alright, we'll start with the basics: making a character! characters are complicated to some- no, most people, but that just makes them better. complexities are everywhere in character creation. for example, my oc, fynn, has been one of my ocs since 2022. he's undergone giant renovations, but that's expected. you will want to have an outline of a character you want and continue to build from there. consider it a butterfly. it starts as a cocoon (a draft,) and grows into a beautiful, iconic butterfly (your beloved character)! if you can't find a rough outline/vibe you enjoy, i recommend taking inspiration from existing characters. (there are great sources at the end of the chapter.) you won't have a perfect character at the start or a few days in, but you need to stick to those complexities. don't pressure yourself, though! making an oc should feel empowering. an entire person, born from your thoughts. pivoting back to fynn! do you think he was always my favorite? no. i'm not ashamed of early fynn, just a bit disgusted. maybe a LITTLE ashamed. that's normal, though. you should see improvement between early ocs and present ocs. perfection isn't real. i'll repeat: PERFECTION ISN'T REAL. don't try to reach it, because it will just make you stressed. also, don't let anyone hate on your oc. it is a character born from your creativity. if you're proud of it, it's alright. "cringe" does not mean bad. this does not include healthy critique; sharing your oc is also EXTREMELY helpful. there's (most of the time) room for improvement.
sources for character inspo: life is strange (video game), it (movies 1 and 2 and book), warrior cats (book series,) and stranger things (show).
1: life is strange is great for character building and outlines. OUTSTANDING plot twists and characters. the characters have depth and are portrayed beautifully. definitely take inspiration from them.
2: it is so heartwarming but sad at the same time. it shows post traumatic growth a lot. two of the main characters pass away, but are with the others in spirit. the characters have flaws and qualities and that makes them realistic.
3: okay, this sounds weird, but hear me out. these cats have DEPTH. no one is flat. everything they do is for a reason. the mc and deuteragonists aren't mary sues. they make mistakes, but they aren't black or white.
4: stranger things has awesome character arcs.
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senses: a writing guide to angst, backstory, and lore!
Non-Fictionin this guide, i will teach you various writing skills from writing disabilities to designing a backstory! (taking requests)
