Characters are people that you just don't know yet. That's the best way I can tell you to flush him out. Maybe he grinds his teeth when he is nervous? Maybe he sings at the top of his lungs when he thinks no one is looking. Maybe he randomly jumps into halls at coworkers and yells "Bang Bang Your dead!" Just to make himself smile. The more you make him do silly little things like that, the more depth he will have. Plus Mallory is right give him a few more issues.. Maybe he can't walk on cracks in side walks for fear he'll die? It's the random things like that in life that make us who we are. Hope that helps.
Could use help with one of my characters. He's a supporting character, not one of the protags, but I still need to flesh him out a lot (as well as other supporting characters) in revision, which isn't too far away at this point (54,000 words, yeee--ay!!!) So his name is Travis. He lives within the fictional altworld city that has all the tyranny at the heart of it, while other characters are from the wilderness areas outside of it. They have an underground resistance network going on. Travis has a job as a guard, but he's really in with the resistance. The guard job is 1) a cover so no one will suspect him, and 2) gives him, and sometimes the group as a whole, access to insider information and resources they wouldn't normally have. He's in his 20s, in a committed relationship with a journalist named Crimson, who is also with the resistance. Crimson was arrested a while ago but escaped in a large-scale organized prison break that occurred before the events of the story. She's living her life underground -- not literally, but in the low-profile sense -- and her relationship with Travis is kept very secret. I could use questions for her, too. The protags are a group of teenagers who got sucked into the resistance - my MC is from our world and got transported to the alternate world while visiting her great-aunt for the summer. Just clarifying again that those aren't my two protags, so I'm looking for the kind of development you'd give supporting characters, maybe something that could tie into a subplot. Thanks!! (I give rep)
Travis 1. As a guard, I expect that you’ll need to come down hard on those that go against the law. How does that make you feel or do you tend to go easy on them? 2. How did you get started in the resistance? What is your motivation? And do you have a price to turn against them? 3. Being closer to the (Antag group) by association, is there anyone in the (Antag group) that you sympathise with or could sympathise with? 4. Why is Crimson special to you? 5. Why is your relationship very secret? What would be the consequences? 6. What are your opinions of the Protags? Are they up to it or just a liability? Crimson 1. How do you feel about the things Travis must do to keep his cover? 2. Same as Travis Q #2. 3. Do you trust Travis completely knowing how close he is to the enemy? 4. What is your thoughts on Travis’ personality? 5. Same as Travis Q #5 (Are your thoughts different?) 6. If Travis turn against the resistance and offered you a way out. Would you take it?
1 - Mallory not Travis here....Oh jeez, so far I'd just written him as the watchtower type guard, too low on the totem pole to have to go around patrolling the city, so I hadn't thought of that AT ALL. I think I"ll mention it somewhere. Thank you. You've given me something to use. 2. Got started when my sister got taken away in the middle of the night for being suspected of organizing resistance. I needed both to fight back, but also a cover to make myself seem unsuspicious. Don't exactly have a price to turn against them, though, which is pretty risky. 3. (Need to add something in for this, too, it's another good one, and the antag character could play a dynamic role in the story) 4. Because she's fighting against the same cause. She's done a lot of undercover work, like me, and she also has to live her entire life below-profile, so we can relate to a lot of the same problems. 5. It's secret because if they found out I was with her, they'd know I was with the resistance and not with them. They'd probably shoot both of us, and/or capture and interrogate us to try to find out more about the resistance group. 6. The protags....well, the more people, the better. Most of them are from the areas outside of the city, so they brought some connections to the table and helped launch some communication fairly easily. One of them I suspected was a traitor all along and I was right. Another one is just annoying, but the others are okay, if not too young. But a lot of us started young. Thanks soooooooooo much....I'll do Crimson's when I get back, I have to get ready to zoom across downtown, but you've given me a lot of areas to flesh out when I'm in the story-beefing aspect of revision. My problem is that I'm too linear and plot-driven and often forget all about the seemingly obvious aspects of supporting character development...blarg. Thanks again, I'll be back to answer the rest this evening. Until then, any takers?
Questions for Mallory's Travis 1. How do you view the resistance movement? Do you view your fellow rebels as heroes fighting for all that is good, as normal humans doing what is every citizens duty, or something else entirely? 2. Do you have any plans for after the current ruling party falls from power? How will you deal with counter resistance groups? Will you resort to rule by force in order to keep the peace? 3. If members of the resistance screw up and innocent people are harmed as a result how will you react? 4. How committed are you to your cause? Will you resort to terrorism, murder, torture,for your cause? 5. If the resistances activities force the government to crack down harder on resistance, making life more difficult for the civilians, is it worth it in the end?
Thanks for the questions. Crimson deals with the exact same issues Travis does in terms of keeping cover, so she thinks it sucks, but is more focused on her own worries than about his - but it's all in the same as they face the same stakes. She got started in the resistance when her father went along with the regime, one of those "it doesn't really affect me and it 'keeps me safe,' so I'm fine with it" types. But he met a bad end from being screwed over by said regime, and also was responsible for the harm of a lot of people but didn't realize it until it was too late. She wants to be the opposite of that. She trusts Travis fine, but after another member of the resistance -- one of the teenagers from outside of the city -- turns out to have been a mole for the other side all along, she becomes much more skeptical of everyone around her - Travis included, but not him more specifically - although she's worried about someone he works with finding out. But later on, her suspicions/paranoia of all her friends causes her to be confused on who she can trust and who she can't, and it grows to the point where her alliances fall the wrong way. So she gets in some nasty situations from that, unwittingly making many of the same mistakes as her father, but unlike him, she backs up and corrects herself before she falls out with the resistance and leaves herself vulnerable to the regime. (I got some new ideas from your questions - thanks!!) 1. Travis views the resistance as a movement as a whole, not just his own group of friends - many people are suspicious of the new authority power, but due to the extreme surveillance within the city, they're driven to secret communication and scattered factions. But their cause is a good one. They don't want to set up an alternative authority power; they want to return the liberty back to the people. Also, the power that they are fighting is a malevolent force that will be hard to take down, but that would destroy everyone in the end. (This particular aspect is comparable to the disguised alien takeover of the "V" series, but not a ripoff of it.) 2. See above for some of those questions; neither T nor anyone in the group would resort to rule. If this were political, which it isn't explicitly, they'd be akin to peaceful libertarian anarchists. But they do have to resort to more aggressive methods for combating the "Watchers" (monsterlike creatures from another dimension who want to enslave/eat everyone from this dimension, getting what they want from them first and then stealing all the land/resources). But it's to protect their lives, liberties etc from intrusion, not to gain power over other people. 3. Terrorism/Torture/Murder doesn't really apply. It's not human vs human - for the most part, it's scattered groups of humans versus alter-dimension larger-than-life sinister creatures that have a bad plan for humans (most humans have not caught on or seen past the disguise yet, hence why the resistance is a minority.) There is, however, a group of people of the brainwashed mindset, who has a secret plan of their own - long story short, they don't fully understand what the Watchers are or what they have planned, but they have been convinced that going along with them is a good idea and the resistance are the ones that are going to doom the fates of all. The two groups do have some face-offs, but it's mainly where Group A sets a trap for Group B, who then tries to use logic to see past it, and turn the tables on them...these types of events happen many times. And yeah, sometimes people die. 4. When the Watchers -- aliens basically, not just human tyrants - get to the point of "cracking down," people will know what's up, and there will be full-on war. The resistance group's goal along is to pull the veil to get this full-scale rebellion to happen earlier. Right now, the Watchers have a strategy of when and how they want this to happen, so the resistance wants to trigger it when they're off-guard, otherwise their odds will be much, much slimmer. Hope I answered these okay, thank you and +rep to both. Sorry if my answers didn't make much sense, my story is really complicated and hard to explain certain aspects briefly. lol!
Travis: 1) Can the protags completely trust him? If yes, why? 2) Does he trust the protags completely? why? 3) If his true identity is found out by the enemy, will he give away secrets of the resistance under torture? 4) Will he take an oportunity to be a double agent against the resistance for a better life? 5) what is the one thing that will make him unfaithful to the protags if such an occasion arise? or, what is his weakness? 6) Will he choose Crimson's life over the resistance movement and vice versa if such an occasion arise? 7) when was the closest his identity was almost uncovered? How did he handle it? Was it just luck that he escaped?
Hey. Not sure how to do this, but will give a try. Basically, I want to flesh out Mister Charles Wilkins, the tavern owner who's raised Amos since the lad was three. Wilkins never had a son, and his wife died when Amos was five. So far, I've got him set up as a sloppy drunk who's hard on Amos, sometimes doing things to the boy that the latter percieves as humiliating.
I'm not amazing at this, but maybe something here will help, Link... ~Did Wilkins have other biological children or other children he raised? Does he have previous experience with children? (Even younger siblings?) ~What difficulties did he face raising a child as a single? How does the town react? Does this hinder his social life or tavern? ~Would he consider remarrying? How deeply does he miss his wife? ~What does he do to Amos? Does he understand Amos how Amos feels about him? Is he oblivious to the pain he's causing, or does he do it purposefully? ~What does he plan for Amos's future? Maybe giving the tavern to him one day? Does he feel like a father or is the child a burden? Does he love Amos? ~What aspirations does he have for himself or the tavern? Is he happy? ~Why does he drink? To relax and have fun or to escape and forget? Does he regret drunken episodes or not care? ~How does the town view the tavern and drinking in general? How does that affect Wlikin's self-image? don't know if that helped at all but good luck! ~jso
~Did Wilkins have other biological children or other children he raised? Does he have previous experience with children? (Even younger siblings?) He's had a younger brother, but the brother died during the French and Indian War. Head shot off by a French cannon. ~What difficulties did he face raising a child as a single? How does the town react? Does this hinder his social life or tavern? People don't really seem to mind that he's raising a kid by himself. They probably would assume Amos is his own and not ask any questions. ~Would he consider remarrying? How deeply does he miss his wife? He would rather die first than remarry. He loved his wife so dearly. The only reason he even lets Amos stay in the tavern is for the sake of his wife. ~What does he do to Amos? Does he understand Amos how Amos feels about him? Is he oblivious to the pain he's causing, or does he do it purposefully? Because Amos is French, Wilkins unknowingly tends to pinpoint the source of all his own pain and suffering onto Amos. He keeps Amos in the cellar every day, cleaning dishes. He doesn't let Amos interact much with the other employers and the patrons. In effect, he's trying to keep Amos away for as much as possible. Yes, he's oblivious. He doesn't know he's actually hurting the boy. In his mind, he hears Amos mocking him, saying, "Look at me! I'm a member of a people that killed your brother! You never had a chance to have your own son because I got here first. Your stupid wife died as well." Wilkins resents Amos. ~What does he plan for Amos's future? Maybe giving the tavern to him one day? Does he feel like a father or is the child a burden? Does he love Amos? I don't think Wilkins really loves Amos. He doesn't even like the kid. A blind French boy and all that. Amos is a burden. Again, the only reason he's keeping him around is for the sake of dear dead wife. ~What aspirations does he have for himself or the tavern? Is he happy? I see him as bitter, angry and very, very depressed. He doesn't see anything for the tavern and assumes the tavern will die when he dies. ~Why does he drink? To relax and have fun or to escape and forget? Does he regret drunken episodes or not care? Wilkins drinks whatever liquor he can get his hands on. Mostly, he enjoys dark liquor as that gets him drunk faster. He doesn't really care about his drunken episodes. To him, they're a means of escaping his pain. ~How does the town view the tavern and drinking in general? How does that affect Wlikin's self-image? The tavern itself is seen as somewhat ramshackled, sloppy, and unkept. People who go there are normally drunkards and it's not uncommon for the tavern to have at least one or two prostitutes. This is not a tavern you'll find a civilized man in. This, of course, only adds to Wilkins' already negative outlook on himself. Wilkins plans on just drinking himself to death. After he dies, to hell with the tavern, the patrons, the prostitutes, the employees, and Amos. They could all go to hell for all he cares.
1. Is Wilkins hard on Amos because he is trying to impart something in the boy? 2. Did Amos know Wilkins wife? If so how does this affect the relationship between them? 3. Why does Wilkins drink? To numb the pain or to forget? 4. How does he behave around paying customers? 5. Does he seek out female company? 6. Does he make any efforts non work related to be around people?
1. Is Wilkins hard on Amos because he is trying to impart something in the boy? I think Wilkins' hard on the boy because both he wants Amos to know the world isn't fair, the world isn't good; and he percieves Amos as the source of his pain. 2. Did Amos know Wilkins wife? If so how does this affect the relationship between them? He barely remembers her, since she died when he was so young. All he remembers is her perfume and music being played. From that and what the other employees tell him, the tavern was once a very different place. 3. Why does Wilkins drink? To numb the pain or to forget? Bit of both. 4. How does he behave around paying customers? He puts on his best face even though on the inside, he wants them to get lost. 5. Does he seek out female company? I'm not sure he does... 6. Does he make any efforts non work related to be around people? Le' nope. Okay, so now I think it's my turn to ask questions to another character... TRAVIS #1- What was your family life before you met the protagonists? Did you have a wife and children? If so, are they still alive? Do they still live with you? If not, what happened to them? #2- Do you agree with the leading heroine? Do you think she trusts you? Why or why not?
Ok, So it's time I throw one of my own in the ring. Dr Francine Gresen. Early to mid-thirties, one of the lead scientist on top secret project to biologically enhance and augment humans, with the aim to better deal with the harsh planetary environment. The key to this research is hidden inside a young small child (Aged4-6). One of the higher ups has complained that the research is taking too long, and wants to increase the length and severity of the tests. Over the last 3 years since being a part of the project, Francine has become quite attached to the child and wishes to protect her as much as possible while continuing the tests, as for her, the science still comes first. However, the higher up has now issued a transfer for another doctor to take control and oversee the whole project. This doctors methods are anything but kind and will most likely end with the death of the child and of the research.
Link - No wife, no kids. I agree with Adalyn's viewpoint but she's very naive about the way she goes about a lot of things. Also, I don't think she trusts me, because she found out someone else in her group couldn't be trusted and it made her paranoid about everyone. Yandos - Dr. Francine Green, 1. What, specifically, is your worst fear for the child? I know it's the overall idea of her being experimented on in harmful ways, but is there any particular method or experiment type that you fear the most, that would be worst for the kid? 2. How does the kid feel about you? How much does she know about what's going on? 3. Aside from the work-ethics conflict of interest, is there any problem the kid causes for you? Any type of conflict between the two of you? 4. How do your views on the kid change throughout the story - what triggers these changes? 5. To what lengths is she willing to go to protect the kid? Don't just say "Anything because she's so noble." Actually think about it - is there anything she's NOT willin to do, and what would the consequences be of taking certain extreme actions?
"The child 'Jen' has what we have called an anomalous genome. This genome allows the child to adapt herself to handle the environment she has been placed in. This in itself is not unheard of but is still extremely rare. What makes her unique is the fact that she can adapt to almost any environment that we have tested so far, including samples of the miasma storms that pass throughout the southern and western wastelands, although only at low levels, but still well over 30 times longer than that of a grown adult. Jen is still a young child and is still developing, who knows how resilient she will become to not only the miasma storms but also anything else. What we try to do is take a sample from her at the time her adaptation takes place and hope to make a serum that will help others to adapt too. We could reclaim the wastelands and rebuild the old cities. However, all the Seer [higher up] wants is the results for her army. Men and women augmented to be ultimate killing machines. All this doctor will do is just ramp up the levels until she's nearly dead to take a stronger sample. I hate him. He was responsible for the Cyphers [Augmented soldiers] revolt, testing there limits to beyond braking point. This was also the reason that Cyphers now undergo a process called 'caging' that devolves there brain by halting complex thought 'to make them easier to manage'. Barbarism if you ask me. I fear she's just not strong enough to handle the treatment they'll give her." "Dr Keller, the project leader has been on this project from the start. I know I've only been here 3 years but now I think Jen prefers me, she really likes my stories and after she's had a set of tests, she always asks for me to be the one to look over her, although she hates seeing me in the HAZ-MAT suits. AHHH. I hate the fact that I've become attached to the subject. I'm here to make science, to change the world, not be a nurse made to children. That not fair of me, even though Jen is young, she seems to understand the importance of the test and how they will help everyone. Jen helped make this easier to stomach, making our work not so monstrous. Self-sacrificing at such an age (chuckle). She's braver than I would be, to do so much for people she's never met, to have never seen the sun, to never have known more than the 10 people who work down here. I wonder if she would still be so brave if she had ever been out of the lab. If only there was some way to prepare her for what's to come, even if it's just mentally." "Not really, only to get her to brush her teeth, or put away her toys, Or to get her to sleep. It's always 'One more story, just one more' or 'I'm not sleepy yet'. That girl has got a stubborn streak a mile wide (chuckles). Funny, I've just remembered my mother saying the same thing about me. And I can almost hear Dr Keller agreeing with her." [Unable to answer due to future events] "I am first and foremost a scientist and would never jeopardise the project. Too much is at stake. Nevertheless, I can't allow the Seer to ruin the best chance we have at reclaiming the wastelands. After the last batch of tests the Seer and her cronies gave her this morning, moving her would not be an option. Jen won't be bio-neutral for weeks yet and her system is still quite weak. Even if I got Dr Keller's help for her to escape, the sensors would pick up the contamination and just firestorm the entire section, or if I found some way around that, the security cameras or the guards would pick us up. I couldn't just walk out of here with her. Where could I take her? Every Lab in this area is controlled by the Seers. Not to mention the contamination would most likely kill me within 10 minutes. No, I must find another way. Only a Seer can challenge another Seer, but who is high enough to make a strong challenge? Even if I found one to help, would they be any better? Would they see the bigger picture?" Thanks, I think I'm really starting to hear her voice now. It's actually Jen who's the MC, but I needed to understand Francine better to see where Jen gets her influences from. Still stuck on what Francine will do, but thats 'plot' and for me to work out. Cheers and Rep+
Antoinette Moore 24 year old assassin for Ellabrook Organization. She used to be one of the best. Then she fell in love with Tobias Ellabrook who was the Head's son. Tobias committed suicide and she blames the Organization for his death but she's never said it. Now she has met Josh and his friends and she falls in love with Josh. She fell in love with him because she sees Tobias in Josh. For that reason she's terrified of her love for him for fear of losing him the way she lost Tobias.
Antoinette: 1. Where were you born? In what year? 2. Did your family struggle as you were growing up? Were both your parents supportive and there for you as a child? 3. What relaxes you? 4. What is your favorite activity? 5. Is there anything you excel at specifically that is not related to your work? 6. Cat or dog person? 7. If a stranded elderly woman was parked along the roadside, would you stop to help her, or would you keep driving even if it didn't interfere with your own schedule?
1. Paris, France. December 30, 1987. 2. We were rich and my parents adored me. I was named after the queen and I was a queen in their eyes. 3. Cigarettes, poker, alcohol, sex. Mostly sex. 4. Sex. 5. Poker. Nobody beats me at poker 6. Sure, I'd help her. If I have nothing better to do.
Connor Tyse: Connor is a 25 year old man who will be the love interest of my MC. I haven't decided yet how far into the plot I will be allowing him to develop but he will eventually have to have some open minded qualities about him delving into the occult. I haven't given him much thought yet because I'm not sure how important he is really going to be yet. He comes from a rough childhood, his parents were poor. He has a strong work ethic and believes in taking care of ones possessions. He is a prankster. Any and all questions welcome.
Connor Tyse: Connor is a 25 year old man who will be the love interest of my MC. I haven't decided yet how far into the plot I will be allowing him to develop but he will eventually have to have some open minded qualities about him delving into the occult. I haven't given him much thought yet because I'm not sure how important he is really going to be yet. He comes from a rough childhood, his parents were poor. He has a strong work ethic and believes in taking care of ones possessions. He is a prankster. Any and all questions welcome. #1- How well do you know this MC? Do you trust him/her? Do you believe he/she is doing the right thing for the right reason or wrong reason? #2- What life experiences have you obtained from your rough childhood? You speak of work ethics. What if someone like the MC told you you must do something a little dirty, like cheat someone out of their money? Even if it was for a good cause? #3- How were your parents? Were you on good terms with them? What did they teach you? #4- What kind of pranks do you pull?
Sand Peur Age: 16 Sand is a Pyrel, a new evolved form of human that has control over fire. She has brown hair, olive skin and crimson eyes. Sand's parents were killed when she was 7 years old. She moved in with her aunt, uncle, and cousin. Her cousin Emily died in a fire due to Sand's powers, leading her uncle to hate her and aunt to fear her. Sand's personality is masked with fear, it controls her actions and her thoughts. She fears herself, she fears others (She lives in an anti mutant country), and she fears the future. She is easy to anger, but rarely acts out of it. At the core of who she is, she is compassionate and truly cares for people close to her.
#1- How well do you know this MC? Do you trust him/her? Do you believe he/she is doing the right thing for the right reason or wrong reason?"Well, I don't know her.... I mean not yet. She hasn't worked with us long. Right or wrong? What the heck are ya talking about I just met the lady! #2- What life experiences have you obtained from your rough childhood? You speak of work ethics. What if someone like the MC told you you must do something a little dirty, like cheat someone out of their money? Even if it was for a good cause? Mum taught all three of us to go after what we ant and not let up until we've got it. She didn't raise no cheats or liars either. #3- How were your parents? Were you on good terms with them? What did they teach you?My mum raised me an my two sisters right. It wasn't easy with out a father around. She always told me there are better ways to get what you want out of life than doing it the wrong way and not getting to live. #4- What kind of pranks do you pull? Well I once duct taped a buddies head... Oh never mind you wouldn't like that one...
#1- How well do you know this MC? Do you trust him/her? Do you believe he/she is doing the right thing for the right reason or wrong reason? Well, I don't know her.... I mean not yet. She hasn't worked with us long. Right or wrong? What the heck are ya talking about I just met the lady! 1. Come on, are you telling me you have no opinion of her at all? Surely, she must have caught your eye. Tell me what you can see in her eyes. Are they strong willed or doe eyed? #2- What life experiences have you obtained from your rough childhood? You speak of work ethics. What if someone like the MC told you 'you must do something a little dirty', like cheat someone out of their money? Even if it was for a good cause? Mum taught all three of us to go after what we want and not let up until we've got it. She didn't raise no cheats or liars either. 2. You must be a young naive kid, you'll be the one getting cheated and lied to, but I guess you'll learn. Ok, so your mum taught you to stand tall and talk straight. That's good kid, but everyone has a limit. You can't be straight with everyone. What would have to happen before you bend your own rules to get your way? Or do you plan to just stand there like a cliff face and get beaten by the sea? #3- How were your parents? Were you on good terms with them? What did they teach you? My mum raised me and my two sisters right. It wasn't easy without a father around. She always told me there are better ways to get what you want out of life than doing it the wrong way and not getting to live. 3. How about that dad of yours? Did he teach you any lessons? Or do you have one or two lessons to teach him? #4- What kind of pranks do you pull? Well I once duct taped a buddies head... Oh never mind you wouldn't like that one... 4. Is this just your way of getting attention? Or do you think your really funny?
1. So... Sand. You're a Pyrel? Do you know any other Pyrel's? Or any other new evolved humans with other powers? 2. I'm somewhat curious, your parents were killed when you were 7, right? Do you know who did it? Or know of any reason to target your parents? Do you think you're the reason they're dead? 3. With that kind of power, you must think you're kind of special? I think you're kind of dangerous, how would you convince me that you're not? 4. Face it, in the eyes of everyone else you're a deadly weapon that no one but a child is in control of. Do you think someone should lock away you're powers if they could? 5. I heard that you've got a bit of a temper. Is that what happen with your cousin Emily? Was she mean to you? Did she tease you about your parents? Were you just jealous of her happiness with her parents? Did she anger you so much you just punished her for your own feeling of redemption? 6. Your auntie and uncle are afraid of you and will never trust you again. You seem pretty much alone or is there anyone out there you do care about?
