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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2011 10:27:03 GMT -5
On my other thread I really thought I was listening. Thanks to Nat's suggestions I've decided to use Schala's sweet nature to get her in trouble - and the whole city. Physical Characteristics
Height: 5' 4" Weight: 174 lbs. Posture: Tries to stand up tall, but often looks toward the ground. Build: Curvy Skin: Speckled Hair: Teal, back-length and wavy with "Renaissance braids" Widow's peak? No Ears: Cat ears Eyes: Medium sea green Nose: A pink kitty nose Mouth: Small Face shape: Round Expressions: Calm/contented, joyous, angry, really angry, sad, shocked, nervous, sighing Describe their smile: Small, no teeth showing, sincere Hands: Small, 4-fingered Feet: Medium size, 4-toed Tattoos/Scars? She has a scar on her right shoulder from a time when Katriana whacked her D= Glasses/Contacts? No, the glasses were an illusion to make her look less recognizable Left/Right handed? Left handed Distinguishing features: Nothing really Who does she take after; mother or father? Xweetok from mother, Speckled from father who was a Lupe. Has her mother's eyes. Style (Elegant, shabby, etc): Elegant How does she dress or what do they typically wear? She usually wears a Regal Altador Dress Other outfits one might find in their wardrobe: Purple royal gowns Jewelry: Occasionally wears a gold bracelet, nothing too fancy Other accessories: None Weapons: Her magic. She doesn't use the sparky mirror anymore! Health: Physically great, emotionally…still so-so. She'll get upset if TFR is mentioned Hygiene: Good Physical Flaws: What defines a physical flaw? Help, please Physical Qualities: I don't know what defines this either. About the scar thing...I'd like help on that. On one hand, I feel like if I give her a scar I'm emphasizing her tragic backstory too much. On the other hand, if I don't give her one I feel like her story won't be believable. Past failures she would be embarrassed to have people know about and why: The fall of Faerieland. Although this was Xandra's own action hoping she could eliminate Katriana, she still tries to blame Katriana for the whole thing. However, she feels very guilty about it inside. A physical flaw would probably be something like 'missing an eye', 'walks with a limp', 'tires easily', etc. Basically, flaws having to do with their body. As for the fall of Faerieland deal, maybe you could play up Xandra denying responsibility as a flaw? That sort of victim mentality can be a major flaw, if written right. Example: Bob: Alice, how could you break my prized vase? Alice: Chuck made me upset, and I had to break something to vent my anger! Blame Chuck! The problem here is that Alice did not control her actions. Averting responsibility like that can agitate other characters and cause problems, so perhaps you could do that?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2011 10:29:30 GMT -5
On my other thread I really thought I was listening. Thanks to Nat's suggestions I've decided to use Schala's sweet nature to get her in trouble - and the whole city. Physical Characteristics
Height: 5' 4" Weight: 174 lbs. Posture: Tries to stand up tall, but often looks toward the ground. Build: Curvy Skin: Speckled Hair: Teal, back-length and wavy with "Renaissance braids" Widow's peak? No Ears: Cat ears Eyes: Medium sea green Nose: A pink kitty nose Mouth: Small Face shape: Round Expressions: Calm/contented, joyous, angry, really angry, sad, shocked, nervous, sighing Describe their smile: Small, no teeth showing, sincere Hands: Small, 4-fingered Feet: Medium size, 4-toed Tattoos/Scars? She has a scar on her right shoulder from a time when Katriana whacked her D= Glasses/Contacts? No, the glasses were an illusion to make her look less recognizable Left/Right handed? Left handed Distinguishing features: Nothing really Who does she take after; mother or father? Xweetok from mother, Speckled from father who was a Lupe. Has her mother's eyes. Style (Elegant, shabby, etc): Elegant How does she dress or what do they typically wear? She usually wears a Regal Altador Dress Other outfits one might find in their wardrobe: Purple royal gowns Jewelry: Occasionally wears a gold bracelet, nothing too fancy Other accessories: None Weapons: Her magic. She doesn't use the sparky mirror anymore! Health: Physically great, emotionally…still so-so. She'll get upset if TFR is mentioned Hygiene: Good Physical Flaws: What defines a physical flaw? Help, please Physical Qualities: I don't know what defines this either. About the scar thing...I'd like help on that. On one hand, I feel like if I give her a scar I'm emphasizing her tragic backstory too much. On the other hand, if I don't give her one I feel like her story won't be believable. Past failures she would be embarrassed to have people know about and why: The fall of Faerieland. Although this was Xandra's own action hoping she could eliminate Katriana, she still tries to blame Katriana for the whole thing. However, she feels very guilty about it inside. A physical flaw would probably be something like 'missing an eye', 'walks with a limp', 'tires easily', etc. Basically, flaws having to do with their body. As for the fall of Faerieland deal, maybe you could play up Xandra denying responsibility as a flaw? That sort of victim mentality can be a major flaw, if written right. Example: Bob: Alice, how could you break my prized vase? Alice: Chuck made me upset, and I had to break something to vent my anger! Blame Chuck! The problem here is that Alice did not control her actions. Averting responsibility like that can agitate other characters and cause problems, so perhaps you could do that? That's actually what I was going for there XDDD! I might not have realized it at first but thank you! I think it still makes sense to feel guilty inside (anyone would), but if asked, she will say it's Katriana's doing.
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Post by Dju on Oct 23, 2011 10:33:01 GMT -5
GUYS! I think I have a better idea about how Snow and Ember follow different ways! Okay, so after the two young tigers arrive to South Africa, they decide to go out in search of food or water. Snow is some months older than Ember, so she is quite annoying and way too talkative for him to handle. They finally find a lake, Snow is extremely irritated by now so he tells Ember he saw a fat rat hiding behind a dead tree some meters away, just so he could drink in peace. Turns out there were chacma baboons (well known for their aggressive behavior) living in that tree and were the 'owners' of the lake. They caught Ember first, and before they can get their hands on Snow somebody who I am saying the name for hm, surprise reasons and non-spoilers, scares away the baboons. So they follow different paths! Ember, for a long time was smaller than the baboons but showed potential protecting their territory so her life was spared, but they often hurt her with sticks and stones to make sure she wouldn’t approach their cubs and family. So Ember grew up being controlled and excluded, and after she is big and strong enough to beat the baboons, she takes over their territory and decides to take over all the Savannah and yay, revenge! …Hm…yeah, I think it sounds better than my last try…? ^u^;;
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2011 10:36:08 GMT -5
A physical flaw would probably be something like 'missing an eye', 'walks with a limp', 'tires easily', etc. Basically, flaws having to do with their body. As for the fall of Faerieland deal, maybe you could play up Xandra denying responsibility as a flaw? That sort of victim mentality can be a major flaw, if written right. Example: Bob: Alice, how could you break my prized vase? Alice: Chuck made me upset, and I had to break something to vent my anger! Blame Chuck! The problem here is that Alice did not control her actions. Averting responsibility like that can agitate other characters and cause problems, so perhaps you could do that? That's actually what I was going for there XDDD! I might not have realized it at first but thank you! I think it still makes sense to feel guilty inside (anyone would), but if asked, she will say it's Katriana's doing. Yeah, denial of responsibility can be a serious flaw, it just has to be done right. XD Instead of having everyone go "poor baby, HUGS TIME~~~" and having it only show up with regard to Katriana and Faerieland, maybe you can also have the flaw show up more in everyday life (like, if Xandra makes a mistake or does something wrong she just blames someone else instead of taking responsibility) and have some characters be more like "Xandra that was totally your fault, you were in control of your actions. :I". You could also say that Xandra blaming Katriana is sort of a way for her to avoid dealing with what she did and associated trauma- see Self-blame. You could take a psychological or philosophical approach to the issue of responsibility, and it could be interesting, but if everyone (or at least all the protagonists) is showering sympathy on her, it's not going to work very well. XD
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Post by Yoyti on Oct 23, 2011 11:31:31 GMT -5
I'd like to request some critique on my future character, Sienna B'Rule. I've started a few stories with her, but scrapped them because they just weren't good enough. I really want her to be an interesting character. Name: Sienna B'Rule Nickname: None Age: 32 Sex: Female Nationality: Neopian. From Neopia Central Race: Earth Faerie Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Current status: Alive and well, researching alchemy on Terror Mountain Political Party: Independent Police/Criminal/Legal record: Has committed murder and kidnapping, but has since been cleared of all charges Socioeconomic level as a child: Upper middle class Socioeconomic level as an adult: Upper middle class Birth place: Faerie City Current residence: Lab at the base of Terror Mountain Occupation: Researcher for the Black Light Empire Title/Rank: Miss Hobbies/Pastimes: None Talents/Skills/Powers: She has the usual faerie powers, but refuses to use them, preferring instead to use synthesized chemicals which produce the same results.
Hometown: Neopia Central First Memory: She's a bit fuzzy on that, having had her memory blanked, restored and tampered with several times. Most important childhood event that still affects him/her: A neoschool visit to a chemistry lab. Why/How? She has since tried to reduce anything and everything physical to chemical form. Other memories/events that still affects him/her and why/how: Virtupets corporate takeover of all neopian technology. She despises corporate influence of society. Past failures s/he would be embarrassed to have people know about and why: She was responsible for the death of a family. I think it's self explanatory why she's embarrassed about it. Biggest role model: Xandra (as of TFR) Why? Xandra had many the same ideals as herself. Biggest disillusions from childhood: I'm unsure about the meaning of this question. Backstory: She spent the first few years of her life in the Faerie City, after which she was sent to neoschool. At one point during neoschool, her class visited a chemistry lab, after which she became very interested in chemistry. She dropped out of neoschool shortly after to study with alchemists. At the age of sixteen, she isolated the reaction which allowed water faeries to produce water out of thin air, and was angered that it was easy to figure out, but no one had ever tried before her. At this point, she started to view society at large as a creature of inferior intelligence. Throughout this, Virtupets gained control over all technology in Neopia, and Sienna was angered that one company had so much influence over any given person. She then joined the Black Light Empire, a secret organization, and a rival of Virtupets. She worked with a team to reduce magic to basic chemicals, and, while testing a chemical she had made which would allow any living thing to spontaniously create fire, accidentally burnt down a house. She immediately attempted to save the inhabitants, and found a mother with her baby. The mother was reluctant to move in spite of Sienna's warnings, and in a fit of exasperation, Sienna knocked the mother unconscious and took the baby, trying to get it to safety. She was then arrested for arson, murder, and kidnapping. The baby was taken from her and shortly thereafter died from having inhaled too much smoke. Sienna was then assigned to work on a new project. To implant a computer into a living brain so as to create the ultimate intelligence: The raw knowledge of a computer, and the reasoning skills of a living person. She has since been working in a lab on Terror Mountain, where no one notices if a few people go missing.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2011 12:40:05 GMT -5
Sienna actually sounds really interesting. Her biggest flaw is her pushing the blame of TFR toward Katriana. She's afraid that if she takes responsibility she won't be someone good. Although her family sympathizes with this, other characters (like Mima) still don't trust her. Some, like Miriya, do trust her but think she should just let it go already. She's a bit of a scardey-cat when meeting new people, as she is afraid of what people think of her. If distrusted, she has a tendency to spill the whole story and expect sympathy, which doesn't always come. If you don't know, Mima is my Acara ( i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/prophetesszealitys/Character Smilies/M1-1.gif[/img]) and Miriya is i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/prophetesszealitys/Character Smilies/Mir1.gif[/img]
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2011 16:21:11 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month.
Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand?
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Post by Dju on Nov 23, 2011 16:43:41 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month. Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand? I really like mixing qualities that usually don't fit together to form something new, so I can't really say exactly what kind of character I like best! XD I try my best not to make them predictable! Yet I don't fancy cartoons with groups like this: THe smart, the angry/lone wolf, and the main who always seem to be starving and clumsy. Just bugs me. >.<
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Post by Gelquie on Nov 23, 2011 16:59:10 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month. Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand? Hmm, not that I know of. When I write characters, I try to do something new every time. (It doesn't always work. One thing I'm still working on is how to make each character's dialogue syntax unique. I'm getting better, but better is still not great.) I don't really have many preferences in writing. I always look forward to studying different character archetypes so that I can have a better range of what kind of characters I can do. (Maybe there are certain habits I have with characters. Most of my characters tend to be the kind who ask a lot of questions. Need to fix that.) What I can't stand writing? One-dimensional characters with little backstory and not much to them. Stigma aside, characters are just so hard to write if I don't know enough about them and can't do much with them. If my character is currently one-dimensional with not much to them, I look for ways to expand them, because otherwise I'll run into brick walls writing them. (There are probably others other than that, but I can't think of them at the moment.) Hmm, maybe I should bring more of my charries here for critique. I'm still not perfect at characterization.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2011 18:07:55 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month. Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand? Not really. I have many heroes and villains. As for grey area sort of characters, I've got the annoying stuck-up Fiyeri. ( i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/prophetesszealitys/Character Smilies/fiyeri_standard.gif[/img])
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Post by selmette on Nov 23, 2011 19:19:56 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month. Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand? i find it really difficult to write moralistic protagonists(especially as main characters) because i find them dull and difficult to relate to. i think it's healthy for a writer to venture out of their comfort zone and attempt to write characters they can't fully understand, but i avoid doing that because i have this (probably irrational) fear that my writing won't seem as realistic. i've noticed that i have a tendency to write characters with neutral alignments. they're much easier to handle and that way you can experiment with both positive and negative reactions to events. they've also a lot more potential than one of the more extreme character types like heroes and villains; there's only a certain number of flaws or quirks you can incorporate with those archetypes without changing them entirely.
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Post by Tiger on Nov 23, 2011 20:04:01 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month. Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand? Hmm. I try not to use the same character types too much. I do have a lot of kick-butt ladies, though, which is something I want to be careful about overdoing. I love tough chicks, don't get me wrong, but I don't want to create a character with that being her only purpose.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2011 23:17:42 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month. Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand? I enjoy taking a moment when I'm writing and figuring out how the characters would really react. Does the villain keep attacking the hero just because she's evil? …No, it's because she's the kind of person who will not give up until she gets what she wants. That's just one example. So on and so forth. That is exactly like Katriana. She isn't just evil, she's manipulative and goal-set. She wants to take back Altador from King Altador (who liberated the land from her iron grip). I think in a later story she'll use Xandra's vendetta against her as a weapon. She's already tried to possess Saeryennan in hopes she could "trade off" Altador's kingdom for his daughter.
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Post by Sq on Nov 24, 2011 5:24:53 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month. Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand? What do you mean by... character types?
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Post by Breakingchains on Nov 24, 2011 8:16:55 GMT -5
Hey, guys! 8D Discussion of the week! Or, rather, month. Do you tend to stick to particular character types? Are there certain characters you prefer writing and some you can't stand? One type I have a lot of trouble writing is a straight-up hero. No significant moral failings, brave and friendly and always there in the nick of time. It's not that I hate the type--I can think of several characters like this that I actually like, from Superman to Mario. But I can't write them. I just go, "Wait a second, where's the grit here? What the heck can I possibly do with this person that's interesting?" and then I end up either fizzling out, or revealing that they're a repentant ex-hitman with a personality disorder and an addiction to crack, just to get some kind of dirt on the page. On the other extreme, I can't write (or often read) MCs who are evil, sociopathic, focused only on themselves and their own desires, or extremely dark anti-heroes-- if they see no problem with being so. There has to be something admirable about them on a moral level, if only the desire to become a better person and the knowledge that they're not. I can't root for them otherwise. As for character types I tend to stick to: I seem to cover a pretty wide range of types. I do write a lot of outcasts and "freaks", and characters looking for some kind of redemption are a common thing in my work. I also have a fair number of criminals and ex-criminals, many of them violent.
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