|
|
Post by whdean on Feb 18, 2014 21:21:04 GMT -5
I know you can find software that makes characters and generates connections between characters and so forth. But I like old fashioned ways of getting ideas. One of my favourites is the Characters by Theophrastus, one of Aristotle’s pupils. You can miss how brilliant and original (from our POV) some of this is if you don’t look at the specific qualities of each, which are the real sources of inspiration for advancing the plot. A lot of modern writers are good at quirky individuals. But they don’t really move the plot forward and it can feel contrived if you overdo it. The Greeks come in handy here because they had a knack for identifying interesting types of characters that don’t feel like stereotypes—almost, but not quite. That’s what makes the characters useful. Anyone else got a good source of characters? |
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Feb 18, 2014 22:39:00 GMT -5
My ass.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 18, 2014 22:43:54 GMT -5
My characters also come from vrab's ass. It's a capacious place.  |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 18, 2014 22:45:39 GMT -5
But seriously, so far I've let plot generate characters. I tried to create some ahead of time with Solatium, and it got me into a world of trouble. I think it's better for me to let them happen organically.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Feb 19, 2014 4:55:56 GMT -5
I love creating quirky characters. I try to make them useful in moving the plot forward. Sometimes they are used as the MC's confidant and in this way I can tell a back story in dialogue. Or a character can be instrumental in solving a mystery or be a villain.
|
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Feb 19, 2014 8:33:12 GMT -5
I'm actually afraid my characters aren't quirky enough. But I'm not gonna quirk them up, just to get quirk.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel on Feb 19, 2014 11:35:33 GMT -5
I agree that character development is a good source for plot ideas. I was amazed at how the ideas just started flowing when I started delving into the personality and history of my most significant characters. Personality and motivation inspire behavior, and behavior inspires plot (or at least subplot).
Like Becca, I add new characters as I need them. I start with a main character and a few major characters, but I insert minor characters as I run across the need for them. I don't do a "full workup" on the minor characters, but I do think through their passions and motivations before adding them to a scene.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 11:46:17 GMT -5
I'm actually afraid my characters aren't quirky enough. But I'm not gonna quirk them up, just to get quirk. Quirkiness can get annoying. I'm also not sure how realistic it is. IRL, I know some quirky people, but most of the people I know are ordinary. Not the same as each other, but not weird/strange/quirky, either. |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 11:49:16 GMT -5
I agree that character development is a good source for plot ideas. I was amazed at how the ideas just started flowing when I started delving into the personality and history of my most significant characters. Personality and motivation inspire behavior, and behavior inspires plot (or at least subplot). Like Becca, I add new characters as I need them. I start with a main character and a few major characters, but I insert minor characters as I run across the need for them. I don't do a "full workup" on the minor characters, but I do think through their passions and motivations before adding them to a scene. Yes, you're right. Once you have characters there, they generate plot. So plot generates characters, and characters generate plot. One thing I've noticed about the lengthier series I've read is that they introduce a new character or two per book. But the time you get four or five books in, the author has a big "stable" to call on. It makes things pretty rich -- lots of possibilities. Jim Butcher's Dresden series is a great example. |
|
|
|
Post by whdean on Feb 19, 2014 20:38:38 GMT -5
Fred. If quirky characters emerge from your ass, do you twerk them out?
|
|
|
|
Post by whdean on Feb 19, 2014 20:40:20 GMT -5
1. I like the ideal of human types as characters more than stock characters. There's more to them.
2. A person's imagination is only so big. Outside sources come in handy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 22:48:44 GMT -5
2. A person's imagination is only so big. Outside sources come in handy. Is vrab's ass more of an inside or an outside source? |
|
|
|
Post by Daniel on Feb 20, 2014 8:14:02 GMT -5
2. A person's imagination is only so big. Outside sources come in handy. Is vrab's ass more of an inside or an outside source? I'd say more of an "internal" source. That scene from Bruce Almighty comes to mind... Heh, heh. |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 20, 2014 12:44:57 GMT -5
Is vrab's ass more of an inside or an outside source? I'd say more of an "internal" source. That scene from Bruce Almighty comes to mind... Heh, heh.Wow, that was ... um ... yeah. Monkey butt. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2014 18:38:59 GMT -5
Sometimes characters just show up but if I'm just wanting a random challenge, my husband and I wrote a character generator years ago... it was originally intended to spit out easily rounded NPCs for D&D but I've started altering the purpose a bit. The original is fantasy themed but I've started working on an urban fantasy theme (reduces the number of races and boosts the list of qualities. Plus adding an occupation field.)
I have the most fun trying to find reasons for characters to have odd combinations of qualities, flaws and quirks.
Sent from my Lenovo B8000-F using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Apr 17, 2014 19:23:44 GMT -5
Sometimes characters just show up but if I'm just wanting a random challenge, my husband and I wrote a character generator years ago... it was originally intended to spit out easily rounded NPCs for D&D but I've started altering the purpose a bit. The original is fantasy themed but I've started working on an urban fantasy theme (reduces the number of races and boosts the list of qualities. Plus adding an occupation field.) I have the most fun trying to find reasons for characters to have odd combinations of qualities, flaws and quirks. That sounds like fun. Have you used any of the characters in your fiction? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2014 19:25:24 GMT -5
I always ask them, "Who are you? Where do you come from? What do you want?"
They always answer. Sometimes they even tell me part of the plot.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Apr 17, 2014 19:26:39 GMT -5
I always ask them, "Who are you? Where do you come from? What do you want?" They always answer. Sometimes they even tell me part of the plot. Humph. Mine flip me the bird and then just sit there, smiling cryptically. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2014 19:27:56 GMT -5
I always ask them, "Who are you? Where do you come from? What do you want?" They always answer. Sometimes they even tell me part of the plot. Humph. Mine flip me the bird and then just sit there, smiling cryptically. Ha, yes, did I forget to mention I torture and kill a lot of them? |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Apr 17, 2014 19:31:04 GMT -5
Humph. Mine flip me the bird and then just sit there, smiling cryptically. Ha, yes, did I forget to mention I torture and kill a lot of them? Heh, heh.  |
|
