(Theme: “You're the best around" By: Joe Esposito)
Quote: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” –Albert Einstein
Advice on Character Creation:
1. Believable History.
[Putting an unbelievable history is as bad as no history. Keep in mind your age, skill level and likelihood of things happening. For example when you were four years old you did not slay a legendary dragon with your bare hands. It takes time to learn skills and to gain strength. So make sure it makes sense.]
2. Limited Special Abilities.
[People have natural talents, learned talents and hidden talents, but don’t go overboard making your characters full of all these special abilities. Your character is not any more special for having them. In fact someone with no powers at all can be even better, an example is Batman. He has no powers, but has intellect, money and trained for years to be as good as he is. Question yourself on the goal for having all these powers. Is it so you cannot get hurt? Then that’s the wrong reason, but is it to bring something unique or carry down a one of a kind gift? Now we’re talking!]
3. Balance.
[Strengths are nice, but what are your weaknesses? Keep in mind everyone has a weakness. You can make it several small ones, one huge one, but a weakness is a must. With that in mind; character flaws and virtues. Perfect characters are no fun to roleplay with, they learn nothing and can’t change because they are perfect.]
4. Concerning relating characters.
[You can have your own characters be related, but you cannot have them be related to another person’s character without the express permission of the creator of that character.]
5. Character Classifications.
[Angels are good guys, demons are bad guys. If an angel becomes a bad guy then the new title is ‘fallen angel’. Demon becomes a good guy he's no longer called a demon he is something else (New name options; perhaps something like redeemed or restored angel.) Half breeds on the other hand can be good or evil. No crossbreeding Angels and Demons.]
[Putting an unbelievable history is as bad as no history. Keep in mind your age, skill level and likelihood of things happening. For example when you were four years old you did not slay a legendary dragon with your bare hands. It takes time to learn skills and to gain strength. So make sure it makes sense.]
2. Limited Special Abilities.
[People have natural talents, learned talents and hidden talents, but don’t go overboard making your characters full of all these special abilities. Your character is not any more special for having them. In fact someone with no powers at all can be even better, an example is Batman. He has no powers, but has intellect, money and trained for years to be as good as he is. Question yourself on the goal for having all these powers. Is it so you cannot get hurt? Then that’s the wrong reason, but is it to bring something unique or carry down a one of a kind gift? Now we’re talking!]
3. Balance.
[Strengths are nice, but what are your weaknesses? Keep in mind everyone has a weakness. You can make it several small ones, one huge one, but a weakness is a must. With that in mind; character flaws and virtues. Perfect characters are no fun to roleplay with, they learn nothing and can’t change because they are perfect.]
4. Concerning relating characters.
[You can have your own characters be related, but you cannot have them be related to another person’s character without the express permission of the creator of that character.]
5. Character Classifications.
[Angels are good guys, demons are bad guys. If an angel becomes a bad guy then the new title is ‘fallen angel’. Demon becomes a good guy he's no longer called a demon he is something else (New name options; perhaps something like redeemed or restored angel.) Half breeds on the other hand can be good or evil. No crossbreeding Angels and Demons.]
Examples of how to write:
When writing, write in the third person.
I walk through the door. (No)
He/She walked through the door. (Yes)
Thoughts are to be written either in brackets or in italics
(I wonder if the store is still open)
or
I wonder if the store is still open.
(To do italics in Goodreads, use <i> at the start of the first word then end with </i> The same is true with bold.)
When you write for multiple characters separate their conversations and actions so it’s clear who's talking.
Jen glared at the boy. "I don't know who you think you are, but you better give me back my bracelet or I'll scream." She snarled through grit teeth.
John laughed. "And if I say no then we will both have to explain to them why you stole this bracelet from that noblewoman to begin with." He swung the bracelet in a circular motion around his index finger tauntingly.
A sudden sound made the pair duck into the shadows of the alley and wait for it's source to pass.
Look out for repeated or bland words. Spice the story up with variety, tantalize the senses with thoughts emotions and feelings. (By reading below can you see how B is better than A?)
Example 1:
(A) The girl looked up and walked to the door. She then looked behind her and shut the door.
(B) Susan craned her neck toward the second floor where the door stood. How good a shower will feel... With weary legs she climbed the staircase. She gripped the cold doorknob and with a quick glance back she slid inside and locked the door. I'll be in and out before anyone gets home.
Example 2:
(A) He drew his gun and pointed it at the mugger. Now they both had guns out.
The mugger growled as he shook the gun. "I'll kill you brat."
The kid cocked his gun. "Really? Let’s see who kills who." He leveled the gun at the crook.
(B) He drew his firearm from his shoulder holster and spun to meet the mugger. He bounced his eyebrows playfully. "So you have a gun, and now, so do I." A sly smirk crossed his lips.
The mugger growled as the glock shook violently in his hands. "I'll kill you brat." His vision blurred. Why did it have to be some armed punk. I just need enough money to get my meds.
The kid cocked his revolver. "Really? Let’s see who kills who." He leveled the weapon at the crook. What's wrong with this guy? He strung out or something? He's shaking like a leaf. He swallowed that coppery taste of blood. His girlfriend wouldn't let him hear the end of it, getting his nose busted before their date.
I walk through the door. (No)
He/She walked through the door. (Yes)
Thoughts are to be written either in brackets or in italics
(I wonder if the store is still open)
or
I wonder if the store is still open.
(To do italics in Goodreads, use <i> at the start of the first word then end with </i> The same is true with bold.)
When you write for multiple characters separate their conversations and actions so it’s clear who's talking.
Jen glared at the boy. "I don't know who you think you are, but you better give me back my bracelet or I'll scream." She snarled through grit teeth.
John laughed. "And if I say no then we will both have to explain to them why you stole this bracelet from that noblewoman to begin with." He swung the bracelet in a circular motion around his index finger tauntingly.
A sudden sound made the pair duck into the shadows of the alley and wait for it's source to pass.
Look out for repeated or bland words. Spice the story up with variety, tantalize the senses with thoughts emotions and feelings. (By reading below can you see how B is better than A?)
Example 1:
(A) The girl looked up and walked to the door. She then looked behind her and shut the door.
(B) Susan craned her neck toward the second floor where the door stood. How good a shower will feel... With weary legs she climbed the staircase. She gripped the cold doorknob and with a quick glance back she slid inside and locked the door. I'll be in and out before anyone gets home.
Example 2:
(A) He drew his gun and pointed it at the mugger. Now they both had guns out.
The mugger growled as he shook the gun. "I'll kill you brat."
The kid cocked his gun. "Really? Let’s see who kills who." He leveled the gun at the crook.
(B) He drew his firearm from his shoulder holster and spun to meet the mugger. He bounced his eyebrows playfully. "So you have a gun, and now, so do I." A sly smirk crossed his lips.
The mugger growled as the glock shook violently in his hands. "I'll kill you brat." His vision blurred. Why did it have to be some armed punk. I just need enough money to get my meds.
The kid cocked his revolver. "Really? Let’s see who kills who." He leveled the weapon at the crook. What's wrong with this guy? He strung out or something? He's shaking like a leaf. He swallowed that coppery taste of blood. His girlfriend wouldn't let him hear the end of it, getting his nose busted before their date.
