Character Survey Thread

[CasinWolfe]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
Only some of them, it doesn't make much difference to me one way or the other, it's just that sometimes a story starts with me imagining myself in a different sort of world than the one we live in.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I don't really have a preference; I like to create and write as characters of both genders.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I get pretty attached to most of them, after all, they're my own creations. I only think it's a problem if you're so attached that you can't kill them off or have something bad happen to them if the story calls for it.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Slightly more so, since I don't have to worry about having to kill them off later and can get properly furious when it happens.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Main characters; or whichever characters are written first, almost always come before a story. The story and the rest of the characters are then written around them.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
Usually I start with a picture of the way they look in my head, then I create personalities for them, then names, and if necessary, whole new worlds and stories for them to fit into. It seems pretty effective to me, but then again I don't have much to compare it to.

[aquamarinesea]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."

no , i have never ever written a charector based on me but i always write about a certain "friend" of mine because hes quite a charector
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
i do write more about female charectors then male because i am female and i can just relate alot better , but i always do write one male charector whos always the same , you see him in alot of my stories
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
i get attached but im not afraid to kill them off
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
depends on the charector
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
i usually use charectors that can fit into any story so i guess its about half and half
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
i usually use the same thing everytime on making charectors , the main female role is a kick butt head strong girl but is still very vulnerable do to her situation and is trying to get through it and usually a sweet clumsy boy that depends on the main female charector .

[kateybear]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you?
All of my characters contain at least one trait of mine, simply because that's easier for me to do. However, I don't base full characters on myself, and I tend to pull bits and pieces from people I know to form characters that I know and like.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
Female, simply because it's my gender and I understand it better. However, I'm capable of writing the male perspective fairly well as well.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
Yes, yes, yes. I fall in love with my brain children, and I think that's bad when I'm writing Hunger Games fanfiction because then they have to die. Besides that, no. It's not usually an issue.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
It depends on the character. They have to have a twist to them that makes them special, makes me want to keep reading about them, and enjoy them.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
I write characters to fit my stories. I rarely go in to a story with the character idea coming before the plot idea. It does happen, though, and I've gotten awesome ideas from developing characters instead of the other way around.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I think of what I want from the character - appearance, personality, quirks and pieces of them that I want to have. Then I give them a name, to me, seems appropriate for the situation, and then I continue to develop their personality. Generally, once I have a basic idea, I start writing them to see how that affects their development. Most of my characters tend to be developed in-story, so I never have overly-static plotlines. It works just well for me.

[songbreeze]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
Not really. Writing is my escape; I can pretend to be someone else by living through a character that is the complete opposite of me.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
Male. I don't know why, and I've written females before, it's just most of my character wind up being a male.
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
Depends on how long I worked on the character, if I give them a big part or little part. If I'm attached, I normally make it so they've been through heck and barely survive. Getting too attached always can cause a problem if you have to kill off a character or destroy the only life they know.
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Depends on the character and how the character acts or reacts to a situation.
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Both. Most of the time, a story of mine will start off with one line. Something like, "The night was ebony black, but the man walking the deserted streets took no notice." After that, it depends if I elaborate on the man or the surroundings if the story develops first or the character does.
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I go by the events that are happening the moment the character is introduced, so that said character can relate to what is going on but rarely relates to anything else.

[Telynaur]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you?
Not directly but sometimes I will take some of my interests or character traits and use that as part of the character. For instance, one of my characters gets really clumsy when she’s nervous. Another is a female who hates the colour pink. One male character loses control when he loses his temper so he’s trained himself not to. None of them are direct copies of me but the ‘handles’ help me to write them easily.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I’ll do either, but I try and stay true to the scenario I’m using. For instance, if I want to write a character like a musketeer I’ll write a male character because it would be more realistic for a male to become a musketeer. If I have several male characters I’ll be inclined to create a female, just to maintain some balance. (And if there’s only one female character then I’ll create another one because I don’t like token characters.)

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
It depends on why they were created. A few have been created when I know that they are going to die so I deliberately distance myself as much as possible. I do often bond with a character, though, and when that happens I will sometimes rewrite a story in order to keep them safe. Getting too attached can be awkward if I want to write a specific story but I’m rarely that set on how a story turns out. They tend to be more organic than planned.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
I can sometimes get very attached. I have a talent for liking the minor characters that don’t survive or get written out of stories and I’ve ended up writing my own stories where they survive and prosper!

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
The characters are the most important element of the story. If I have established characters then the story has to fit around them. If I want to write a specific story then I’ll be more likely to create new characters that fit it.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
First thing is generally to work out what the character has to do (ie pirate, starship captain, magi, secretary, librarian, etc) which leads on to skills and background. Sometimes a character will just ‘appear’ inside my head and everything else expands out from that one moment of inspiration. Sometimes I will ‘borrow’ someone else’s character and then tweak them a little.

Hope that’s useful!

[fennelstar]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
Not usually. I do sometimes take elements from my personality, because I understand what it's like to be me, and be judged for it. Therfore putting some of my wierd quirks into my characters helps them grow. Not sure if that made any sense..

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I'm really fine with both. I have noticed though that I go about creating female characters more thoughtfully, planning out every detail, while my male characters just seem to 'happen'.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I get really attached to my characters, actually. I do try to put them through struggles to make them stronger, but it always hurts to kill them off. However, I'm not one for happy ending usually, so that puts me in a difficult position.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
I actual books I often get extremely attached to certain characters, and break down when they die (especially if the author just has to go and kill them in some horribly sad way- like self-sacrifice. Self-sacrifice I can't handle). In short stories and rps though I usually don't get really close to other's characters.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Usually I make up these characters that I love, and while creating their history the story comes. But it can work the other way, too, and mostly they just work off each other.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I don't think mine's too effective for others, and it may seem strange, but most of the time I start with a drawing. Just yesterday I was drawing my magi, Jade, when she was a kid, and her hand was reaching out towards... something, or someone. So I drew this boy with hair falling over his eyes, about to take her hand. This helped me to develope Jade, the story, and now I have an awsome new character! *sqees*. Yep, that's how my wierd little world works.

[Spirit1920]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you?
Yes. Many of my characters are based off of myself or people I know because I find it easier to be genuine and realistic with their interactions with the world that way. If my characters aren't based off of myself or someone I know, they are often a blend of traits from characters that I have previously created or that are in books, movies, or tv shows that I enjoy. Sometimes I will make multiple versions of a character and use each version in a different story or RP.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I am impartial when it comes to writing for males versus females. I only ever write in third person, so thoughts aren't usually an issue, and I have experience with both. Often I find myself making my character's gender based on the storyline and if I have any pre-conceived details that are oriented specifically for one gender.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I have a few characters I use frequently that I'm attached to, but depending on what or who they're based off of, I enjoy making them suffer or succeed. Getting too attached can be a problem, but I don't experience it myself as far as I'm aware. I've read some stories where people are clearly far too attached to their character and then I'm just like, "Well, this is getting boring," because it becomes irritating.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
I don't get attached much to other people's characters unless I really like the book. A lot of times, I find myself getting annoyed at the author rather than the character when something that I find to be disagreeable happens.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Both. Sometimes I have a story prepared that I use a specific character for, and sometimes I write my story based on the character. I keep a character archive on my iPad and I just use and tweak an existing character to fit what I'm writing. Occasionally I will get to a point where an entirely new character seems right, but usually I'll just use a template I have and edit them as I go along.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I usually use forms, because I am a person who likes order and efficiency and having the information right there and easily referenced at all times. I start with a basic frame, like name, age, personality, history, and all that, then I fill out each section. Sometimes I'll find a picture and create a character from the picture, or I'll spend hours looking for a picture that feels right with my character's information. I like this method, because it helps me remain consistent throughout the story or roleplay, especially because I often have so many variations of the same character that share a name.

[saphariadragon]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
Well sort of? A lot of my characters have elements of my personality and I try and expand on them, tweak them to the point that they become their own. And or I just go for something completely opposite of myself. Depends on my mood really. My story characters tend to be a little more similar to myself as I tend to write in first person in those. I do find I have issues playing overly extroverted characters; I am an introvert.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
Its kind of weird. When I'm writing stories I tend to write female characters, and when I'm roleplaying I write male. I don't know why exactly I have these preferences.. I just do. The roleplaying used to be inversed though. I guess I'm fickle.
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
Depends on the character but I can get terribly attached. The ones I love I cannot simply kill off, just retire them for a while. But honestly I don't think its a problem because the ones I fall in love with tend to be the protagonists of the main story thus killing them off tends to be a bad idea. That and because I love them so much I rather enjoy torturing them *cackles*.
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Depends once again on the characters. If a writer writes them well I get very angry if they kill them off.
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
A bit of both, depends on the situation. Sometimes I'll come up with a story and its good but I have two or three characters that would work. Other times I'm like... hmmm I wanna write with so and so, what would happen to them? And then the madness begins.
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I don't have a defined process. Usually I come up with a design or a personality trait, or something and my imagination goes bat s*** crazy. Occasionally I'll come up with interesting supporting characters that I really want to expand on because they are weird. Other times I might get inspired by another person's charrie but thats rare.

[LightningDragon]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."

I have one based fully off of me - appearance, personality and such. I have other characters, and try to make them as diverse and different as I can.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?

Female characters are easier for me, since it's a gender I'm familiar with and I know how most females (including myself) would react to certain situations.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?

It depends on how long I've written with that particular character. For example, I have a story I've been writing since fourth grade. The main protaganist is the only character based off of me, and I'd be miserable if I killed her off. I have newer characters in newer stories that I care about, but I wouldn't be crushed about getting rid of them.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?

For me, it depends on how well the story has been written. If it's one of those books that you simply can't get into, despite how hard you try, then no, I don't care much for their characters. If it's a story where I feel as if I'm one of the characters, then yes, I care for them.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?

I usually think of a storyline first, and then the characters.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?

I'm not really sure how. I'll think up a name, a personality trait, or and appearance, and my imagination goes wild from there. It may be an effective method, because I'm fairly critical of characters I come up with like this.

[Kriever]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
If you mean a real, exact personification, then no. Most of my characters are a lot different from who I am, but some have character traits/motivations that quite closely define some elements of my own... Though I suppose that's not something you can truly escape from. Though it does make it easier to predict what they will do.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
Male. I just find it simpler to sort things out and evaluate the way they think/feelings as opposed to a female character. The words don't 'flow' that easily with the latter, if that makes any sense? Then comes the other elements of how other characters would perceive a female; and with the genre I enjoy writing the most (medieval fantasy), it can become quite a hassle to deal with.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I admit to getting very attached to my characters, especially in terms of originality. (Though how much of my own ideas are 'original' are other things altogether, what with so many stereotypes, cliches, influences, etc.) I really, really dislike seeing people do obvious rip-offs of my own characters, even if it's just replacing a few words, but essentially describe the same events.
But for me, being attached doesn't necessarily equate to being invincible. If anything, I enjoy harming my characters to an arguably excessive extent. The more I like them, the more trouble I would put them through... That goes without saying that many of my characters die at the end of their respective stories.

I don't think being too attached is a problem, so long as you don't try to constantly tweak them to perfection or have a story constantly revolve around them like an axis. It gets boring, and if you're co-writing with someone else or roleplaying, it's just not very fun.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
That depends on how well they are played. I may express opinions over other characters on how I think they might act or how they go about with their personal motivations, but ultimately, unless it's extremely out-of-character, I like sitting back and watching how they spin their own stories and lives. Other characters intrigue me with their actions and what they do.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
It's a bit of a mix, but usually, the former. Characters come to me more easily than a world concept or a plot, but it's nothing entirely defining. I may think up of names and traits and strange habits... Things like that, but a world may just come to mind before then. Plot twists or other more supernatural elements are added after, along with the supporting cast.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I try to visualize their personality first, and then their background. From there, I work to their appearances. An assassin would not be dressed in an overbearing manner unless he is haughty and money-laundering, neither would a subdued person be wearing particularly flashy colors unless it's a personal quirk or three. Then I go onto their inventory and what they enjoy doing in their spare time. Sometimes, I also factor in other things they may have in common with other characters, so they are easier to interact with and such. But once those things are down, it's very easy for me to visualize things. What they would be like, 10 years in the future, 10 years in the past. As a parent or a lover, when their loved ones die, when a life-changing event happens.

Not... Really. My thought patterns are rather random, and while I keep a notebook, it's honestly filled with more scribbles with random phrases and words than anything else. Some days, they just melt together into a pile of organized chaos and... I get a character from that pile of literate goop. You can say my characters write themselves, and I depend heavily on 'inspiration'.
Writer's block is definitely not my friend here; I find myself getting taken down by it extremely easily. When I don't want to write, I simply don't. I know writing exercises encourage you to 'write everyday', but it's really not a practice I can find myself following.