I design my characters in Soul Calibur 4

[ZeroFlowne]

SC4 has an excellent character creation system. You can mix and match from armor, robes, skirts, gloves, and tons of other things. It's very helpful when you want to come up with what a character looks like visually.

I'm probably going to create my worldmaps in RPG Maker. It allows you to build a map out of tiles (I can't draw).

So - what are some things that you do as a writer that others might consider wierd?

[Sarpedon]

I created nolle plans for the city where the action of one of my (probably defunct) stories takes place at various times in its history. 6 total, from stone age to the dawn of the renaissance.

I did it with tracing paper and marker.

[ChaosTitan]

I cast my characters before I start writing a new novel. I need to have that visual focus for them, so I find actors/models who fit the idea I have of those characters.

[IdiotsRUs]

I search through my colection of photos ( signed celebs and otherwise) and find someone who looks like my characters so I can 'see' them. My MC is actually my local pub landlord's daughter.

that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

[Liosse de Velishaf]

I sometimes rough out my maps in the Civ3 map generator... it's really hard to make them print properly though... I'm sure there's plenty of other wierd stuff I do, but can't think of it off the top of my head...

[Oddsocks]

I don't use any programs - I do it all by hand - but in addition to maps, which are fairly typical for fantasy, I often do concept art. Any creatures, places or scenes that take my artistic fancy get sketched. Not for actually going in a finished book; just for future reference and because I want to. I also tend to map things that are never going to end up in a book. The map of a continent or country - fine. The map of the interior of a multi-level fortress, including rooms the characters will never go to, and details of how the various defence mechanisms work - that's just because I have to know.

[Darzian]

I'm somewhat unusual. When reading, I don't focus on the external appearance of characters very much, for some reason. For that reason, I don't worry too much about them in my writing either. However, since some people are really interested in character appearance, I do put in the needed descriptions etc.... but have never used any programs or anything else for it. Maybe I should give it a try. ;)

[Cherry Bear]

I always look for good doll generators or even places that have tons of pictures of models/actors/random-good-looking-people but I can never seem to find really good places. Ideally I'd like one that allowed me to specify eye/hair color when searching, but so far I'm reaching for the stars with that. Anyone have any good recommendations?

Lately I've been basing some of my characters after real people, though, which isn't too bad. It's nice because if you see those people a lot you can note their facial expressions and it really helps to provide a visual when you're writing those facial expressions.

[redpbass]

For stuff on maps like islands or other irregular features, I often look at the patterns water makes as it dries on a rough floor, or the patterns suds make in soapy water when it gets 'used up' I guess you could say.

Other than that, I often recreate my characters in the PC game Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and play with them for a while. It helps me get a feel for what the character would do.

And one more thing that has gotten me strange looks is the way I sometimes get my story ideas. I'll randomly think of a name or sketch out some random character, then give them a description, a background, and a story that grows out of that. I'd say a good 2/3rds of my story ideas developed this way.

[Shadow_Ferret]

I just start writing and create the characters and world on the fly.

[Sarpedon]

You guys who use video games to design characters should post some screenshots.

:D

[Phaeal]

I draw maps by hand now. When I get a good graphics program for my new Dell, I'll draw them on the computer.

As for characters, I also like to cast the movie sure to follow the book. ;) I always seem to cast Jason Isaacs, Viggo Mortensen, Alan Rickman and frequently Kate Winslet and Katee Sackoff. I'm currently looking for fifteen year old male and female ingenues -- send pics, stage moms!

I play Diablo II, which isn't good for designing fic characters -- the toons are too small on screen to show much detail. I imagine Guild Wars would be a lot better. However, since I'm doing urban fantasy right now, Second Life might work best.

Oh, my teen female character did design her personal avatar on Yahoo chat -- I'm using it as mine at the moment. It shows a chipper blond, in riding habit and safari hat, standing on Easter Island.

[IdiotsRUs]

I always seem to have Johnny Depp, Karl Urban and Kurt Russell....Christian Bale is making an appearance in my Nano project.

I've just started playing Warhammer online and I was sooo pissed I couldn't get my bright wizard to look like my mage! Did get the name though :)

[sunna]

I always seem to have Johnny Depp, Karl Urban and Kurt Russell....Christian Bale is making an appearance in my Nano project.

Mmn. Sounds like my kind of book. :)


I use AutoREALM to map if that's a necessary part (thus far it has been), and then, if I feel I need to see my characters, lately I've been using this nifty little free face-create program that's become a lovely procrastination tool. I used to sketch, but this is so much more fun.

[Phoebe H]

I'm somewhat unusual. When reading, I don't focus on the external appearance of characters very much, for some reason. For that reason, I don't worry too much about them in my writing either.

One day I finally realized that I am just not a visual person. I only think in terms of sound -- I don't even get pictures in my dreams. I tend to be very perfunctory with my character descriptions, and in most cases only give the one or two most notable features, which is about all I tend to remember about anyone anyway.

On the other hand, I do great dialogue.

On the original topic, I'll run quicky GURPS character creation on a lot of my characters. Mostly to see if any skills or disads jump out at me.

[OremLK]

I'm somewhat unusual. When reading, I don't focus on the external appearance of characters very much, for some reason. For that reason, I don't worry too much about them in my writing either. However, since some people are really interested in character appearance, I do put in the needed descriptions etc.... but have never used any programs or anything else for it. Maybe I should give it a try. ;)

I'm exactly the same way. I don't like excessively describing characters and I don't need authors to do it for me, either. In fact, I usually end up forgetting any character description the author provides and supplying my own, unintentionally. Sometimes characters end up with different hair color in my mind's eye than the author gave them in the text!

The one time I focus in on physical description, while writing or reading another author's book, is when it has an important effect on the character. If a guy is missing an arm, that's a big deal to him, and affects how people perceive him as well. You can judge a lot by what kind of shape somebody is in. A person's level of attractiveness affects first impressions.

What I find not to matter is the color of someone's hair or eyes, the cut of their clothes, or the lines of their face (unless unusual in a character-revealing way). Those are Meaningless Details. I won't throw aside your novel for revealing them, but I might kind of chuckle when I encounter them. Her piercing blue eyes. . .

[zornhau]

So - what are some things that you do as a writer that others might consider wierd?

I choreograph my fights using German Longsword. Parts of the outline read:
Lionel: Zornhau! X Ranulph: Krumphau + Thrust
Lionel: Set Aside X Ranulph: Take Off!
Oh, and I use MS Word for outlining.

[Lccorp2]

Unfortunately, draconic humanoids are in short supply for varied in-game models, so I don't really try.

[Nivarion]

well my problem isn't picturing my characters, i do that in my head with stunning accuracy. for those of you who mentioned their lack of interest in every detail, i only include what is important. (height scars deformities.)

what i need is something i can draw a map with since i cant seem to do it by hand