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Messages - SirThinks2Much

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Author Craft / Re: character sheets
« on: April 18, 2007, 08:57:05 AM »
There's a thing that's been going around the writers on LiveJournal, it's a fun little thing to do to get to know your characters better.

Pick five of your original characters, then have them respond to the following questions:

1. How old are you?
2. Height?
3. You got any bad habits?
4. You a virgin?
5. Who's your mate?
6. Have any kids?
7. Favorite food?
8. Favorite ice cream flavor?
9. Killed anyone?
10. Hate anyone?
11. Any secrets?
12. Love anyone?
13. TACOS?!
14. Ever slept in all day?
15. Favorite show?
16. Favorite movie?
17. Favorite band?
18. Eye color?
19. Skin?
20. Shoe size?
21. Fat, average, or slim?
22. Rain, sunshine?
23. Pool, beach?
24. Camping, stay home?
25. Dog, cat?
26. Believe in aliens?
27. Last time you went potty?
28. Natural born, or clone?
29. Teeth?
30. Car or ship?
31. Ever destroyed something out of blind rage?
32. Any unusual things about you?
33. How much food/drink do you need a day?
34. Favorite place?
35. This was a weird as hell and random thing, wasn't it?


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Author Craft / Re: How powerful should a protagonist be?
« on: December 25, 2006, 09:55:18 AM »
Quote from: Willowhugger on December 25, 2006, 07:14:21 AM

Well obviously something works about Superman because he's been 70 years at this point without missing a beat and will easily make it to 100.  I think the biggest problem with Superman is the "perception of power" with him.  Superman can't accomplish everything but everyone feels he can. 

Oftentimes, the perception of a lead's power is more important than his actual level of it.

A very good point. No matter how powerful a character is, if everyone just expects him to do everything, his limitations will become evident. Also, he'll cross the moral line of letting people decide their fate for themselves.

To quote Luthor from Superman: Red Son: "Why don't you just put the whole WORLD in a BOTTLE, Superman?"

In response to the OP, though, every protagonist should have a weakness that actually can hinder his/her performance. Take for example, Vampire Hunter D: he's got the goods, i.e. immortality, super strength/speed, some vampiric abilities--but is susceptible to sunlight and the darker side of his vampiric nature. Not to mention that everyone, human and vampire included, tend to hate his guts. (okay he kills all the bad guys anyway, he's kind of a bad example.  :P )

In any case, a character can have weaknesses aside from physical limitations. Psychological, emotional, and personality issues can affect a protagonist negatively.

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Author Craft / Re: One or many documents?
« on: December 19, 2006, 09:46:51 AM »
I break mine up into chapters (though after reading some of the comments I may reconsider to using just one document XD), but they're put in a folder reserved for that one story I'm working on.

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Author Craft / Re: Your Writer's Place
« on: December 19, 2006, 09:42:38 AM »
I have two "writer's spots."

One, the preferred one, is sitting on my bed, leaning against a heap of pillows, with my laptop where its name implies, happily tapping away.

The other one in whatever classroom is holding the most boring lecture out of my class schedule.

I'll be resorting to that second one in a few weeks, sadly.

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Author Craft / Re: Mr. Butcher's Techniques
« on: December 17, 2006, 08:17:17 AM »
Quote from: blgarver on December 15, 2006, 06:32:08 PM
Speaking of eating things to induce strange and awesome dreams...

Try making a batch of Pillsbury (or any other brand) Triple Chocolate Chunk brownies, but add in a full bag of peanut butter M&Ms.  One of the big bags.

I was a medic that night, in a future war against the army of the dead which was lead by Jack Skelington.  That's right, the Pumpkin King was waging war against a futuristic America. 

In a word...scrumptualescent.

Please write this. I'd buy it.

Also, I shall have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing.  ;)

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Author Craft / Re: Working against yourself
« on: November 29, 2006, 08:00:40 PM »
Quote from: neurovore on November 28, 2006, 05:43:36 PM
Quote from: SirThinks2Much on November 27, 2006, 08:59:08 AM
I have a problem with wanting everyone to be good inside, so a lot of my villains become good guys or at least not-so-bad.

Very few people are villains from their own viewpoint.

True. But I usually have them start off doing nasty dastardly things and then do nice things later on. Occasionally dying a martyr's death. Things like that. If I kill them off early they stay evil.

Perhaps they mellow with age...

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Author Craft / Re: Working against yourself
« on: November 27, 2006, 08:59:08 AM »
I have a problem with wanting everyone to be good inside, so a lot of my villains become good guys or at least not-so-bad. I'd like to think of it as "character development" but there are many ways a villain can develop...


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Author Craft / Re: How dark are you?
« on: November 24, 2006, 09:30:50 AM »
I kill a lot of characters but I always go for happy (or at least bittersweet) endings. Weird? Perhaps.

But do you mean dark as in content, or mood?

Content, I'd say I'm a shade darker than medium. I've come up with vampiric immortals, insane warlords, dysfunctional families, rape scenes, and the occasional Electra complex. On the other hand I like offbeat humor, innocent characters, and no random animal violence.

For mood or writing style, I have a hard time being dark. I have a hard time using "dark" prose in order to get something across as "dark". The imagery and content ought to speak for themselves, but that's how I work.

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Author Craft / Re: Hark! (Characters)
« on: November 24, 2006, 09:19:02 AM »
I kind of steal. Or rescue, if you prefer.

It usually comes out of watching a film or reading a book that pretty much sucks. They have a cool character or two but dumb things happen. And I think, "So-and-so would be much cooler if he did..." and come up with a whole bunch of things for said character. And come up with more things. Then lay the character aside for a while then come back and add more things. Then change the name, and voila, totally new character.

I don't do this with all my characters, though.

Other times I take stereotypes and turn them upside-down, usually in a fantasy setting. I have a short and stocky archer and a beautiful ogress as a couple of heroes, for example.

And then I'll do photocopying. I have a stock character. I throw him in whatever story I'm thinking up. Then as the story progresses, jazz him up to fit the story.

For minor characters though, I have no clue. Either I borrow traits off of people I know, or they just randomly pop up.

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