Questions tagged [characters]
Real questions about imaginary people.
3
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3answers
43 views
How does one discovery-write court intrigue?
Intrigue (any kind, really, but royal courts were particularly known for it) is a series of setups that lead to a pay-off. For example, a handkerchief moved from one room to another, a word whispered, ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Introducing characters in a screenplay
in one of my scene I introduce "GUEST" at a party. Later, each guest is introduced by name. So if I capitalized GuESTS, do I have to capitalize their name later?
Thanks for the help.
-3
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0answers
47 views
How do I write a knight of Cerebus [closed]
Like a replacement villain to be a better threat to the protagonist
0
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4answers
85 views
If a main character is writing the story, can I change who writes the story in the next chapter?
I’m trying to write my first novel and I have come across an issue which I feel like it could change the whole story/flow. Originally it wouldn’t have mattered if I wrote in the third person but I ...
5
votes
5answers
692 views
It seems safer to make everyone white then to be accused of 'racism' if I I make any of my pre-written cultures a different race
I'm writing fantasy stories in different worlds which do not share any history with our own. I was thinking I wanted to move away from the classic 'all white cast' scenario in most games, by picking ...
-3
votes
1answer
72 views
How could a galactic plague motivate a villain to conquer an entire galaxy? [closed]
A few years before the start of my book series, a galactic plague of a disease called BigPox is going to spread through the galaxy and inflict mass casualties, in addition to setting many of the ...
0
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2answers
70 views
Ways to make money off trash? [closed]
Besides becoming a garbageman, selling dumpster finds and curb furniture on eBay/Craigslist, or selling metal to scrapyards, what are some ways to make under-the-table money off of trash?
Legally and ...
8
votes
7answers
317 views
How can show that my cold hearted character is coping with grief?
I have a little contradiction in my story that may well be fatal.
In my high sci-fi setting, one of my main characters is an android. Let's call him Bob. Bob is efficient, cold and straight-to-the-...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
Is it okay if my character has same name like a character from other book? [duplicate]
I'm writing a book on Wattpad, and I want to name my character Maeve. But the thing is that one user has character named Maeve, and that book is very popular. That "Maeve" is sweet, cute and all that ...
4
votes
3answers
255 views
Snowflake Method: Step 3 - What is important to a character story line?
I'm attempting to use the Snowflake method to try and get around issues I tend to have with writing. I can pump out words, tons of words; not a problem. But, at the end of the day it's a relatively ...
4
votes
3answers
823 views
How does a heroine who is always in trouble, not realize she is always in trouble?
A complicated anti-heroine?
I have a power-seeking guile heroine from tumultuous circumstances who always gets in over her head, and a reluctant hero who keeps saving her. It's a pattern. She (more ...
11
votes
6answers
2k views
How to make a character work for an idea?
One of the main rules for developing a good storyline is to make sure that the characters work for their achievements.
Perhaps before they can slay the dragon and rescue the princess the knight has ...
0
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2answers
67 views
Characters' motivation and feelings on defending against an alien invasion [closed]
I got really good answers to my last question, so I decided to post a new one:)
In my novel, a few humans suddenly find themselves tasked with defending humanity against an imminent alien invasion. ...
0
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2answers
58 views
a death row inmate's feelings and thoughts [closed]
Any thoughts on what a death row inmate feels or what his thoughts are? i find it hard to imagine it on my own:(
Thanks a lot:)
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Expressing shock a character feels - is the F word appropriate?
I have a character who has been under stress, both at home and at work. His business is struggling and he was negotiating a complex contract and had the complication of members of the families of the ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Do multiple potential love interests dilute tension and diminish drama? [closed]
My MC is focused on his profession; barely giving his personal life a thought. His last serious romantic relationship with a woman was when he was 22. Time for that later, he believes. Retire at 45 ...
15
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7answers
5k views
Promoting controversial opinions in a work of fiction
I'm writing a first person novel and main character has highly controversial views, many of which the majority of people would probably consider immoral. Would a character with controversial attitudes ...
56
votes
4answers
10k views
What kind of protagonist or writing style is Jack Sparrow?
I want to ask about a certain style on how to present a character. I know Jack Sparrow is from a movie (and I've only watched the movies too) but I want to integrate in my writing how he was presented ...
13
votes
7answers
3k views
How to write a convincing character with a opinion that differs from the author's?
So I wrote a short text recently in which the character has a very strong political opinion (anti-LGBTQ), which in addition is totally different to my own opinion. Now, I wanted to make the character ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
Interviewing a person for a character
So I'm building a character who works in a particular field of science and I found an e-mail for a scientist on the internet and emailed him. I described how I'm writing a sci-fi story and gave him ...
2
votes
3answers
70 views
How to write a corporate character that likes to toy around with his colleagues? [closed]
I want to write a male, corporate working, character who is always cheerful and smiling, no matter whatever the situation he is in. As a result, reading his thoughts or motives is almost impossible. ...
5
votes
4answers
111 views
How do I design characters for an open-ended series?
There is plenty of information on how to draft characters for a single story, or characters that follow an important arc throughout a (small) number of stories.
Are there any techniques for designing ...
5
votes
5answers
121 views
organising complex networks
I've decided to experiment with mystery novels and went for the type I most like: Miss Marple kind of tale.
I set the story in a small town (about 2000 people) and gave my main character family, ...
8
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3answers
723 views
What are some examples of an inciting incident that would force a character to go on a quest or adventure?
I've noticed that my novel is missing a really strong inciting incident and I can't think of anything strong enough to suffice. The only inciting incidents I'm familiar with seeing in nearly every ...
7
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2answers
167 views
How to give characters a unique voice
When writing dialogue all the characters sound the same. I'm not sure I even know what giving a character a voice means, but my dialogue sucks so any advice will be greatly appreciated.
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5answers
192 views
I kinda want to completely annihilate the hero - what would speak against it?
The hero in my story succeeds in destroying the villain, but not without paying a hefty prize. Not only will he die, he will stop existing and can't be brought back, at all. It's like he never existed ...
11
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7answers
721 views
Can dream reveals make good climaxes for a POV’s internal struggle?
Dream twists just spoil our senses of disbelief. I can see how that can be excetuted carelessly, but if done for the need of showing what the main character wants or fears most then maybe it would be ...
4
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5answers
134 views
Sensitivity with disorders/mental illnesses
The novel is overall very distressing and supposed to elicit emotion from the readers, it's practically dependent on it. A few of the characters in my novel will contain depressed and suicidal ...
1
vote
3answers
95 views
Does point of view matter drastically?
I've looked at a few other questions and answers but nothing that I was really looking for. The point of view is a little confusing at the beginning (and probably) throughout the novel. It starts with ...
5
votes
5answers
258 views
How do you make two characters fall in love?
I'm writing a high school romance story. My story centers around two characters falling in love, but I can't find a way to make their romance seem real and believable.
Here is the backstory: The main ...
4
votes
6answers
237 views
I'm looking for advice on character development
I'm currently working on a team based story with a lot of characters and am looking for ways to really make their personalities stand out from one another.
When I'm writing out their character ...
8
votes
7answers
156 views
What should I do if I can't properly formulate the personality of one of my characters in my novel?
In my novel, my protagonist joins a team with four other characters to go on a quest. Each character in the team is supposed to contribute to the journey in someway and all are mentioned in a prophecy....
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8answers
421 views
Are chapters with a single character inherently more difficult for an average reader to connect with? (And do you have any tips.)
On the topic of keeping a reader engaged:
Dialog is a great way to balance out a scene of description and action. Dialog allows conflict, information, reveal of character, and so on and so on.
My ...
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4answers
3k views
How to Write an Eldritch Abomination?
My trilogy features an otherworldly monstrosity called Fenrisúlfr as it's primary antagonist, whose characterisation takes cues from Nyarlathotep, Sauron, Showa!King Ghidorah, Sutekh, Makuta Teridax ...
3
votes
3answers
154 views
In what order should I name characters?
I was wondering if there is a rule or advice in which order to name my characters.
For example, if I want to tell that Bob, John and Rob entered the room should I just name them in random order or ...
6
votes
9answers
292 views
Dropping subtle hints about a character's sexuality
I have a character who is assumed to be straight, but after a few months reveals herself to be bisexual.
I don't want her to just come out of nowhere and say that without any kind of hints first ...
7
votes
3answers
352 views
What would a FtM transman's, who was born in 1990, life be like? [closed]
I am writing a story with a trans character (female to male) set in the 1990's. My main character's parents are supportive from the beginning, but did transpeople have access to hormone injections and ...
8
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3answers
175 views
What, exactly, is a character study?
Critics and writers use the term "character study" a lot, usually to describe works that are especially 'literary' such as The Remains of the Day. Despite its usage, it appears that no one really has ...
3
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2answers
111 views
How to refer to a group having 3 men and 1 woman [closed]
I am rewriting a story that once had a group of 4 men. Throughout the story they were often referred to as the 4 men. Now the story is being updated to replace one of the male characters with a female....
7
votes
10answers
2k views
Character motivations facing death?
Would it be boring/unrealistic/silly/cliché if most characters only had this main motivation for most of a story: saving humanity/their country/their familly/themselves.
The setting is medieval ...
12
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10answers
5k views
Will it be disappointing for the reader to not know who the main character is until the end?
What I’m trying to say is the first four chapters are about four different people by themselves, then they’re together the rest of the book and all die except one, but that one is very important and ...
2
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1answer
1k views
What is this hairstyle called? [closed]
Now, here is the hairstyle in question:
The character in the image has nothing to do with the question itself. It simply was the closest depiction about the hairstyle that I found. At first I only ...
0
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4answers
179 views
How would I be mean to my character? [closed]
My book is about a boy who wants to run away from home, and while writing a plan to run away from home he discovers all the reasons that he should stay, his best friend, his lover, and he discovers ...
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3answers
189 views
How can I defeat a 'force of nature villain' without killing him? [closed]
In my story, I have found myself in somewhat of a pickle: Although the hero is more than powerful enough to defeat a villain (which is your typical 'Dark Lord’) I don't think my protagonist is ready ...
0
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2answers
134 views
MC’s emotional underpinning and grounding come from elder sister - her death would change him. Should she die? [closed]
MC is an assassin who was raised with and by his sister after the death of their parents. They were adopted by an uncle, who did his best though he was overwhelmed by the task so the two kids raised ...
0
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4answers
89 views
Would a research team of this size be too small or too big? [closed]
I'm working on a story that revolves around a research team in a remote setting. They would have supplies so they don't have to leave the area they have to research for about a year. So far, I am ...
2
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1answer
64 views
Should 'Oz' be in Quotation Marks if not Quoting Him? APA Format
I am mentioning "Oz" from the "Wizard of Oz" in my APA formatted paper. I'm not quoting him but just making a reference to his all knowingness. Do I put Oz in quotation marks or just leave it ...
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3answers
2k views
When can I kill my character? [closed]
When is it acceptable to kill a character? (and if possible, when is it most appropriate?)
BTW, I'm not talking just about a protagonist; I'm talking about any of my characters, whether they're MCs ...
9
votes
4answers
388 views
How can I make my anti-heroic protagonist more likable?
A while ago, I asked if there any possible way for my series to avoid causing Darkness Induced Audience Apathy. A well thought-out response stated that unless I give my readers a reason to care about ...
4
votes
2answers
162 views
Number of People on a Team [duplicate]
I want to build a team.
This team consists of people with diverse powers. Each of them has a different power, and some number of them are spies (one or more, I haven't decided), so they have a ...
