Creating your character
The
second step in your journey is creating a character, a simple task
you might think but it proves to be more difficult than one first
imagines! To make a good character you have to look beyond the
obvious. A character needs and deserves a good build as opposed to to
a stingy stereotype. People are complex and contradictory creatures
that are difficult to understand and boil down but we're going to
try! The more complex your character is, the more realistic your
story will be!
Follow these easy steps below to create your character and your assignment AND the essay on your character's motivation. Deadline for this assignment is by the end of the corresponding week. Hand it in by email before the [--/--/--]
Follow these easy steps below to create your character and your assignment AND the essay on your character's motivation. Deadline for this assignment is by the end of the corresponding week. Hand it in by email before the [--/--/--]
Step
1. Physical appearance.
Creating a characters physical appearance is often the easiest task, it's the first thing that pops to our minds, and it's the first thing the people in your story will be greeted with. Now there are a lot of decisions to be made and here are a few tricks to help you make them. To create a realistic and complex character you'll have to go beyond eye and hair colour. To help visualise a character make a mindmap for yourself including all the physical aspects you can think of and link them to the person, take a pencil to paper, or try out a doll creation website such as dolldivine.com. (include your mindmap or visual to your assignment as well as a description) |
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Step
2. Details
Your character is more than just their looks, to make someone realistic you have to be specific in who they are, and how they act. What makes your character different or special, how would we recognise them ? Think of twins, both people might look the exact same way, but each has a personality of their own. So think again, how would your character move, how would they talk, what do they like, what don't they like.
Details can be minor or completely character defining, a good and well rounded character has both. Maybe your character had a breathy voice because they had an illness when they were a child, or maybe they've always talked like that, and they didn't even know. Maybe your character really likes cheese because that's what their mum put on their sandwich when they were young, or they might just like it for no reason. Heck cheese is great, who wouldn't like cheese!
So think again and sort out your character, their walk, their talk, their thoughts, their aspirations, their do's and don'ts. Write it out in a paragraph or a list, make a mindmap, whatever you need to make it visual. (Include this into your assignment)
Your character is more than just their looks, to make someone realistic you have to be specific in who they are, and how they act. What makes your character different or special, how would we recognise them ? Think of twins, both people might look the exact same way, but each has a personality of their own. So think again, how would your character move, how would they talk, what do they like, what don't they like.
Details can be minor or completely character defining, a good and well rounded character has both. Maybe your character had a breathy voice because they had an illness when they were a child, or maybe they've always talked like that, and they didn't even know. Maybe your character really likes cheese because that's what their mum put on their sandwich when they were young, or they might just like it for no reason. Heck cheese is great, who wouldn't like cheese!
So think again and sort out your character, their walk, their talk, their thoughts, their aspirations, their do's and don'ts. Write it out in a paragraph or a list, make a mindmap, whatever you need to make it visual. (Include this into your assignment)
Step
3, background.
How does your character fit into the setting? Who are they in that world and who do they have connections with? This part is all about linking the character you've created to the setting. Think of how the surroundings might influence your character or how it may have had an effect on their surroundings. Who are their friends, do they have family? Are they supportive, dismissive, or unconcerned with the character?
As with the previous step make your process visual, mark out a family tree, explain connections, struggles, goals, beliefs, etc. Show whatever is relavant to your character.
How does your character fit into the setting? Who are they in that world and who do they have connections with? This part is all about linking the character you've created to the setting. Think of how the surroundings might influence your character or how it may have had an effect on their surroundings. Who are their friends, do they have family? Are they supportive, dismissive, or unconcerned with the character?
As with the previous step make your process visual, mark out a family tree, explain connections, struggles, goals, beliefs, etc. Show whatever is relavant to your character.
Step 4, Thinking of a name.
A short step in your process but an important one nonetheless. Think of a name that would suit your character, and that would fit in the timeline you're setting your story in. Take into consideration how it would be pronounced, how it would possibly be abbreviated or what it means!
Write down your chosen name and the reason why you chose it. If you have trouble choosing a name check out the websites below for inspiration.
Meanings behind names : www.behindthename.com
Common surnames : http://names.mongabay.com/most_common_surnames.htm
A short step in your process but an important one nonetheless. Think of a name that would suit your character, and that would fit in the timeline you're setting your story in. Take into consideration how it would be pronounced, how it would possibly be abbreviated or what it means!
Write down your chosen name and the reason why you chose it. If you have trouble choosing a name check out the websites below for inspiration.
Meanings behind names : www.behindthename.com
Common surnames : http://names.mongabay.com/most_common_surnames.htm
Wrapping up.
If you've gone through these steps you should now have a good idea who your character is. If you've struggled through these steps and have trouble with the assignment, try the following website. It may help you put your vision into focuss and help you find the right way to phrase what you want to say.
http://www.panix.com/~felicia/character/character.php
If you've gone through these steps you should now have a good idea who your character is. If you've struggled through these steps and have trouble with the assignment, try the following website. It may help you put your vision into focuss and help you find the right way to phrase what you want to say.
http://www.panix.com/~felicia/character/character.php