Character Ideas, by Everyone

[Andy]

This is a sort of new tips-method I'd like to try. Basically, a question regarding some sort of writing problem is asked, and everyone pitches in with their own answers and suggestions, so we end up with a guide made by everyone. If this works, we can do other threads like this.

Please post only once!

So....

In what ways do you get ideas for characters?

[jordanisonfire]

Mostly, I get inspiration for them. I think of someone who has some significance, then add a twist to them.

[Spoiler Below]

For example, the Grandmaster of the Druids is a powerful mage in my books, but he's also a spirit who is bound to the world, so he cannot openly fight evil.

[Rafael Domination]

I either make up my own, or steal from others, and upgrade them to the point where they become my own! :D

[jordanisonfire]

I sometimes do the latter. Such as the whole Elves thing in my novels are too similar to Tolkien's, so I spruced them up a bit and they're different to the point where they're acceptable.

[Carraka]

I have no idea how I come up with characters. However, when I want to develop them, sometimes I write short (page-length) biographies of the circumstances of their birth, their relationship with their parents, things that led them to believe whatever they believe during the actual story, etc.

For good measure, I write short(er) biographies for the character's parents also.

[Rafael Domination]

I also keep a Character Inventory on My Breifcase on my computer...in there are all sorts of character info, from Name, DOB, Height to even the names of the attacks they can perform :D

[Andy]

Usually I take a person from real life, and then exaggerate or diminish various aspects of their personality until a completely new person is created.

[Rafael Domination]

Hmmm...well that's new! :D (good to see you, Andy! :D)

What about their items? Home, clothes, stuff?

[Shaun]

Well, even though I do write a lot of science fiction and fantasy, stuff that seems to be less rooted in reality than mainstream or literary fiction, I actually take a lot of influence from real life. There are characters that reflect part of who I am, perhaps characters that I model after myself. Other characters are from people I've met, or characters I've seen in movies. Yes you can steal ideas from movies, as long as you twist it so it is more yours. If you like the way a character acts, well, write a character like that. Nothing wrong with it at all :).

[GeorgeMichael]

Usually, I go into my little self talking mode. I try to make up a character's name just a name and then out loud I put myself in like a trance and I begin to ask the name questions. Then I turn the other way and answer the question as the name. I turn back once more and write notes. I keep doing this little questioning on questions that range from name and birth date to completely random things like have you ever in your life seen a professional tennis match. These little things help me be able to spread out my character when I actually put him/her on paper.

[Rafael Domination]

I also have a habit of drawing them. They become a lot easier to describe.

[Zaphkiel]

I either make up my own, or steal from others, and upgrade them to the point where they become my own! :D

Ditto, I second this statement:D!

[Me_Lia]

I also have a habit of drawing them. They become a lot easier to describe.

Hear, hear. Sometimes when I don't feel like drawing, I just google whatever existing characters' images there are (Mostly Anime)...

Yeah, I agree with Carraka and Rafael_Domination... Biographies are good too, so that you won't forget certain details about your characters and confusing your reader. I'm so guilty of that... (ex: I thought he was clumsy, why is he dancing 'gracefully' with her now?) Unless, of course, it's on purpose.

Hmm... My characters are mostly inspired by television shows, stuff that I read... I give out surveys to friends and anyone who's bored, to get ideas... Works surprisingly well for me.

I go online (msn) and ask bored people (a lot of those recently) to role play with me as whoever they wanna be. Might be pointless sometimes (you often go hyper) but it's fun!

And I also go 'profile-hopping'. You know, all those websites dedicated to certain movies, books, shows...? They have character profiles, all neatly done and often very, very detailed (fans are always detailed). I just pick what I like.

I often focus on the characters more than I do on the plot, so I can 'edit' the character however I want, without really thinking about what the consequences on the plot might be.

[Nyx]

I go online (msn) and ask bored people (a lot of those recently) to role play with me as whoever they wanna be. Might be pointless sometimes (you often go hyper) but it's fun!


I do something like that with one of my friends. We call it "msn phone". Basically we make two random characters up and then we start talking like we're those two characters on the phone. It can turn out to be just plain stupid but is at times inspiring!

[Eve]

Usually, I think of a friend and describe her as one of my characters. Apart from the name, everything is similar.

[seikoXchan]

I actually base them off of people I know, but give them a little name-change. Simple as that.

[Mercy]

I get ideas from movies, books, people I know and other cultures. Sometimes, I just create a conflict and what I want the moral to be, and base a character around that. ^^;

[random_writer]

I usually intend to base them off of someone, but then they (this sounds weird...) come alive and create themselves, although they have certain traits similar to those of the person they were originally based off of. It's weird. Gandalf the White probably thinks I'm a psycho, because I told him that I imagine conversations with my characters.