Post by Erinn on Apr 11, 2011 16:14:23 GMT -5
Hey everyone, this is just going to be a little guide of advice for making the best freaking character profile you can. Character Profiles are the first clue Admins and other members get about your writing so you want to put forth the best impression.
This is a long post but I promise it is worth it.
I'll be making some references to my character Gwenifer Harlow. I am by no means a perfect writer/character builder, she's just the most fleshed out character I have.
1) Have some sort of idea of what your character is going to be like before making a profile
This is important because its really not fun just staring at your computer screen trying to come up with information. It's always best to have something to go off of. It doesn't have to be a whole history, anything is better then trying to force yourself to create a character.
2) Fill in as many of the sections as possible
(And fill them out thoroughly. One word answers really aren't cutting it)
Those slots were put in to help you develop and flesh out your character. Obviously no outline is one size fits all, but if you chose to not fill out a certain section, add your own. There's no reason to skimp out on information.
The Pros/Cons are really just Strengths/weaknesses so it is really important for a good character that you fill them out.
3) Add, add, add and add even more
Otherwise known as; details, details, details. The more details you provide, the easier it will be to get a successful RP going. Details help you better understand the character and help whoever you're RPing with come up with ideas. Obviously, no one can know the character as well as you do but that's no reason to put the bare minimum in a profile. Everyone is at an advantage when you add details. Think about their past jobs, what their beliefs are, who raised them, what type of schooling they had and other things like that.
If you want to add a section for your characters favorite song/quote because you feel it is an important detail then go ahead!
4) Be open to changing details as you write
Nothing ever really turns out exactly how we first planned it. If you're struck with an idea for a character who has AIDS and your first thought is that they got it from a pervy uncle, its completely okay to change that halfway through when you realize that they got it from a mental institution.
This is why starting with the physical description isn't always the best idea, because we tend to relate certain character traits to specific physical traits and once we have the mental image in our minds, we tend to be reluctant to change it.
5) Give your character a problem, a dramatic need, a compulsion, or some other type of drive
This will give your character some depth. Sure specific needs and wants can vary slightly depending on what RP you're doing but at the core, your character should be looking for something. My character Gwen desperately wants some peace before her body gives in to AIDS. That's what drives her in every RP I've done with her.
6) Make your character in some way relatable, AKA: FLAWS
Make them human. Flaws are what make us unique, what make us relatable, what help us tell our stories. A flawed character is a great one. A nervous habit like always whistling is an okay thing to include in a character, but that doesn't add much to the 'human' aspect. Don't mistake a few nervous tics and a confident strut for characterization.
Give your characters realistic fears, dislikes, questionable actions, self-doubts, problems in their personal lives, just don't make it obnoxious. Giving your character all the problems in the world is just as bad as giving them no problems.
Don't rely on the 'tragic past' to carry your character. It's really east to fall into the cliche when doing the tragic past. Pervy Uncle< inaccurately placed in mental institution.
7) Don't just include a picture under the appearance section
This goes back to add, add, add. While the picture you found may be perfect in your mind, it never hurts to add more details. Go into further detail about what type of clothes your character usually wears, their body type, what they do with their hair, how tall are they, do they have any scars/birthmarks/tattoos, how do they usually hold themselves etc.
(And if you're going to include a picture please, please, please edit it for size purposes. There's nothing more annoying then scrolling through the Create A Character board and having the page stretched out because of a picture.)
8) Be realistic
This goes with the adding flaws part but I feel the need to say it again. Yes this is a forum that includes supernatural beings and yes those beings often have super/magical abilities but that is no excuse to go overboard. Your character can't be the best at everything. Make the abilities fit the background.
Example: In the RPs taking place in modern times Gwen was institutionalized at the age of six and didn't get out until she was around eighteen. Children learn to use knives and cut their own meat around the age of 7/8ish. It would make no sense for me to make Gwen a super amazing knife thrower now that she's out on the streets when realistically she should have trouble using a knife to cut her pancakes (which she does, she prefers to just rip them to pieces)
When you write, you can only write those things you know
Other
-SPELL CHECK! Incorrect spelling is often a sign that someone has rushed through a profile without much thought at all. It's annoying for the Staff you have to go through and correct spelling/spacing etc. There is a spell check button, please use it!
-BOLDING and SPACING- Wanna make the Admins supermegahappy? Bold the section titles before submitting your profile. Simply just place [ b ] and [ / b ] (without the spaces) about the word and you have bolding. There is nothing more brain numbingly dull then going through and bolding every character profile.
Also, did you notice the double spacing on the original character post? Please do that too, it makes your profile look all neat and such.
-NOT FINISHED? If you submit an unfinished character profile that is absolutely fine, just please write somewhere on there 'NOT FINISHED/ NOT DONE/ DO NOT SUBMIT' or some other variation so that I know. I tend to leave submitted profiles where they are for a few hours when it looks to me that an author isn't really done. Sometimes they are and sometimes the aren't, I just like to give them the chance of adding. Telling me that you aren't finished saves me the trouble of worrying if I should accept it or not.
If you write that you aren't finished I know to go back later and check your progress. Once you are done simply remove the little warning and I will look over the finished profile.
Should you wish to add to an accepted character you have to PM a staff member and tell them what you want added/changed. Commenting on the profile is not considered to be the right way of handling this because it clogs up the section. A staff member will be more then willing to modifying a profile for you, all you have to do is ask.
-JUST HAVE FUN!
There's no point in making a character that you find boring because chances are, they'll bore other people to. The point of this site is to have fun and making an interesting character is the first step.
I hope this has been of some sort of help and if you have any questions/ other advice, leave a reply.
Thanks and happy RPing,
~Erinn
This is a long post but I promise it is worth it.
I'll be making some references to my character Gwenifer Harlow. I am by no means a perfect writer/character builder, she's just the most fleshed out character I have.
1) Have some sort of idea of what your character is going to be like before making a profile
This is important because its really not fun just staring at your computer screen trying to come up with information. It's always best to have something to go off of. It doesn't have to be a whole history, anything is better then trying to force yourself to create a character.
2) Fill in as many of the sections as possible
(And fill them out thoroughly. One word answers really aren't cutting it)
Those slots were put in to help you develop and flesh out your character. Obviously no outline is one size fits all, but if you chose to not fill out a certain section, add your own. There's no reason to skimp out on information.
The Pros/Cons are really just Strengths/weaknesses so it is really important for a good character that you fill them out.
3) Add, add, add and add even more
Otherwise known as; details, details, details. The more details you provide, the easier it will be to get a successful RP going. Details help you better understand the character and help whoever you're RPing with come up with ideas. Obviously, no one can know the character as well as you do but that's no reason to put the bare minimum in a profile. Everyone is at an advantage when you add details. Think about their past jobs, what their beliefs are, who raised them, what type of schooling they had and other things like that.
If you want to add a section for your characters favorite song/quote because you feel it is an important detail then go ahead!
4) Be open to changing details as you write
Nothing ever really turns out exactly how we first planned it. If you're struck with an idea for a character who has AIDS and your first thought is that they got it from a pervy uncle, its completely okay to change that halfway through when you realize that they got it from a mental institution.
This is why starting with the physical description isn't always the best idea, because we tend to relate certain character traits to specific physical traits and once we have the mental image in our minds, we tend to be reluctant to change it.
5) Give your character a problem, a dramatic need, a compulsion, or some other type of drive
This will give your character some depth. Sure specific needs and wants can vary slightly depending on what RP you're doing but at the core, your character should be looking for something. My character Gwen desperately wants some peace before her body gives in to AIDS. That's what drives her in every RP I've done with her.
6) Make your character in some way relatable, AKA: FLAWS
Make them human. Flaws are what make us unique, what make us relatable, what help us tell our stories. A flawed character is a great one. A nervous habit like always whistling is an okay thing to include in a character, but that doesn't add much to the 'human' aspect. Don't mistake a few nervous tics and a confident strut for characterization.
Give your characters realistic fears, dislikes, questionable actions, self-doubts, problems in their personal lives, just don't make it obnoxious. Giving your character all the problems in the world is just as bad as giving them no problems.
Don't rely on the 'tragic past' to carry your character. It's really east to fall into the cliche when doing the tragic past. Pervy Uncle< inaccurately placed in mental institution.
7) Don't just include a picture under the appearance section
This goes back to add, add, add. While the picture you found may be perfect in your mind, it never hurts to add more details. Go into further detail about what type of clothes your character usually wears, their body type, what they do with their hair, how tall are they, do they have any scars/birthmarks/tattoos, how do they usually hold themselves etc.
(And if you're going to include a picture please, please, please edit it for size purposes. There's nothing more annoying then scrolling through the Create A Character board and having the page stretched out because of a picture.)
8) Be realistic
This goes with the adding flaws part but I feel the need to say it again. Yes this is a forum that includes supernatural beings and yes those beings often have super/magical abilities but that is no excuse to go overboard. Your character can't be the best at everything. Make the abilities fit the background.
Example: In the RPs taking place in modern times Gwen was institutionalized at the age of six and didn't get out until she was around eighteen. Children learn to use knives and cut their own meat around the age of 7/8ish. It would make no sense for me to make Gwen a super amazing knife thrower now that she's out on the streets when realistically she should have trouble using a knife to cut her pancakes (which she does, she prefers to just rip them to pieces)
When you write, you can only write those things you know
Other
-SPELL CHECK! Incorrect spelling is often a sign that someone has rushed through a profile without much thought at all. It's annoying for the Staff you have to go through and correct spelling/spacing etc. There is a spell check button, please use it!
-BOLDING and SPACING- Wanna make the Admins supermegahappy? Bold the section titles before submitting your profile. Simply just place [ b ] and [ / b ] (without the spaces) about the word and you have bolding. There is nothing more brain numbingly dull then going through and bolding every character profile.
Also, did you notice the double spacing on the original character post? Please do that too, it makes your profile look all neat and such.
-NOT FINISHED? If you submit an unfinished character profile that is absolutely fine, just please write somewhere on there 'NOT FINISHED/ NOT DONE/ DO NOT SUBMIT' or some other variation so that I know. I tend to leave submitted profiles where they are for a few hours when it looks to me that an author isn't really done. Sometimes they are and sometimes the aren't, I just like to give them the chance of adding. Telling me that you aren't finished saves me the trouble of worrying if I should accept it or not.
If you write that you aren't finished I know to go back later and check your progress. Once you are done simply remove the little warning and I will look over the finished profile.
Should you wish to add to an accepted character you have to PM a staff member and tell them what you want added/changed. Commenting on the profile is not considered to be the right way of handling this because it clogs up the section. A staff member will be more then willing to modifying a profile for you, all you have to do is ask.
-JUST HAVE FUN!
There's no point in making a character that you find boring because chances are, they'll bore other people to. The point of this site is to have fun and making an interesting character is the first step.
I hope this has been of some sort of help and if you have any questions/ other advice, leave a reply.
Thanks and happy RPing,
~Erinn