forum Characters
Started by randyll
tune

people_alt 55 followers

randyll

I'm new to this… I am developing characters and a story but I feel like they aren't good enough

Deleted user

What doesn't feel good enough then? What things do you wanna improve on?

@I-make-stuff

Real talk. The first draft of anything will probably not be amazing, but having something is infinitely better than nothing. Even if having something means pulling ideas out of your brain through your nose (this is a thing that was done when people were being mummified), having something terrible is a block that you could refine and sculpt into a great story. Just get something first, then you can change things and improve it later.
If you want some resources, I highly suggest watching OSP (Overly Sarcastic Production)'s Trope Talks and Terrible Writing Advice. Also, Jenna Moreci's channel. Keep in mind that tropes and writing conventions are tools, and are not necessarily bad. And even if your writing is a little cliché at first, who cares. It's fine, you'll get better as you continue to practice and hone your skills.
If you have anything you want to share, I really would love to help you.

@GoblinKing

I'm with Nina on this one. Your first characters are mostly likely gonna suck when you first build them. Think of them as people. Not characters. They don't need to be children's-book flat archetypes (unless that's what you're going for?), but three dimensional people with their own lives and personality. Personally, when I build by characters, I get really in depth with what shapes them as people, but you don't have to! Just get something down, get that pencil and eraser, and get to work. If you can get a visual of them, that usually helps a whole lot too.

@I-make-stuff

@GoblinKing Yeah, that's great advice! A lot of people take cardboard cutout archetypes and make characters out of them, and then other people copy each other's character cutouts, and that's how we end up with bland princesses who are also blonde damsels in distress who have about as much character as a fancy vase. Taking inspiration from real life people, whether it be yourself or people you know or have been exposed to, can really help make a character feel more real, to both you and your audience.
Also, be kind to yourself. It's easy to beat yourself up about things you don't think are good, but it's more productive to actively try and improve them and get critiques and feedback rather than beating yourself up about something 'bad' you made. This is something I have a problem with sometimes, and pretty much everyone experiences it. Learn to tame your inner critic and use it to your advantage rather than allowing it to beat you over the head with self-deprecation.

Deleted user

Watch Terrible writing advice on youtube. DO IT!!! It's very sarcastic haha