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 Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:24 pm
The Ideas BureauWhat's good, what's not, and how to bring in the atmosphere
What ideas do you need help with?
What ideas do you need to discuss?
What ideas do you want to get opinions on?
Do you need to know if an idea is good or bad?
Here's where you discuss it and get advice for all
of your fantasy/historical ideas for your writing.
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:51 am
Ok, I got one and I haven't continued my KB story because of it.
In the latest addition to my character's journal (just click on the link to my journal right here in my post), he meets a vampire hunter who is a woman. I thought about how to make her as an interesting character but I'm not sure how to make her. I got this so far:
She's in her middle age (about 45 to 50).
She's pretty average looking (not as pretty or cute as one would imagine).
She is usually pretty rash in her actions (meaning she much rather fight than talk).
Any suggestions so that she can seem very interesting to the reader? I have a couple of ideas myself but I want to hear from others before I continue. 3nodding
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:30 pm
Adding a personality even though she's not much of a talker would help.
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Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:23 am
I suppose yer right but, what kind of personality would be cooler? I'm still thinking about that... neutral
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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:37 pm
Ok, this IS an ideas thread, but there should be a limit and this is where I'll say it because it's better to tell it rather than add it in as a rule.
* A character will not be 100% your own if other people have a part in their creation.
* It's never satisfactory if someone else has moulded a character for you in any way. It's much more rewarding for it all to be your own work.
The question to ask yourself is "what feels right for her?"
You'll never be able to get it right unless your mind is always focused on writing in one way or another. For me, I can focus on watching a film, reading a book, being out and about with a friend, and still have a portion of my mind on my writing. The reason for this is that then ideas will come to me. Something I see on a film may trigger something in my mind that says "hey, that's a great idea" and that something could be the demeanour of a character in that film or a line they've said, or even one of their actions, you know?
It doesn't have to be with a character either. If you're stuck with scenarios and know the sort of thing you want but aren't entirely sure about it, something that you see or read may trigger the perfect type of location for an event.
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:24 pm
I do get what you mean Mel but, if you see a movie or game, or whatever and are inspired by it, are you not taking ideas from other people? I'm just asking for suggestions cuz it would be kinda like that. And I know that we all have to be careful when asking for opinions and suggestions cuz it could be misinterpreted in the long run. I already have thought of a few things for her myself so there's no need for help now but, I was just curious about what other found to be cool in a character. That way she wouldn't end up just being more of the same. Know what I mean?
Now, all I have to do is find some time on my KB account, and continue his journal cuz, I'm gonna make that woman hate men, he-he. Wouldn't that make her seem cool?
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:21 am
Every idea is taken from somewhere nowadays. Using another's idea for inspiration is fine, but copying that idea directly isn't. Make sense?
People on the main Writer's Forum don't seem to get this idea. They're always posting threads saying "I can't think of any ideas, can you give me some?" By all means, there's no problem with people making some suggestions, but most people are asking for others to GIVE them ideas directly. If someone says "this that and the other" and the person asking does exactly that, they're taking away someone's intellectual property. However, if the helper said "why not try something like this?" and the writer then creates their own idea from that, then it's not. It then becomes an original idea.
Quite a few of my characters have been inspired from elsewhere, but they're nothing like those I've drawn inspiration from, and I feel a bit...hurt there by that.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:33 pm
Of course it makes sense Mel! That's sort of what I was trying to imply. I've read that some of the concepts out there seem like exact copies of other concepts. I see most examples of this in video games. For example, I think Saint's Row was sort of classified as a copy of GTA (Grand Theft Auto). I never copy stuff, that's just lame! I think all of my characters are unique. Maybe they have a few similarities with other characters but don't we all share some characteristics with others as well? Like the fact we're all humans, we all like fantasy, etc, etc?
And yer right, but I wanted to read something of the likes of: "Whatever you do, don't make her a left handed or, don't make her a single mother who will die after her son begins his world traveling". You know? I really wanted to know what to stay away from with that character of mine. Those are not suggestions that will make me copy someone, right?
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:45 am
What's wrong with making a character left-handed? I'm left-handed in real life myself, and there are a lot of left-handed people in the world. There are a lot more right-handers than left-handers though. Take a look here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-handed
My main character is left-handed, the character I've recently described in the "Description & Atmosphere" thread is left-handed, and so is my pirate (but he's learned how to be pretty much perfectly ambidextrous in most areas which includes writing).
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:06 pm
I think you misunderstood me Mel, I wasn't implying that being left handed was wrong. Why would I? You know me better than that! I was only mentioning it as an example of things others could say to me not to do with my character. I figure that making someone "ambidextrous" could be great but, not everyone has the talent for it. You know?
So far, I've figured out a few things about it. Now I just have to find time to actually write it.
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Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:08 am
I wasn't targeting you Hypno! Sorry it came across that way.
I just felt the need to argue the point regardless of who might say such a thing. You might even have noticed that Sephiroth is left-handed (woohoo!)
I have three left-handed characters, one of which is actually ambidextrous after having taught himself. It's the pirate. Naturally left-handed, but taught himself how to write and do many other things with his right hand. I'm left-handed and can't write with my right, but I can use weapons (when I've done martial arts) effectively with both hands and can do various other things right-handed too. Lefties tend to have an aptitude to be ambi-dextrous in few or several other fields too.
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:52 pm
I have a question, a problem, and I was wondering if I could get some feedback on the matter. I've been very blocked creatively lately, especially in writing and I need to seriously break this curse. I've been wanting to start on a novel, a story of sorts, in the fantasy genre for quite sometime now. This is what I'd like to get people's feed back on:
x. If I really want something different, not just another 'Oh, I have a cool character who is automatically the greatest fighter ever. This is my story about how he kills a lot of people. Bravo me, I can write fantasy.' Yet, can anyone really claim originality now a days? I'd really like to write about a male character as the lead and put him into situations where he can use sly intelligence more than a weapon. In fact, I don't know if I'd like to make him a 'fighter' character type at all. maybe that could be an interesting fact about him, an ineptness...Anywho! Ignore that! Rambling.
Right, so, how do I come up with a good plot to set forth a character that you've been saving up and developing in your mind for awhile?
x. Does anyone have any good outlines of a setting that might be a good place to start off a new story?
x. I really want my story to be edgy, and not necessarily written like a lot of fantasy I find is written. I understand the structures that needs to be followed to not lose sight of what type of story/genres I'm trying to fit into, but how do you all keep your writing from being stereotyped in a stereotype? How do I find a my own place in my own writing where I can be contained yet let free in my thoughts for a more interesting, in my words, way of saying things?
I hope I'm not rambling chaps, and I hope you can be of assistance. Thanks in advance!
-- Totario
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:59 pm
Oh! By the way, I hope none of you think I'm directly asking for ideas, nothing of the sort. Just suggestions of what you people think would be nice. Anyways, take on the questions however you want. :]
-- Totario
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:06 pm
Totario I have a question, a problem, and I was wondering if I could get some feedback on the matter. I've been very blocked creatively lately, especially in writing and I need to seriously break this curse. I've been wanting to start on a novel, a story of sorts, in the fantasy genre for quite sometime now. This is what I'd like to get people's feed back on:
x. If I really want something different, not just another 'Oh, I have a cool character who is automatically the greatest fighter ever. This is my story about how he kills a lot of people. Bravo me, I can write fantasy.' Yet, can anyone really claim originality now a days? I'd really like to write about a male character as the lead and put him into situations where he can use sly intelligence more than a weapon. In fact, I don't know if I'd like to make him a 'fighter' character type at all. maybe that could be an interesting fact about him, an ineptness...Anywho! Ignore that! Rambling.
Right, so, how do I come up with a good plot to set forth a character that you've been saving up and developing in your mind for awhile?
x. Does anyone have any good outlines of a setting that might be a good place to start off a new story?
x. I really want my story to be edgy, and not necessarily written like a lot of fantasy I find is written. I understand the structures that needs to be followed to not lose sight of what type of story/genres I'm trying to fit into, but how do you all keep your writing from being stereotyped in a stereotype? How do I find a my own place in my own writing where I can be contained yet let free in my thoughts for a more interesting, in my words, way of saying things?
I hope I'm not rambling chaps, and I hope you can be of assistance. Thanks in advance!
-- Totario
My main character is said to be the best swordsman in the east of a particular continent, because he's a professional mercenary with an awful lot of skill, and he probably "is" the best in that area, but if you think about it, a lot of mercenaries/bounty hunters are going to be your "Average Joe" kind of fighter. He's a fully trained and graduated swordsman with bounty hunting as his profession. He's also of wealthy birth.
However, he's not the most formidable fighter in that world, nor will he ever be. There are seven warriors who come from an ancient civilisation who are the greatest in existence, and they're military leaders whose forces are as good as if not better than he is as well. However, that's on a frightening level.
I also have characters who have different styles of fighting who have just as much skill as him. My pirate is one such character.
So, I understand what you're saying on that. You want to stray away from the stereotypes and create something as original as possible, just like me.
As for outlines, you could start with a profile or an image of them in your mind. However, be open to changes. I thought up a name for the pirate's childhood friend (this pirate was not of just wealthy birth, but noble birth - not royal). This childhood friend is female. Oh yes, I can sense the intrigue already. ^_^'
I created her name, and a first image of her sprung to mind. I then thought a bit about her personality, and I thought, "perhaps something along the lines of Tifa from Final Fantasy VII?" She doesn't look like her, but she has the same colour hair. Thus the character starts to build.
There are many ways to start characters and various ways of molding them as well. I developed a good number of my characters through role-playing with them on a private chatroom with a few friends. Eventually after about five years it began to fizzle out a bit, and only two of us actually bothered doing it the right way. You need to allow the characters to shape themselves, just as we shape ourselves with our interests and what we experience in our lives. A tragic past (like the one my pirate endured), doesn't mean the character has to become a bloodthirsty villain, and one with a happy past doesn't have to be good and innocent.
When coming up with names, I usually pick out a few letters and put different letters to it, or I'll look up a site like babynames or something and see if there's anything I can work with. It generally depends on the type of character you want I find. Make notes about your initial ideas, go from there and when you have enough information, start building a profile for them.
I hope that helps... neutral
EDIT
And in dealing with stereotypes...heh...
Right, I do have some stereotypes in my work, but then again there is no way to avoid them completely. Absolutely none at all. Regardless of what you do, a few things will always have a stereotypical or well-known background. What I try to do with a lot of those things is to look at what the stereotypes are, and then to alter them in some way.
My suggestion for ideas about this is to take part in as many of the threads around here as you can, including as many of the subforums as you can too. We debate all of the ideas surrounding different topics about the fantasy genre, history, and how the two relate, and we discuss opinions on different aspects of the things that people usually wouldn't think of analysing.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:51 pm
Thanks for explaining Mel, I wasn't sure about that so that's why I said what I said. sweatdrop But you know, I never noticed that Sephirot was left handed. Not at all! rolleyes It's too bad I'm not left handed cuz I might have more aptitude for certain things, he-he. mrgreen Hey Totario! You should listen to what Mel is saying cuz she has a lot of good ideas and she did make great points there. I, for one, have a female character that is kinda like Hermione and Harry Potter combined. She definitely doesn't have the potential to become the best sorceress in her land but, she can be good at least. Why is this? Well, it's cuz her father is a thief instead of a wizard so, her talent was dimmed down somehow. I suppose she could be labeled as a munt blood or alike. I find that, when trying to come up with an original character, I try to give them abilities, items or other things that can make them unique. For example, to make sure that a character can be the best he can be, you could try and make sure that they are born with a special characteristic like, having super-human strength or whatever. That's just an example mind you... wink
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