occaisionally) sleeping. Maybe I just have poor time management. God, I hope real life never turns out like that. :rolleyes:

As for literary characters, they just happen. Usually it starts with a single trait or a scene I imagined in my head and grows from there. The MC usually comes before the story, then the story overshadows him/her, sometimes to the point that I don't even incude that character in the final product, or s/he is reduced to a minor role. Other characters begin to pop up as the story develops. If I can't fit them in, I set them aside to use in a different sory. They're like seeds; I plant them in a setting and a plot grows.

As for names, I come up with them last. For me, it's the hardest part and the only part that involves conscious effort.

[tehuti88]

I don't set out to build characters. If I need one, they'll come to me, and develop over time. If I just try creating one for the heck of it, they'll never fit in anywhere. I know if I tried the Sims thing I'd just end up with a bunch of cardboard cutouts that don't fit any of my stories. For me, character creation is a lot more organic. It grows on its own in the back of my mind; I can't artificially fabricate a character.

That's just me though. If the OP's process works for someone else, that's good too.

[othman]

yeah, because do you really plan a story scene by scene and know the character entirely (excluding commissioned work)? Because I once tried it when I was writing and even though your audience doesn't know about your character, I feel that it really limits what you can/should make the character do...and I also forgot to tell the readers what my characters were like as I knew already.

[PinkWode]

Well, I was just saying if people are stuck for insparation they could use it.

[madhoca]

Well, maybe not Sims, but some of the RPG stuff my kids play certainly gets them into inventing or developing the characters. They draw them, too (my eldest is 18). In fact, they develop whole worlds around them. A bit nerdy, I guess?

[PinkWode]

Yeah, RPG usually inspire me.

[Islander]

Well, maybe not Sims, but some of the RPG stuff my kids play certainly gets them into inventing or developing the characters. They draw them, too (my eldest is 18). In fact, they develop whole worlds around them. A bit nerdy, I guess?
Nerdy is Good ;-)

Sims characters may be two-dimensional, but players tend to read complex motivations and stories into them. The character development takes place in the player's head.

[PinkWode]

Yeah, I mean in the sims 3 you get to pick 4 traits for your character.

[Hetroclite]

First you need a plot, then create the characters to fulfill it. Most authors create characters from real people they've met. If you haven't personally met anyone to fulfill your storyline, look to characters in other stories; whether books, TV, or current events.

[PinkWode]

I don't like getting insperation from the T.V because I tend to write the same story.

[othman]

Yeah, me too, I want some inspiration and watch a great movie but all I can think of are plots so similar a five year old would realise...really irritating seeing as they're such good ideas...meh

[PinkWode]

Yeah, I read Diary Of A Chav and then tried to write a similar story, it was a disaster!

[othman]

Yeah, I think I'm too narrow minded when it comes to ideas...I need to live life but I can't due to civilization...as in school, law and whatnot.

[PinkWode]

Yeah, I agree because when I start a story I don't usually get past one, four line paragraph.

[mynameissarahgrace]

I'm fine with creating characters and story and everything, but I'm horrible at writing actual stories (that are not short stories.) i just try to write the beginning and it comes out all wrong; wording and mood is completely off.

So it doesn't work well when i try to develop characters before I start writing the actual action.

i think you should read Mercy's thread about developing characters, though. (:

[PinkWode]

I am great at writing the first paragraph, with all my info about my characters.

[othman]

I'm not, as I know roughly what I'm going to do for the whole story and characters but every time I write it just doesn't satisfy me as the film I'd been mentally creating is so much more awesome than what I've written...meh

[PinkWode]

I just star writing and think of a plot along the way, my mind thinks like that, its sorta' weird!

[othman]

Yeah, I used to do that, but I'm always doing really well, then can't think of the right word when I know in the back of my mind that there is a perfect one...It knocks me out of my role... -_-'

[PinkWode]

As much as I love writing I sometimes find it challenging to keep a good plot going.

[Jack]

As much as I love writing I sometimes find it challenging to keep a good plot going.

I also find it hard too keep a good plot going... halfway through my stories, my plot tends to switch directions. My only way to avoid this is to jot down a brief summary. If I don't stick with my original plan (or starts to fail) for some reason, I can always refer to my written summary.

[AnonyMouse]

As much as I love writing I sometimes find it challenging to keep a good plot going.

That's where the beauty of subplots comes in. I know my main plot isn't interesting enough to stand alone; I doubt any single plot is. Every plot has its low-points, where it feels like we're getting nowhere or things are moving slowly.

You should intertwine plots in such a way that there is always something interesting going on. When my main plot is in a slump, I'll have a subplot that is just getting to the juicy part. And when that one starts to fizzle out, the main plot picks up again.

[Toritoes]

Sims hehe, thats only really giving you a visual basis surely, why not just take someone you know and just exagerate on some of their more interesting personality traits

Thats what i do when I'm stuck. My main character is based on someone i know and so is one of the lesser characters. It's always helpful and the people love being mentioned in stories, makes them feel special haha :p

[othman]

Hehe, please don't tell me that's how you get dates.

[PinkWode]

Hehe, please don't tell me that's how you get dates.

Suppose it would make a good present!

Anyway , I can't base stories on people I know, it's sort of freaky.

[Leaka]

My problem is keeping the same writing style.
My intro is really good, really alluring, but when I get onto later chapters it doesn't sound as good as the first chapter.

Characters are easy for me, I don't really need to do the Sims thing or anything.
Music generally helps me with all my problems.

[PinkWode]

This thread shows you how different people are, it's quite good to try new methods.

I just tried the music thing and it's quite good, I can imagine a plot.

[Leaka]

I usually use music without lyrics like classical.
But sometimes I use music with lyrics so that way I can create a mood.
Classical=Events, plot setting
Anything else= Every action I can think of

[Toritoes]

Hehe, please don't tell me that's how you get dates.

Lmao, i dont need dates no more :p not a bad idea though haha!

[Toritoes]

I usually use music without lyrics like classical.
But sometimes I use music with lyrics so that way I can create a mood.
Classical=Events, plot setting
Anything else= Every action I can think of

So it's not just me who uses music!

I listen to all kinds of music and imagine what would be happening in rhythm to the music, like if it was a movie.

Really effective i find! Though most of mine tend to be fight scenes because most of my music is rock and metal etc lol.

[Leaka]

So it's not just me who uses music!

I listen to all kinds of music and imagine what would be happening in rhythm to the music, like if it was a movie.

Really effective i find! Though most of mine tend to be fight scenes because most of my music is rock and metal etc lol.

I have a bad awesome playlist that mixes the settings and fighting scenes.
My classical matches with my techno or my rock.
Rock is more for my horror stories, not even sure why.

[PinkWode]

This probabaly sound weird, but I get my insperation from Britney Spears.

[othman]

Yep, it does sound weird, sorry.

Leaka what bands do you listen to for your ideas or by 'classical' do you mean the actual Albert Hall stuff?

[PinkWode]

I just re-read my post!

Sorry, I meant from her songs, because of the subject, like Womanizer& Hit Me Baby One More Time.

I do listen to classical stuff aswell though, like Motzart and sometimes I play "City Lights" with Charlie Chaplin in it because it's got really nice music.

[Leaka]

Leaka what bands do you listen to for your ideas or by 'classical' do you mean the actual Albert Hall stuff?

Bands like rock bands: Metallica, Ramstein, Iron Maiden, Crossfade, Avenged Sevendfold, etc.

Classical as in violins and pianos: Beethoven, Telemann, Mozart, etc.

Classical as in Classical stuff: Elvis Presley, Jonny Mathis, etc.

Alternative as in the 80s and 90s: Depeche Mode, The Cure, Electronic, New Order, etc.

[othman]

Ah, Thanks.

[PinkWode]

Avenged Sevenfold is quite good to listen too, but I always get side tracked with their music.

[Leaka]

Ah, Thanks.

No problem.
And as they say, My music is your music. :)


Avenge Sevenfold has some nice guitar solos.

[PinkWode]

Whats a good song by them?

[Leaka]

Blinded in Chains by Avenged Sevenfold

Bat Country and Beast and the Harlot.

[PinkWode]

Why didn't I think of that?!

Those songs are on my itunes.

[PinkWode]

I ment to say in my last comment, does anyone have any other ideas on how to create a character easily?

[othman]

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/
I haven't actually used it but it looks O.K.

[PinkWode]

Yeah, Try listening to Linkin Park.

[Leaka]

Search around the internet and look at pictures.
That usually get characters into my head.

[PinkWode]

Yeah, I did that once or twice, it worked but the characters tended to be copies of the people.

[Ti Odio E Ti Amo]

Sims? I hated that game... my people could never stay alive and the creepy music was scary when the Grim Reaper would come walking down the sidewalk.

I prefer to come up with stuff from my own head. Music is a good helper too, though.

[PinkWode]

Did you use sims 1 or 2?

[AzricanRepublic]

I've always simply brainstormed a character that I could connect with somewhat. Though I would always try and associate them with other characters from different stories.

[PinkWode]

I hate planning out, when I was at Primary School, I just wanted to jump straight to the story.

[Cogito]

Go with your instincts. At least try it. It may be your most effective means of character creation and development.

I don't believe in developing characters in advance. I begin with a minimal set of characteristics, and then let the story bring out the details. At many points, I'll have decisions to make on how a character will react - that's when nuances get determined, when I think about what each possible decisionsays about the character, and then make the choice.

To plan the character in advance unduly constrains the story flow, at least for me.

[PinkWode]

I have tried planning out but nothing clicks into place, I don't think it's for me.