Character Survey Thread

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Hopefire
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by Hopefire »

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 do add some features that are based around me in round about ways to my characters. Like I have a streak on my back that causes pain like a scar sometimes and if I were to dye my hair fully a color it would be black.


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

I prefer female characters because I am a girl and I think boys are rather idiotic. For example at camp this year which I just got back from the boys were slapping each other on the back so hard with there hands that they were leaving welts and I just don't get it.


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


I do get attached to my characters but if for the sake of the story they need to be killed that is okay because I can take the same base character and put it in a new story if I really like them.


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

Not really attached unless I really like the story or it is a reader insert.


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

I find one of my characters that fit the story I am thinking of.


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

I start with the name. So that the rest of the person fits the name. For example I would take a name like Child Of the Wind. This character would have a strong personality and like to wander but be a bit mischievous and continue from there. I think it works best if you have a culture that gives people their names for what they are.
Hope this helps.
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Amki
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by Amki »

1. Are any of your characters based off of you?
Only a part of a character, and those parts seem to be exaggerated. It's more likely for me to make a character fitting what I love. I don't finish most stories so I keep the old ones' personalities and transfer them into a new setting, only slightly changing the personality, actually :3 only the main character might be slightly like me, by not being even close to the hm stereotype female :P also, I exaggerate some of my distinctive features on my char, like being phlegmatic about most things in life and often being sarcastic for nerving people or picking a fight, or sometimes just for the lulz xD
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I don't really care, it's the same, but I usually make a female character as the first, first character. However, I write in third person and I swap POV's often, therefore places as well, and characters (durr xD) so I always end up writing both male and female
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
Depends on the character, you know :P I'm still attached to my old rogue character that I don't use in the current story I'm writing, sadly, but I'm using someone similar to, but nicer and softer than her xD I don't think that would be a problem, because if we get attached to a character we will automatically feel everything our char feels, so, you know, it makes it also easier to write from the char's POV :3
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Depends on how much I like them, you know. If I find their personality interesting or something like that xD
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
I've never thought about that. But it might be the first option; I always create the characters first and by what they are I create the story, at least some parts of it. Even though at least half of them don't affect the story, so the main plot is intact, and not altered because the characters don't fit it. If they don't fit, the chars and the plot (not really the best team for it), I like it a lot more xD And sometimes I place the plot in a world I imagine, and then it's almost too late when I remember I already have a world for it xD
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?I think of a person, and it's appearance, and then some distinctive traits. As time goes, the character grows, their personality as well, and everything about them. Before I get to writing anything (I always write the prologue first, and then continue to:) I daydream about some characters I thought up. I think of the story, and how it will go. Before I start writing, I already know the end and vaguely how they will progress to it. Sometimes I imagine all of that and then confuse myself, not being able to place anything in time, but it is a minor problem that is easily fixable :P To me, it is more effective than filling out metres long character sheets. I think of all of that in maximally a couple of minutes and I keep it somewhere in my mind, while for those sheets I need *quite* some time to fill them out. xD
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nubkake55
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by nubkake55 »

1.I never base character off of me, it makes me feel bigheaded xp

2.I prefer writing male characters, because im a male, so its eaiser for me to write about them

3.I dont get attached to a character because i know its not real, and i think getting to attached to a character is fine, as long as its a long series, or you write about them alot

4.I dont get very attached, but if they die that makes me sad T_T

5.I write my characters based on the story, like what time, or whats happening in the story

6.I think of a typical person, then and traits to them, and i think it is a good-ish method :derr:
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ConjoinedWeasels
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by ConjoinedWeasels »

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 did have one novel where the character was actually me, not even based off of me but actually me. That was because of the story, though.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I don't really have a preference. They're both fun to write, but I've only ever had one male protagonist.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I tend to get very, very attached to my characters. This proves problematic if I need to kill one of them off, but It's good to get close to your characters, so you can find out more about them.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
I get deeply emotionally attached to characters in books and TV shows. I guess it's because I'm not good at making real life friends, so they take the place of them.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Sort of both. When I first start writing a new story, I know hardly anything about it. The more I write, the more I discover about the characters and the world, and they sort of fit together. It's like putting together a puzzle--you have some of the pieces, but not all of them, and they're not necessarily all together yet. Only when everything's finished does it all make sense.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I don't necessarily try to make a character. They just...come to me. In rare occasions I use character generators for minor characters, but this tends to make them flat and static, so I don't do it often. My protagonists are usually the first to come to me.
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gyroglobe
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by gyroglobe »

1. Are any of your characters based off of you?
No. The fun of writing (for me, anyway) is to be someone completely different than who you are, or to step into the mind of someone you want to be. There a pieces here and there that are sort of based off me, but usually, no.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
While all my current OCs are female (or trans*females or females disguised as males), I prefer writing as a male. Men tend to not be so restricted. Women have so many rules they're expected to follow in society, which is awful anyway, but you don't have to worry about your character worrying over acting out so much if you write as a male. Does this make sense?
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
Not particularly. I'm attached to my characters until the story or RP or whatever ends, and then I just let them go and come up with new ones. I'll hang onto them for another week or two, sure, and then I start to analyze them, realize they aren't that great, and move on.
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Much more attached than I do my own. I might just get unattached to mine because I've been fussing with them for so long, but with other people's characters, I didn't have to fuss. It's a few hours watching them or reading about them, and then it's over and I'm left to my own ideas about them. It's a lot easier to love someone when they don't take up all your thoughts and free time for god knows how long.
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Depends which idea comes first. If I come up with a plot, then I start to add things to characters that would be relevant, and then I fill in the blanks. If I come up with a character, I put them in a series of events until one would fit, and then I make a story out of it.
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I don't really have a process. I'll see someone or think of someone; either way, it starts with an appearance, and from there, I think of a personality to match. Occasionally I'll have a personality I was building up and adding things too like a ball of used gum, but usually, it starts with looks.
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by Psixi »

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."
Hmm, depends on what you mean. I never make a character based off purely myself, but most of my character share traits with me (especially main characters), especially when it comes to things they either feel strongly about or things that irritate them. Like, my characters usually appreciate humor, value friendship over love, are fiercely loyal, and face conflicts and battles with a laidback, competitive manner.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
Females. I just have this block in my head, that for some reason makes it hard as h*|| to make males (especially human).
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I get attached, very, but I am always able to kill a character or main them. I believe it's my duty as a writer.
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Also very.
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Hmm, hard question. Both, I guess.
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
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CrystalPurr
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by CrystalPurr »

Wow, im in 2014, all the posts are old o.o but i felt the need to post because im bored.


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."
A couple are based off me, but not the looks. I create my characters by using my personality and mixing it with something else to give the character a flashy, memorable personality.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I do not prefer writing about either sex. Females are good because i can relate with them, but males are good because i get a better understanding of them, if that makes sense.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I get very attached to the characters i create. Most of them i would die for, but others are just a little less favorable(?). For instance, i was recently drafting a chapter 1 for a story i was going to write, and i had a bear character called Kuljak. He comes in just as a dragon-type beast appears out of the blue, and tries to kill two teenagers. Kuljak was supposed to die saving the teens, and his son was supposed to go on a journey with the teens, but i loves Kuljak too much and could not bare to kill him off within the first chapter. I do think getting too attached is a problem, because if you are writing a story or something about a character, and he/she is supposed to die, if you get too attached whilst writing the bits beforehand, it is difficult to continue with that plan. Its ok to get too attached if you plan on keeping the character, or you can write your way out of the death.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
It depends on whether i can relate to the character or not. If it is some godlike character who is brave, strong and predictable, then i do not get attached. If it is some not too weak-not too strong character that has their strengths and weaknesses, and is a bit like me, then i get a bit too attached (lol).

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
I mix between the two ways. I can create a character to fit a story, but then i do not like that character so, and sometimes give up on the story. (unless its a good story and i create a good character that fits). Mostly i formulate a story to fit my characters because my characters are the priority in the first stages of story making xD

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I usually think of a gender, and then a personality that is different and uncliche. Next, i think up a name or search up a word in latin (eg. Lucerna). I sketch down a rough base of what they would look like (thin, tall, short, not thin), and design/ write about clothes. I think this is effective for me, but it might not be for others.
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by SkyToastt »

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." Erm, I don't think so, at least. Most of them might have a personality trait of mine, but not really.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why? Female, totally. This is probably because I'm a girl myself, and I know how to play a character as a girl. Yet, I sometimes do boys, but not a lot. The boys I do tend to follow this: He's Italian. Yep. That's it.
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem? I don't think I really get attached to them, unless they are dating someone else's character. Then I go all crazy and fuss over it and say that the couple is, quote myself, "THEY ARE SO PERF". Too attached is a problem, because you want to use a variety of your charries. Don't make them feel sad ^^
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters? As stated above a bit, I usually get attached to characters if they are being shipped(paired) with one of mine.
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story? Writing characters to fit into a story is what I do. I like thinking of a story first because they take so looonngg.
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method? Since I like anime so much, I usually make my characters a lot like one of the ones in the anime. Favorite anime personalities are the "deredere"(bubbly all the time, loves making friends, a bit hyperactive), the "emotionless girl"(self-explanatory, right?) and the "tsundere"(the "tough" character, keeps their emotions bottled up, cold and distant from everyone). I don't think this is an effective method to use, since characters should be diverse... :yey: But lookie at me!

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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by QueenoftheRabbits »

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, not really. I don't find myself to be particularly interesting and I don't want my characters to be boring. Though I do have a few characters with some similar interests it is because I tend to know more about that certain thing or activity, which can be useful in some cases.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
Female because it is easier to relate to them, which is funny because most of my characters are male XD
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
It depends on how much I like them. There are some that I like, then others that are just kind of there, and then some that I don't like very much but have to keep writing anyways because they are important to the story. Getting too attached might be a problem if the characters need to be killed or hurt or if they have to leave, because it may be harder to make them do so.
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Once again, it depends on whether or not I like them. There are some that I like and would love to meet at some point, and then there are others that I'm not very fascinated in.
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
I usually write characters to fit a story so that I kind of have a skeleton or outline for what kinds of people/beings I need to progress rather than have a character and base everything off of him/her. There are exceptions, of course, but I just find it easier.
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I usually base them off of actions that they need to do during the story if that's what I need them for, but sometimes if I just draw the same person over and over again without realizing it until I look back, I'll usually make them into a character as well, despite the fact that it's not very effective.
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BoardToTheEnd
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Re: Character Survey Thread

Post by BoardToTheEnd »

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."
None of my characters are based entirely on me. However, I do tend to make characters formed after me. Not too much, but I will include parts of my past or things I know about because it's easiest to write what you know. However, I have no characters based entirely on me, because it'd become more like a diary rather than actual creative writing.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I don't really have a preference. I'm a tomboy with a very wide variety of friends, so I can write from about any perspective. It seems when I make a female character, they're often a bit masculine, but I would have to choose.... female. I like having characters that don't fit the norm but are still realistic, so tomboy girls help me kind of explore both sides.
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I get pretty attached to my characters, but not to the point that I won't put them through pain just because I don't want to hurt them. It's a problem when it effects how you're writing, but other than that, I think it's fine. I do love my characters but there's a very prominent difference between them and real life. They don't have real emotions, so I can do whatever I want with them without effecting them. But killing off a character or injuring them should invoke some feels from writers/readers so a bit of attachment is important.
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
I rarely get attached to other people's characters because I honestly don't read much. I love writing my own work and perhaps some select stories I enjoy, but I usually have to find everything about their character stunning for this to happen. It does, though, and I will get fairly attached to them as well. It's a different feeling though. I kind of shape my character's feelings towards other characters in things like roleplays based on how I feel about them, because I feel obligated to be nice to them since I personally like them.
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
It depends on what I'm doing how I go about it. Usually, I'll make a story based around my preexisting characters, but something I'll have an idea that none of my characters fit, which requires making new characters. I prefer using old characters because I go incredibly in depth when creating characters, so making a story rather than a story and the characters to fit is a lot of work. Sometimes, it's worth it though.
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
Ah, making a character. When I first have a character in mind, I'll make a form. Name, gender, age, family, personality, background, etc. To extend on this, I'll find a roleplaying partner (or prompts on the internet if I'm desperate) that will fit what I have in mind for them and then go with that, writing down any new developments as they come along. As I go, I seem to add a lot on at the spur of the moment, which I think is a bad habit. Besides that, I think my method is fairly effective, because I usually fall in love with any character I follow that method with.

Thanks for putting this survey up, it was a lot of fun to actually think about how I write ^^
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