So, I don't actually know if this'll be fun/useful for anyone on here, but I kinda like it and thought I'd share.

Basically this is a take-off of a meme that goes around fandom communities on livejournal. Name a character, and list the five most important things you keep in mind when writing that character.

I find these really entertaining to read, but I didn't realize how useful they were for getting deeper into character development until I started trying to do them with my own characters. You SHOULD be able to come up with five things, but sometimes it's really freaking hard. o_O

In case my explanation of this is totally incoherent: an example!

Feir (who is from Rin!)

1. Is older than he looks. In human terms, he's old enough to be your grandfather. Yes, he frolics around like a spry young thing, but he's not a teenager, or a twenty-something, or even a thirty-something. He's in his sixties. He's older than ME. :P

2. Genuinely LIKES people. People in general--people he doesn't know, people he has no connection to, people who can't do anything to aid him in any way--he likes them, and will go out of his way to get to know them or do things for them. (Most of my characters are exactly the opposite.)

3. Gets over things very quickly. He doesn't like being unhappy, or angry, or confused, and at heart he's a pretty simple guy; he's capable of letting things just roll off him like water re: a duck's back. But this also means...

4. He represses. If it's something he can't get over quick? He ignores it. And it festers. And then someone pokes it and he flips. (But basically these two combined mean I really shouldn't ever be writing angst with him. Ever.)

5. Current Feir is not backstory Feir. Current Feir =/= backstory Feir. Current Feir = not backstory Feir. There are TWENTY YEARS between them. People CHANGE.

SO, basically, figuring out what your five things are can (IMO) really help you solidify your view of a character, and help you to differentiate them from other characters, as well (one of your five things might even BE something like "THIS CHARACTER IS NOT THAT OTHER CHARACTER, THEY ARE DIFFERENT IN THESE WAYS").

*shrug* I dunno, I thought it was fun and I was interested to see how other people think when they're writing. So, what are the five most important things you keep in mind when writing your different characters? :D

Talman(from a random bit of fluff I'm writing RIGHT now)

1) Has been captured and tortured physically and psychologically for around a year. this is going to have effects on him.

2) he used to be a strong warrior but captivity has taken its toll on him.

3) he still has his pride, albeit a smaller much more fragile creature.

4) he was raped, this to must effect him STILL, it's not just an obscure side plot point that 'makes him tougher' or some kind of jazz. it hurt. it still does hurt.

5) he feels guilty. in part that he has survived this long. in his culture it is appropriate to kill ones self rather than be captured. he also feels guilty because of the information he revealed because of his torture to his enemies.

curse you var that was devilishly difficult!

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That which does not feel pain is dead.

THIS IS SO FUN! :D

N'mere

1. She scoffs at Amethyst for being vain, but secretly is extremely centered on her own appearance.

2. She is not afraid of dying

3. She really believes that Keelan is perfect. Seriously, she does. The poor guy has huge expectations to live up to as a husband. :P

4. She's terrified of change.

5. She really wants to live up to her brother's standards. Wouldn't hurt or disappoint him for the world.

Lunescent (two fantasy novels)

1. She hides her feelings very well by concealing them under her wit and sarcasm.

2. She feels very guilty over believing she loved her former boyfriend and that he loved her and that she didn't see how much of a monster he was until it was too late

3. She wants two things: to find a man who truly loves her and to be able to raise her own children with him

4. She was abused physically, emotionally, and sexually for several years; she tries to forget it happened by moving on with life. However, she's never completely forgotten it.

5. She wants to completely split away from her own civilized people to live among the barbarians, who are far less hedonistic and perverted.






A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people- Thomas Mann




My writing blog: [aspiringpen.blogspot.com]

lol good ones guys! now i feel like mine was kind of pathetic =P wasnt it hard though to get all five? i got stuck on four for litteraly ten min =P

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That which does not feel pain is dead.

Azriel

1. He loves beauty whether natural or manmade. He loves it. Has a hard time when there isn't much beauty around him.

2. Selfish to the core. Doesn't care about his uncle at all, even though he adopted and raised him for the last five years of his childhood.

3. Has no moral compass. If it feels good, he'll probably do it. Doesn't have any ideals. His priority in life is to have fun.

4. Tries really hard to be tough, but he isn't at all. Tries to make people think he has it all figured out, but he doesn't. Sometimes he cries at night and wishes he were someone else.

5. Is very handsome, and fit. He idolizes physical perfection, and his self-esteem is very much tied to his attractiveness.



yuck, I got stuck on number five for like ten minutes, Shalli. :P


Thx, var. This is actually extremely helpful!

Madeleine

1. Has a lot of layers. She has this cynical coating over her despairing failure self over her spoiled nobility self over her terrified of abandonment self.

2. Thinks people are interesting, as specimens. She likes studying people and their motivations - as long as it's not herself.

3. In spite of her interest in people, she has a hard time actually liking or caring about anyone. She can know what they're going through and how they probably feel but she has a hard time pulling much sympathy out now because she doesn't feel like anyone could understand what she's been through.

4. Has no goals anymore. She tried her hardest and failed at what she wanted most; now she has nothing to strive for and has no idea what she wants.

5. Has kind of a strange independence/dependence thing going on. On the one hand, she's really independent because she pretty much raised herself. On the other hand, she's really subservient because no one ever told her to follow her own dreams. She pretends to be rebellious, but she'll really do pretty much whatever anyone asks her to do.

Guys, these are delightful! :D I was worried no one would do it.

And I TOTALLY AGREE that it's hard; I used Feir as an example because he was one of the only ones I didn't have a lot of difficulty with. I feel like it should be hard, because in most cases, especially if it's a new-ish character, you might not have five things that you keep in mind when writing them. With most of my characters I only have one or two.

But please, don't feel restricted to only doing one character! I'd do it with more if I had the time. XD

hmmm, I'll just try this once before heading off for the day. :P

Alex (not real name)

1. Is utterly logical. If something isn't logical to him he will disregard it and try to correct the situation.

2. Hates everyone. He feels other creatures are a useless waste of time if they have a soul (aka sentient beings) and will use them only until he reaches his primary goal.

3. He is a slave and is utterly forced to do his master's bidding, but can work efficiently through the orders by understanding the underpinnings of roundabout maneuvers.

4. He actually likes animals, and has selected a familiar from among the animal kingdom that can act as a companion until it looses its usefulness.

5. He is a gentleman. He will be polite to someone, even showing them respect if they are worthy enough for his consideration. He cannot condone backstabbing.

*keeps getting stuck* Ay yi yi...we'll see if I ever end up posting anything of substance here. I'll keep trying. XD