Hello Travelers!

I'm curious. How do you decide what your character should look like? Where do their personalities come from? Does it all just come to you as you write?

For me, it sorta just appears? Sometimes it's just hair color and then my mind spirals, but awhile back, I got stumped. I just couldn't decide. I made a big list of traits and looks, but I just couldn't pick. So... I grabbed some dice. I numbered things. I rolled for things. The results have been...interesting. I was having a lot of fun with it so I decided to start filming and posting the rolls on TikTok. Pretty silly, but why not you know? Some characters were for Welcome Traveler, but I decided to use most of them for a different set of series (Reduced-Rate Reflections and Adventures in the Bargain Bin). I only roll one character a month so that I don't get overwhelmed by all the projects that keep trying to drag themselves out of my head.

No! Bad ideas! Get back... okay fine go on the page, but you don't get written right now!

The Chaos Box holds them until it's time or I need a break from Welcome Traveler.

I'm about to set off writing up the next episodes for the next character! This one is...well...interesting.

I can show the list I use if there's interest! I use the same list, but mark off things that get used. I don't add anything until everything is marked off of the list. If something gets rolled that is already used (Sold Out), I have to do a reroll. If that results in another Sold Out item, I have to go to... the Return Desk. Which has its own set of rules... This character rolled the Return Desk for hair... I roll for that later this week. The videos are done with 1 or 2 rolls a day as I can manage. It's just for fun so I didn't want to do a whole lot. Just something low effort (mostly).

Another thing I do for fun/get a break from Welcome Traveler, is in-character interviews with an interviewer. It's called Tea Time. I only post those on my Patreon as they doesn't really fit here. Those have been fun to do!

I also have a series Thunder Hallows Chronicles, which is a tour of the village Thunder Hallows in Welcome Traveler. That's helped me envision the layout of the village and how the characters/villagers interact.

Anyone else do fun little projects like this that take time away from what you really should be working on? Today is one of those days for me...

I'd love to hear what everyone else does!
~DSH, lost in the Chaos Box drowning with stories and characters begging to be written. They all have name tags and are very loud except the one brooding in the dark corner. There's always one.

It literally just happens because I want them to feel alive. Though, sometimes part of their appearance is sometimes a reference to The Epic of Zektbach.

They start out in my head with an idea. Then I explore the aspects of their personality, thinking "How would they react to this?" "What are their morals?" 

Their background has to work with this, upbringing, and where they are at in life. I keep batting around the character in my head, comparing them to characters in movies or tv, and finally get a feel for them. 

To write a character driven book and make them come alive, you have to start with the characters. 

And this applies to sub-characters as well. If you don't put some thought into them, they are two-dimensional cardboard.

Appearance and personality are intertwined at first as a new character is born out of an amorphous fog. I don't always know their gender at first, and their name takes time to get right. I don't know much about them outside of their base traits, so when they're introduced in the story I'm kind of seeing them for the first time, too. As they evolve and find more to say, I sometimes go back to their earlier scenes and realize they don't really fit with who they are to me anymore, so, editing time.

It's actually been quite a few years now that I've had to make a brand new cast from scratch, which 90% of the characters from my upcoming 90's Kid side series were. Throwing them all together on a playground during recess as good a way as any to get to know them amid the chaos. Not much different than when I introduced some newbies after a 7 year time skip in Aurra in the midst of a war!

Arakun10809 Wrote: It literally just happens because I want them to feel alive. Though, sometimes part of their appearance is sometimes a reference to The Epic of Zektbach.

Normally, I think that's how it is. It's just... there and then I get to writing and find out about the characters along the way. Back in the writing classes I've taken, there was always the character profiles/character sheets. They never really helped. I could fill out some of it, but most of the time I filled it out after writing about the character for a while.

It's pretty organic. I sit down knowing I need a cast of characters and then by the time I'm rounding out backstory and adding flavor they're coming together.

As an example Brom from 'The Ballad of Brom Jones' has a ton of fantastic 'dad lore' that has largely been cut from the story except as one-liners every now and again. But the experiences he's had shape how he interacts with everyone and have, from time to time, actually been useful in hilarious ways.

Or when I decided that I needed at least one character in 'The Dark Lord Just Wants to Retire in Peace' that drove the comedy without just being comic relief all I could think of was 'what if I gave a goldfish a cosmic amount of luck and enough magical power to level a continent'. Now I have a siren who's relatively innocent compared to the rest of the villains but who cannot keep a thought in their brain for more than three seconds.

Discount Store Hero Wrote:

Arakun10809 Wrote: It literally just happens because I want them to feel alive. Though, sometimes part of their appearance is sometimes a reference to The Epic of Zektbach.

Normally, I think that's how it is. It's just... there and then I get to writing and find out about the characters along the way. Back in the writing classes I've taken, there was always the character profiles/character sheets. They never really helped. I could fill out some of it, but most of the time I filled it out after writing about the character for a while.

I have tried to use character sheets or notes in the past, but I honestly think they kind of made the characters less "alive". So, I just write as they go. Whatever happens, happens.

The Walrus King Wrote: They start out in my head with an idea. Then I explore the aspects of their personality, thinking "How would they react to this?" "What are their morals?" 

Their background has to work with this, upbringing, and where they are at in life. I keep batting around the character in my head, comparing them to characters in movies or tv, and finally get a feel for them. 

To write a character driven book and make them come alive, you have to start with the characters. 

And this applies to sub-characters as well. If you don't put some thought into them, they are two-dimensional cardboard.

I mean, that's how it kinda works for me too. I don't know if I really think about it so much. I like to describe it as the character revealing who they are to me rather than me deciding what/who they are. Sometimes the appearance comes first. other times its background or a personality trait or something. Of course, movies, tv, other books can inspire characters too.

For the rolls I do, it started with just needed an appearance and just kind of spiraled. I do put effort into the characters. The rolls are like... a start? Guidelines? It helps when stuck! Most of them aren't in Welcome Traveler. They're for my Fun break stories. It's also fun to come up with what can be on the list of rolls.

I don't think I posted an example, but here's one thing I roll for.

1. Rumblepuff Chicken Companion
2. Wields an unstable yarn gun
3. Followed by silent, judgmental receipts
4. Always smells faintly of burnt coupons
5. Attracts misprinted magical items (Current Character is getting this one)
6. Their shadow works a separate job
7. Can’t enter stores without setting off “magical theft” alarms
8. Everything they own has a clearance sticker on it

These are the... not-so-serious characters. Chaos Characters or as I call them, Clearance Aisle Characters.

Arakun10809 Wrote:

Discount Store Hero Wrote:

Arakun10809 Wrote: It literally just happens because I want them to feel alive. Though, sometimes part of their appearance is sometimes a reference to The Epic of Zektbach.

Normally, I think that's how it is. It's just... there and then I get to writing and find out about the characters along the way. Back in the writing classes I've taken, there was always the character profiles/character sheets. They never really helped. I could fill out some of it, but most of the time I filled it out after writing about the character for a while.

I have tried to use character sheets or notes in the past, but I honestly think they kind of made the characters less "alive". So, I just write as they go. Whatever happens, happens.

Yes! Exactly that! They don't just feel... alive. Like they're just a name on paper. I do keep character sheets for reference(mostly appearance), but honestly there's some things that i don't fill out at all.

So I did this thing where I got to cheat in Those Bound to Ruin by having the magic system be personality based. The gods you get powers from are tied to your personality and ideals.

That means I can write characters in both directions, starting with powers or with their character in general. 

But I usually go "What's fun for me to write?" and what's interesting. Designing looks is hard for me, and naming isn't my strong suit. But I can generally get a personality and archetype first, then build off of that.

It happens too fast for me to track, though ironically my current protagonist might've been the most "deliberate" creation instead of just a random person popping in my head.

She started out as an antagonist in another book – basically, I was wondering what sort of person would work as a foil for my MC… which instantly filled out most blanks. Then I asked myself how she'd become a person she was… and my brain filled out the blanks again. And given the personality and past, the appearance popped up all by itself too. 

All of this aside of her name (that needed 1-2 min research) happens in seconds, so kinda a pain to elaborate.

digiGekko Wrote: Appearance and personality are intertwined at first as a new character is born out of an amorphous fog. I don't always know their gender at first, and their name takes time to get right. I don't know much about them outside of their base traits, so when they're introduced in the story I'm kind of seeing them for the first time, too. As they evolve and find more to say, I sometimes go back to their earlier scenes and realize they don't really fit with who they are to me anymore, so, editing time.

It's actually been quite a few years now that I've had to make a brand new cast from scratch, which 90% of the characters from my upcoming 90's Kid side series were. Throwing them all together on a playground during recess as good a way as any to get to know them amid the chaos. Not much different than when I introduced some newbies after a 7 year time skip in Aurra in the midst of a war!

One thing I try not to do with appearance/personality is things like red hair = angry. Sometimes that's just how they end up though and how can you argue with them? Gender is sometimes the first thing that comes to me. However, the latest Adventures in the Bargain Bin refused to tell me if they even identified as any gender. They did eventually and I was a bit surprised, but it's also fitting I think. Personality I had envisioned something else than what they are now.

I've got a few characters who just don't want to be decided on right now. Luckily, they aren't in the story anytime soon so they can think about who they are for a little while!

Sliver Landlady Wrote: It's pretty organic. I sit down knowing I need a cast of characters and then by the time I'm rounding out backstory and adding flavor they're coming together.

As an example Brom from 'The Ballad of Brom Jones' has a ton of fantastic 'dad lore' that has largely been cut from the story except as one-liners every now and again. But the experiences he's had shape how he interacts with everyone and have, from time to time, actually been useful in hilarious ways.

Or when I decided that I needed at least one character in 'The Dark Lord Just Wants to Retire in Peace' that drove the comedy without just being comic relief all I could think of was 'what if I gave a goldfish a cosmic amount of luck and enough magical power to level a continent'. Now I have a siren who's relatively innocent compared to the rest of the villains but who cannot keep a thought in their brain for more than three seconds.

I have a character who I was afraid would just turn out to be just comic relief, but luckily, he revealed a lot more about himself in later chapters after his debut (Chapter 4). That character came alive at about 3AM and he did not have a name for a little while. It started with: What's a possibly unique companion Kai could have? And... that's when TBD was born. He's fantastic! Very dignified.

CobaltWolf Wrote: So I did this thing where I got to cheat in Those Bound to Ruin by having the magic system be personality based. The gods you get powers from are tied to your personality and ideals.

That means I can write characters in both directions, starting with powers or with their character in general. 

But I usually go "What's fun for me to write?" and what's interesting. Designing looks is hard for me, and naming isn't my strong suit. But I can generally get a personality and archetype first, then build off of that.

That's an interesting concept! Naming can be tough. That's where random name generators can help! I used to have several books of names hanging around, but they were put away when I moved a few years ago. No place to put the bookcases right now.

It's interesting how some people start with looks and others start with personality!

Discount Store Hero Wrote:

CobaltWolf Wrote: So I did this thing where I got to cheat in Those Bound to Ruin by having the magic system be personality based. The gods you get powers from are tied to your personality and ideals.

That means I can write characters in both directions, starting with powers or with their character in general. 

But I usually go "What's fun for me to write?" and what's interesting. Designing looks is hard for me, and naming isn't my strong suit. But I can generally get a personality and archetype first, then build off of that.

That's an interesting concept! Naming can be tough. That's where random name generators can help! I used to have several books of names hanging around, but they were put away when I moved a few years ago. No place to put the bookcases right now.

It's interesting how some people start with looks and others start with personality!

Oh I just pick names that are funny to me or just feel right. There's a character in the future who is named purely out of spite but I'm keeping it since it is very funny.

I don't know. There is no process. I just stare at the page, hallucinate, then write the first thing that comes to mind after torturing myself over what their name should be for half an hour minimum

ayebcee Wrote: It happens too fast for me to track, though ironically my current protagonist might've been the most "deliberate" creation instead of just a random person popping in my head.

She started out as an antagonist in another book – basically, I was wondering what sort of person would work as a foil for my MC… which instantly filled out most blanks. Then I asked myself how she'd become a person she was… and my brain filled out the blanks again. And given the personality and past, the appearance popped up all by itself too. 

All of this aside of her name (that needed 1-2 min research) happens in seconds, so kinda a pain to elaborate.

She decided she wanted her own story, huh? :D Welcome Traveler is actually a prequel to my original novel. I needed to know how and why the character had become the way he is. I just started writing and it felt like this is where it should start. Which changed the story drastically. Heck, even his appearance changed!

Artemy Mandus Wrote: I don't know. There is no process. I just stare at the page, hallucinate, then write the first thing that comes to mind after torturing myself over what their name should be for half an hour minimum

Hey, staring and hallucinating can be a process too! And while you're staring that little cursor just blinks at you... judging why you haven't figured it out yet... blink blink blink...

Discount Store Hero Wrote: She decided she wanted her own story, huh? :D

Eh, that was the only part where I exerted some authority as the author. Poor girl is second choice for the community magazine contest since the first one was even more of a weirdo and also a multi-disciplinary genius, so there was no chance I could do her justice from first person narration, and even if I somehow managed that, it'd be unreadable.

Discount Store Hero Wrote: Which changed the story drastically. Heck, even his appearance changed!

Lol, how did you retcon it? I had a tiny inconsistency about that I noticed too late… but thankfully nothing hair dye couldn't solve.

Discount Store Hero Wrote:

digiGekko Wrote: Appearance and personality are intertwined at first as a new character is born out of an amorphous fog. I don't always know their gender at first, and their name takes time to get right. I don't know much about them outside of their base traits, so when they're introduced in the story I'm kind of seeing them for the first time, too. As they evolve and find more to say, I sometimes go back to their earlier scenes and realize they don't really fit with who they are to me anymore, so, editing time.

It's actually been quite a few years now that I've had to make a brand new cast from scratch, which 90% of the characters from my upcoming 90's Kid side series were. Throwing them all together on a playground during recess as good a way as any to get to know them amid the chaos. Not much different than when I introduced some newbies after a 7 year time skip in Aurra in the midst of a war!

One thing I try not to do with appearance/personality is things like red hair = angry. Sometimes that's just how they end up though and how can you argue with them? Gender is sometimes the first thing that comes to me. However, the latest Adventures in the Bargain Bin refused to tell me if they even identified as any gender. They did eventually and I was a bit surprised, but it's also fitting I think. Personality I had envisioned something else than what they are now.

I've got a few characters who just don't want to be decided on right now. Luckily, they aren't in the story anytime soon so they can think about who they are for a little while!

I've got a few red-haired characters. They aren't angry, but I do tend to make them pretty self-assured and hot-shotty lol. Guess they got something to prove.