Original fiction meme - Day 9
9. How do you get ideas for your characters? Describe the process of creating them.
It depends on the characters; I don't always follow the same kind of process. But there are two I tend to turn to more than often:
1) Role in the story / Archetypes:
When a story idea comes to mind and I wonder what kind of roles would be useful to make it progress. I'll then start with such basic needs ('a naive hero', 'an enemy who has a soft spot for children', etc.), and develop the character around this, adding little bits here and there. This is probably the method I follow the most often, fueled, among other things, by serious stuff (my reading of Joseph Campbell's books, the founding myths, traditional roles in stories) and lighter-toned stuff (TV Tropes, stop dragging me into enless pits of time-wasting! Even though it's always interesting to read XD).
Examples:
* Kheril in Eien. The basic idea was "the squishy mage-type who can be extremely powerful, yet his power consumes his life, and he needs external protection". Very, very basic, right? Kheril is a powerful Kazari, born with the ability to channel all types of energies, although he's most talented with dealing with human minds. On the other hand, he's quite weak physically (any use of his power tends to drain him of energy fast), and to top things up, an accident when he was in his early 20s left him forever blind, as well as with internal sequels (every time he channels energies, he runs the risk of his body failing, not only merely 'getting tired'). As the negotiator sent to talk to the Archbishop of Calan, he's one of the most important characters in Oraison d'Être, but he has to travel with both a warrior and a healer: one to protect him, the other to heal him.
* Adrian Bennett (to appear in later chapters in Was) is also such an example. I created him first when I adapted Ewan for M:tA, because I needed "a former friend now turned enemy... but the hero still isn't sure if he's a 100% evil guy, or if he's more ambiguous than that". I put him in Was in turn because he helped me fill a gap that had been bothering me since chapter 1 (and when some red herring is still bothering me 1,5 year a and 33 chapters later, then it means I really need to fill it!). The rest-his appearance, his externally nice personality, his backstory-developed around this concept. (FYI, in Was, he's a Necromancer working with the Anima Mundi against those of his kind who abuse their powers).
* Basically all the characters in Unsung Heroes. Their archetypes are those you can find in cyberpunk games mostly: the street samurai/solo; the Netrunner; the scientist working for an evil corporation: the evil corporation CEO; the cyber-enhanced bounty-hunter; etc.
2) External influence & inspiration:
This is when I watch a film/series, or read a book, and I think "hey, that character/concept/physical appearance is great", and it gives me ideas in turn. Sometimes it helps me fill in a gap in a story; or it gives me the basis for a new story. I don't 'copy' a character per se, it's always a set of different inspirations that stick together and end up creating a new character-otherwise there wouldn't be any interest in it, would it, if it was just a mere copy!
Examples:
* The Heartless & Heart-catchers in Was were pretty much inspired by both the Spectres in Wraith: the Oblivion and the Hollows in Bleach (alright, the latter part mainly because I didn't know how to represent them, and ended up sticking them with an actual hole in the middle of the chest XD - and because Mother is clad in white, I was growing tired of black = death, so I went with the white symbolism instead).
* In fact, I tend to do that mostly with my RPG characters, come to think of it. One of my INS/MV chars is inspired from Celty in DuRaRaRa!!. My butch Verbena witch, Selene Galford, is inspired from the Disreputable Bitch in Garth Nix's Lirael books. (Not going to write the whole list, but you get the idea.)
1. Tell us about your favorite writing project/universe that you’ve worked with and why.
2. How many characters do you have? Do you prefer males or females?
3. How do you come up with names, for characters (and for places if you’re writing about fictional places)?
4. Tell us about one of your first stories/characters!
5. By age, who is your youngest character? Oldest? How about “youngest” and “oldest” in terms of when you created them?
6. Where are you most comfortable writing? At what time of day? Computer or good ol’ pen and paper?
7. Do you listen to music while you write? What kind? Are there any songs you like to relate/apply to your characters?
8. What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?
10. What are some really weird situations your characters have been in? Every thing from serious canon scenes to meme questions counts!
11. Who is your favorite character to write? Least favorite?
12. In what story did you feel you did the best job of world building? Any side-notes on it you’d like to share?
13. What’s your favorite culture to write, fictional or not?
14. How do you map out locations, if needed? Do you have any to show us?
15. Mid way question! Tell us about a writer you admire, whether professional or not!
16. Do you write romantic relationships? How do you do with those, and how “far” are you willing to go in your writing? ;)
17. Favorite protagonist and why!
18. Favorite antagonist and why!
19. Favorite minor that decided to shove him self into the spot light and why!
20. What are your favorite character interactions to write?
21. Do any of your characters have children? How well do you write them?
22. Tell us about one scene between your characters that you’ve never written or told any one about before! Serious or not.
23. How long does it usually take you to complete an entire story-from planning to writing to posting (if you post your work)?
24. How willing are you to kill your characters if the plot so demands it? What’s the most interesting way you’ve killed someone?
25. Do any of your characters have pets? Tell us about them.
26. Let’s talk art! Do you draw your characters? Do others draw them? Pick one of your OCs and post your favorite picture of him!
27. Along similar lines, do appearances play a big role in your stories? Tell us about them, or if not, how you go about designing your characters.
28. Have you ever written a character with physical or mental disabilities? Describe them, and if there’s nothing major to speak of, tell us a few smaller ones.
29. How often do you think about writing? Ever come across some thing IRL that reminds you of your story/characters?
30. Final question! Tag some one! And tell us what you like about that person as a writer and/or about one of his/her characters!
It depends on the characters; I don't always follow the same kind of process. But there are two I tend to turn to more than often:
1) Role in the story / Archetypes:
When a story idea comes to mind and I wonder what kind of roles would be useful to make it progress. I'll then start with such basic needs ('a naive hero', 'an enemy who has a soft spot for children', etc.), and develop the character around this, adding little bits here and there. This is probably the method I follow the most often, fueled, among other things, by serious stuff (my reading of Joseph Campbell's books, the founding myths, traditional roles in stories) and lighter-toned stuff (TV Tropes, stop dragging me into enless pits of time-wasting! Even though it's always interesting to read XD).
Examples:
* Kheril in Eien. The basic idea was "the squishy mage-type who can be extremely powerful, yet his power consumes his life, and he needs external protection". Very, very basic, right? Kheril is a powerful Kazari, born with the ability to channel all types of energies, although he's most talented with dealing with human minds. On the other hand, he's quite weak physically (any use of his power tends to drain him of energy fast), and to top things up, an accident when he was in his early 20s left him forever blind, as well as with internal sequels (every time he channels energies, he runs the risk of his body failing, not only merely 'getting tired'). As the negotiator sent to talk to the Archbishop of Calan, he's one of the most important characters in Oraison d'Être, but he has to travel with both a warrior and a healer: one to protect him, the other to heal him.
* Adrian Bennett (to appear in later chapters in Was) is also such an example. I created him first when I adapted Ewan for M:tA, because I needed "a former friend now turned enemy... but the hero still isn't sure if he's a 100% evil guy, or if he's more ambiguous than that". I put him in Was in turn because he helped me fill a gap that had been bothering me since chapter 1 (and when some red herring is still bothering me 1,5 year a and 33 chapters later, then it means I really need to fill it!). The rest-his appearance, his externally nice personality, his backstory-developed around this concept. (FYI, in Was, he's a Necromancer working with the Anima Mundi against those of his kind who abuse their powers).
* Basically all the characters in Unsung Heroes. Their archetypes are those you can find in cyberpunk games mostly: the street samurai/solo; the Netrunner; the scientist working for an evil corporation: the evil corporation CEO; the cyber-enhanced bounty-hunter; etc.
2) External influence & inspiration:
This is when I watch a film/series, or read a book, and I think "hey, that character/concept/physical appearance is great", and it gives me ideas in turn. Sometimes it helps me fill in a gap in a story; or it gives me the basis for a new story. I don't 'copy' a character per se, it's always a set of different inspirations that stick together and end up creating a new character-otherwise there wouldn't be any interest in it, would it, if it was just a mere copy!
Examples:
* The Heartless & Heart-catchers in Was were pretty much inspired by both the Spectres in Wraith: the Oblivion and the Hollows in Bleach (alright, the latter part mainly because I didn't know how to represent them, and ended up sticking them with an actual hole in the middle of the chest XD - and because Mother is clad in white, I was growing tired of black = death, so I went with the white symbolism instead).
* In fact, I tend to do that mostly with my RPG characters, come to think of it. One of my INS/MV chars is inspired from Celty in DuRaRaRa!!. My butch Verbena witch, Selene Galford, is inspired from the Disreputable Bitch in Garth Nix's Lirael books. (Not going to write the whole list, but you get the idea.)
1. Tell us about your favorite writing project/universe that you’ve worked with and why.
2. How many characters do you have? Do you prefer males or females?
3. How do you come up with names, for characters (and for places if you’re writing about fictional places)?
4. Tell us about one of your first stories/characters!
5. By age, who is your youngest character? Oldest? How about “youngest” and “oldest” in terms of when you created them?
6. Where are you most comfortable writing? At what time of day? Computer or good ol’ pen and paper?
7. Do you listen to music while you write? What kind? Are there any songs you like to relate/apply to your characters?
8. What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?
10. What are some really weird situations your characters have been in? Every thing from serious canon scenes to meme questions counts!
11. Who is your favorite character to write? Least favorite?
12. In what story did you feel you did the best job of world building? Any side-notes on it you’d like to share?
13. What’s your favorite culture to write, fictional or not?
14. How do you map out locations, if needed? Do you have any to show us?
15. Mid way question! Tell us about a writer you admire, whether professional or not!
16. Do you write romantic relationships? How do you do with those, and how “far” are you willing to go in your writing? ;)
17. Favorite protagonist and why!
18. Favorite antagonist and why!
19. Favorite minor that decided to shove him self into the spot light and why!
20. What are your favorite character interactions to write?
21. Do any of your characters have children? How well do you write them?
22. Tell us about one scene between your characters that you’ve never written or told any one about before! Serious or not.
23. How long does it usually take you to complete an entire story-from planning to writing to posting (if you post your work)?
24. How willing are you to kill your characters if the plot so demands it? What’s the most interesting way you’ve killed someone?
25. Do any of your characters have pets? Tell us about them.
26. Let’s talk art! Do you draw your characters? Do others draw them? Pick one of your OCs and post your favorite picture of him!
27. Along similar lines, do appearances play a big role in your stories? Tell us about them, or if not, how you go about designing your characters.
28. Have you ever written a character with physical or mental disabilities? Describe them, and if there’s nothing major to speak of, tell us a few smaller ones.
29. How often do you think about writing? Ever come across some thing IRL that reminds you of your story/characters?
30. Final question! Tag some one! And tell us what you like about that person as a writer and/or about one of his/her characters!