Well, lets see. I'm a writer as you all probably know since I'm here. I usually wrote only fanfiction but I've started to create my own characters. This however, is really hard. Anyone got some advice for me? And I hope you'll all like my stories. For my fanfictions, go to fanfiction.net. My pen name is fullmetal'sgirl92!!!!!!
If you need some help figuring out how YWS works or have any questions, feel free to PM me or anyone else in green. Though, better yet, why not take a look at the buddy system?
I'm not really sure what I could say to help you out, though I know a really good book you might consider getting. It's Writing Fiction by the Gotham Writers' Workshop. It's an amazing book, and it was one of the first books I read when I was crawling into writing and had no clue how to do anything. It was my guide book, and I've suggested it to everyone who I think it could help. Buy it, if you can, or see if your library has it. It'll help a lot.
Otherwise, just read! Reading is one of the best ways to improve your writing, if that makes any sense.
Best of luck, and enjoy the site!
“It's necessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live.” ― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Hey Rose, welcome to YWS. Call my Lupe, Layleun, LayleunRisen, whatever floats your boat. Well, usually good design and a set weight limit floats boats but still ^^ You can contact me or any of our Mod Squad to help you out with getting started.
Fanfic, eh? I used to go on there before I came here. But, I am a writer who likes to make up her own stuff, sadly fanfiction doesn't like those kind of writers.
I love creating characters. I have the opposite problem, I love making new characters so much, I have a hard time finishing old stories before I move on to new ones.
I started seriously writing about 4 years ago. The first characters I created were essentially close variation of myself. I'm very self-aware so this came naturally. If you're not so self-aware, what I did is probably not such a good idea. It was fun, though. I got to drop "my self" into all different kinds of scenarios. I have never gone to other planets, sailed on a cruise boat, or been a bodyguard, but writing allowed me to experience these things vicariously.
If you have a hard time identifying distinguishing characteristics about yourself or you just don't want to write about yourself, then you can incorporate people you know into the story. They don't have to have the same name or anything, but it's a lot of fun for a character pop up in the story who's just like someone you know.
For brand new, unique characters, the best thing I have found for me is to -first pick a gender-boy or a girl- and then start thinking about things that could make this person special and different.
I usually make a list of traits/characteristics. This is just the brainstorming stage.
So suppose the character's name is Aubrey Dawkins. I'd have my scratch pad look like this.
Aubrey Dawkins, Age 17.
Brunette, shorter hair.
Emo.
Likes Punk Rock like My Chemical Romance and Green Day.
Has a New york Accent.
Doesn't like jocks.
Likes Hardcore guys.
Lonely.
Likes to write poetry.
Plays the guitar.
Her parents gave her a Mazda Miata for her birthday.
Her dad is a powerful politician.
Her mother teaches in a University.
Now already you can tell some things about this character, Aubrey. One could guess that with her mother having a full-time job and her father being a politician, she's a little neglected. She's emo so she's probably a little on the dark side- pessimistic. She drives a Miata so she's spoiled. She's looking for friends because she's lonely. She doesn't like jocks so she's not a sports freak.
This much information about a character is usually enough to get me going on a story, if I have an idea about the plot. I don't plan out every little detail about her, though, I let the story write itself. i.e. Aubrey is presented with a situation and because of the person who she is, she's only going to respond a certain way. Her character is also free to develop as the story progresses. For example, she could find out she's adopted and try to find out who her real parents are. The direction of the story is your choice, how it happens is up to the characters.
hello,
im Mike so feel free to call me Mike =)
im new to the site and stuff so i thought id say hello
polite =)
ive been writing for a few years now, it started with poetry and more recently ive started various writing projects for telelvision
give us a shout if you want to have a natter about writing or any old riff raff to be honest
Like Scottie, I sometimes do a quick profile to get me started. I find that storybooks are really great practice, especailly RPGs (Role Play Games) where everyone has their own character, and this has really helped me. There's also a brilliant book called "What Would Your Character Do?" which helps you get inside the mind of your characters once you have your profile and a vague idea about them.
Hope this helps.
Jasmine
"Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." -Maya Angelou
Hello BloodRedRose! Welcome to Young Writers Society!!! I might check them out sometime. I have been doing mostly flash fictions. I don't do fan fictions often. I hope you enjoy Young Writers Society to the fullest extent possible!
Hope to see you around!
Firearris
[Griffinkeeper] 10:45 pm: The guard appears "We have weasels now!" [Firearris] 10:45 pm: askes the guard for the weasel! [Griffinkeeper] 10:45 pm: The guard gives Firearris the Weasel. [Firearris] 10:46 pm: aquires the weasel and renames it "Cat" Take that, Lumi.
