7/1/2009 c2 10Catorrina
Thanks for going out of your way to write this. It's great having some kind of guideline/advice/another person's opinion on stereotypes and stuff.
Thanks for going out of your way to write this. It's great having some kind of guideline/advice/another person's opinion on stereotypes and stuff.
3/7/2009 c2 1Raining-x-Otaku
My gawd, you rock so hard for this!
The profile looks like it'll help a lot, and kudos to you for all the advice in the first chapter!
Thanks a bunch~!
My gawd, you rock so hard for this!
The profile looks like it'll help a lot, and kudos to you for all the advice in the first chapter!
Thanks a bunch~!
11/1/2006 c2 2lan yue liang
For me, Ch. 2 is more like an RPing guideline for a character than a good fantasy character... uh... (can't find the word) guideline, I suppose. But kudos to the fact that you considered all those other dimensions; a lot of people don't include those things in their character's personality.
For me, Ch. 2 is more like an RPing guideline for a character than a good fantasy character... uh... (can't find the word) guideline, I suppose. But kudos to the fact that you considered all those other dimensions; a lot of people don't include those things in their character's personality.
10/19/2006 c2 3The Love Love Queen
If people are flaming this, well, that just goes to show that some people will flame anything. Triple praises for the character profile on the second chapter. I love making up character profiles, and the profile you put up is pretty useful for fleshing out a character.
If people are flaming this, well, that just goes to show that some people will flame anything. Triple praises for the character profile on the second chapter. I love making up character profiles, and the profile you put up is pretty useful for fleshing out a character.
10/17/2006 c2 10mute-demon81
This is one more of yours I will be saving! I'm always needing something for profiles, and I'm usually a bit too lazy to think up features on my own.
This is one more of yours I will be saving! I'm always needing something for profiles, and I'm usually a bit too lazy to think up features on my own.
10/17/2006 c1 2monsoonblues
Interesting essay...has a few valid points in there. I agree with you on building characters on oneself, it's usually much less effort than trying to get into a different character who's hard to relate to, for authenticity's sake, unless you're a really good writer of course. It's hardly egotistical, merely less work, and allows more scope for adding on certain qualities to a character. And it seems apparent that this wasn't a how-to guide, but just something that some people (including yourself) would tend to keep in mind while writing. In the end though, it comes down to individual writing style and someone's skill in it...
Interesting essay...has a few valid points in there. I agree with you on building characters on oneself, it's usually much less effort than trying to get into a different character who's hard to relate to, for authenticity's sake, unless you're a really good writer of course. It's hardly egotistical, merely less work, and allows more scope for adding on certain qualities to a character. And it seems apparent that this wasn't a how-to guide, but just something that some people (including yourself) would tend to keep in mind while writing. In the end though, it comes down to individual writing style and someone's skill in it...
10/17/2006 c1 23Pink Cigarette
First off, let me inform you, I am also fifteen, as you are. I respect that these are just your ideas, but sometimes you have to put up with some nasty flame e-mails. Ahem, anywho-
"I usually start with appearance on all my characters; maybe I see someone with the most gorgeous black hair I've ever seen and want a character to have hair like that."
That's a start. Normally, what I do, and what I've seen many others do, is start with an idea in their head. Once many people get a story going, it sort of snowballs into different characters and ideas. For example, I find it very difficult to start off with "black hair" when making a character, or for that matter, any appearance. I create the character first, and then based on their life, age, ethnicity, and personality, I create an appearance in my head.
"Now, the phobia makes more sense, and can evoke sympathy from the reader, and that adds to the attachment to a character, which keeps people reading a story late into the night. A great place to find phobias is
I can relate to this, because one of my characters is deathly afraid of fire, because that is the way she died. (She's resurrected. Long story.) In any case, a phobia is NOT a standard way to make a character interesting. I personally have not read many stories where a phobia is incorporated. It does add interest, but cannot fully relate to a reader who has the same fear unless it is written very well.
"Style. What's your character's style? ... Look up personality types; personality disorders; anything that you think could come in handy."
Once again, I find it very hard to create a character in this way. If I were given the chance to name my characters just by their single personality type... well, it wouldn't be possible. I don't have a funny one, an angsty one, an optimistic one, the bipolar and/or schizo one, etc.
"I have seen stories where a 'punk' is seen giggling, and flipping her hair, that is a big, fat NO"
Writers should never label their character as a 'punk', anyway.
"Ah, the princess, who runs away from home to prove she can take of herself, OR her family was killed, and she was adopted and doesn't know she's a princess."
Actually, princesses can be handled in good ways- such as, for example, from a political standpoint. What if they were in a situation where the future of a kingdom was up to them? Just like any politician, every word they say, place they go, or person they know can be used against them. A monarch would have to use their wit and charisma to get themselves out of certain situations.
"But, one of the best ways to make a 'normal' character is to use your beliefs, phobias, etc. That way the character will be 'normal' to you at least, and not the rest of the world."
If I were to create a normal character based on myself, they would be a 15-year-old agnostic, bisexual writer with acrophobia. Personally, I believe that the most unique characters can be an everyday person. For example, I think my grandmother's life and personality is one-of-a-kind.
"Now, this is the easiest part to make; what is your style? Are you a punk? Prep? Goth? Alternative? Nerd?"
No, this is not easy. Once again, using myself as an example for a normal character (as you suggested), I could be just about every one of those. Before, you mentioned not to use sterotypes, yet I see you use them in a social fashion right here.
Honestly, in all, this sort of came off as an attempt for you to advertise your character Rukie and the story that she's in, while informing people on how you created her for no reason other than to, of course, advertise. Rukie seems like she could be an interesting character, just very one-sided. I personally hate it when characters are created that are just either "happy all the time" or completely dark, malignant, and all-hateful.
However, on the second page, I see you made what I would call a "form." The first three categories bear no interest to me; I find it pointless to inform us on those. However, when it came to the psychological and behavioral parts, I was definately enlightened.
In any case, best of wishes.
D.
First off, let me inform you, I am also fifteen, as you are. I respect that these are just your ideas, but sometimes you have to put up with some nasty flame e-mails. Ahem, anywho-
"I usually start with appearance on all my characters; maybe I see someone with the most gorgeous black hair I've ever seen and want a character to have hair like that."
That's a start. Normally, what I do, and what I've seen many others do, is start with an idea in their head. Once many people get a story going, it sort of snowballs into different characters and ideas. For example, I find it very difficult to start off with "black hair" when making a character, or for that matter, any appearance. I create the character first, and then based on their life, age, ethnicity, and personality, I create an appearance in my head.
"Now, the phobia makes more sense, and can evoke sympathy from the reader, and that adds to the attachment to a character, which keeps people reading a story late into the night. A great place to find phobias is
I can relate to this, because one of my characters is deathly afraid of fire, because that is the way she died. (She's resurrected. Long story.) In any case, a phobia is NOT a standard way to make a character interesting. I personally have not read many stories where a phobia is incorporated. It does add interest, but cannot fully relate to a reader who has the same fear unless it is written very well.
"Style. What's your character's style? ... Look up personality types; personality disorders; anything that you think could come in handy."
Once again, I find it very hard to create a character in this way. If I were given the chance to name my characters just by their single personality type... well, it wouldn't be possible. I don't have a funny one, an angsty one, an optimistic one, the bipolar and/or schizo one, etc.
"I have seen stories where a 'punk' is seen giggling, and flipping her hair, that is a big, fat NO"
Writers should never label their character as a 'punk', anyway.
"Ah, the princess, who runs away from home to prove she can take of herself, OR her family was killed, and she was adopted and doesn't know she's a princess."
Actually, princesses can be handled in good ways- such as, for example, from a political standpoint. What if they were in a situation where the future of a kingdom was up to them? Just like any politician, every word they say, place they go, or person they know can be used against them. A monarch would have to use their wit and charisma to get themselves out of certain situations.
"But, one of the best ways to make a 'normal' character is to use your beliefs, phobias, etc. That way the character will be 'normal' to you at least, and not the rest of the world."
If I were to create a normal character based on myself, they would be a 15-year-old agnostic, bisexual writer with acrophobia. Personally, I believe that the most unique characters can be an everyday person. For example, I think my grandmother's life and personality is one-of-a-kind.
"Now, this is the easiest part to make; what is your style? Are you a punk? Prep? Goth? Alternative? Nerd?"
No, this is not easy. Once again, using myself as an example for a normal character (as you suggested), I could be just about every one of those. Before, you mentioned not to use sterotypes, yet I see you use them in a social fashion right here.
Honestly, in all, this sort of came off as an attempt for you to advertise your character Rukie and the story that she's in, while informing people on how you created her for no reason other than to, of course, advertise. Rukie seems like she could be an interesting character, just very one-sided. I personally hate it when characters are created that are just either "happy all the time" or completely dark, malignant, and all-hateful.
However, on the second page, I see you made what I would call a "form." The first three categories bear no interest to me; I find it pointless to inform us on those. However, when it came to the psychological and behavioral parts, I was definately enlightened.
In any case, best of wishes.
D.
10/12/2006 c1 1Formerly
The trouble is that all your advice-literally all of it-is bad. If this was supposed to be a parody of all the poor writers who try to teach people how to write, then it's funny. But I don't think it was.
Oh, and this IS a fucking "How-To" guide, no matter how many times you say it's not. I can tell you fifty times that I'm not typing this on a computer, and that won't make it true.
The trouble is that all your advice-literally all of it-is bad. If this was supposed to be a parody of all the poor writers who try to teach people how to write, then it's funny. But I don't think it was.
Oh, and this IS a fucking "How-To" guide, no matter how many times you say it's not. I can tell you fifty times that I'm not typing this on a computer, and that won't make it true.
2/21/2005 c1 4Phoenix Wing
Hey, this was really great. Made me really think about my own characters and if I've been good with them. Excellent advice! I shall definately take it.
Hey, this was really great. Made me really think about my own characters and if I've been good with them. Excellent advice! I shall definately take it.
5/21/2004 c1 Charlie
Yay for Ande!
Okay, for all the stupid people who do not realize what advice is, that is exactly what this is. It is by no means a how-to-guide, so I've got no idea what you people are thinking. And another thing to Alyx in particular- Using your own character is not egotistical. That's a character that you know best, of course you'll use it (and you can't decide on your own astrological symbol, by the way. So no, you are not a tiger.) Well, that's my review, so goodbye for now.
Yay for Ande!
Okay, for all the stupid people who do not realize what advice is, that is exactly what this is. It is by no means a how-to-guide, so I've got no idea what you people are thinking. And another thing to Alyx in particular- Using your own character is not egotistical. That's a character that you know best, of course you'll use it (and you can't decide on your own astrological symbol, by the way. So no, you are not a tiger.) Well, that's my review, so goodbye for now.
5/19/2004 c1 Meanmar
(bows down to her fellow 15-year old)
Thank you for posting this. You have stated just about everything I rant about when my friends and I discuss story characters. ^_^ I glad to see someone agrees with me about the phenominal number of chliched characters in many of the fantasy fics posted here!
And lastly, I just thought you'd like to know that I nearly died laughing my ass off (I fell out of my chair) when you informed us readers that Ruckie's face is covered with scars, she's blinder than a human, AND she has the weird gruff voice of an orc. It's about time someone represented the ugly people out there! ^
(bows down to her fellow 15-year old)
Thank you for posting this. You have stated just about everything I rant about when my friends and I discuss story characters. ^_^ I glad to see someone agrees with me about the phenominal number of chliched characters in many of the fantasy fics posted here!
And lastly, I just thought you'd like to know that I nearly died laughing my ass off (I fell out of my chair) when you informed us readers that Ruckie's face is covered with scars, she's blinder than a human, AND she has the weird gruff voice of an orc. It's about time someone represented the ugly people out there! ^
3/5/2004 c1 7AethraZip
All good stuff, my friend.
You're right, antiheros are getting incredibly stereotyped (thanks a lot, Squaresoft). I used to love that type of character. Now I just roll my eyes when I see it.
My way of getting around the princess thing is making the guy the source of magic power and the girl the fighter. Well, I did that once.
People who flame you should be fondued. This is excellent.
~Enna
All good stuff, my friend.
You're right, antiheros are getting incredibly stereotyped (thanks a lot, Squaresoft). I used to love that type of character. Now I just roll my eyes when I see it.
My way of getting around the princess thing is making the guy the source of magic power and the girl the fighter. Well, I did that once.
People who flame you should be fondued. This is excellent.
~Enna
3/4/2004 c1 10mute-demon81
Hn, it seems to me, most people who disagree with this end up being 'gee-golly Maru Sue's'! I liked it alot, flamers beware, ADVICE IS WHAT IT SAYS, ADVICE AND ADVICE ONLY! unlike how to guides, you don't actually have to take advice ^_^
Hn, it seems to me, most people who disagree with this end up being 'gee-golly Maru Sue's'! I liked it alot, flamers beware, ADVICE IS WHAT IT SAYS, ADVICE AND ADVICE ONLY! unlike how to guides, you don't actually have to take advice ^_^
2/8/2004 c1 Sidious Sam
Liked it, liked it alot. Agreed with everyone of you points. Nice to see younger writers with a bloody brain. *slap on the back*
Liked it, liked it alot. Agreed with everyone of you points. Nice to see younger writers with a bloody brain. *slap on the back*
1/14/2004 c1 61A.D Williams
HOORAY! RUKIE IS AWESOME! KERRY WILL GET YOU ALL! ! This was all very helpful advice for anyone who needed it, and was seeking help. so all of you other people who didn't like it... TOO BAD! *smiles sweetly*
HOORAY! RUKIE IS AWESOME! KERRY WILL GET YOU ALL! ! This was all very helpful advice for anyone who needed it, and was seeking help. so all of you other people who didn't like it... TOO BAD! *smiles sweetly*