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McAnally's (The Community Pub) => Author Craft => Topic started by: eviladam on April 16, 2007, 06:52:50 AM

Title: character sheets
Post by: eviladam on April 16, 2007, 06:52:50 AM
I keep hearing about character sheeys, but I have no idea what they are. Is there a good online source for that sort of thing? At the moment having a broken ankle is giving me loads of time to get some reasearch and other things done, so this would be the time to get all "boring" stuff done. Especailly since the pain pills make my head a little too fuzy to actually write.
Title: Re: character sheets
Post by: Josh on April 16, 2007, 12:06:24 PM
Go to this link:

http://www.nanofimo.org/resources.html

The fifth section down lists Character sheets. All PDF files so you can slot in the info and print whatever you desire. Realize, filling these out is not necessary to writing a story, neither do you have to include all, or even most of the information you might list about a character just because it's there. Some people find the sheets helpful to flesh a character out in their mind and giving them a focus as to the person's motivation, attitude, etc.
Title: Re: character sheets
Post by: LizW65 on April 16, 2007, 02:14:27 PM
Help!  I wasn't able to find the resource you mentioned - just a lot of stuff on making Fimo jewelry.  I tried typing "character sheets" into their search and got the website for Target - bedsheets with Disney characters on them.
Title: Re: character sheets
Post by: the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh on April 16, 2007, 02:35:00 PM
The fifth section down lists Character sheets. All PDF files so you can slot in the info and print whatever you desire. Realize, filling these out is not necessary to writing a story, neither do you have to include all, or even most of the information you might list about a character just because it's there. Some people find the sheets helpful to flesh a character out in their mind and giving them a focus as to the person's motivation, attitude, etc.

Emphasis on the "some people".  Very few of my characters will ever tell me that sort of thing, I fiind it out bit by bit as I write scenes and put them through situations.  Secretive characters are a real pain, particularly if they are the second most important character in the book but won't tell you what their motivation or goal is for 80% of the dratted thing.
Title: Re: character sheets
Post by: Josh on April 16, 2007, 05:57:13 PM
LizW65:

Just click on that link and scroll down. There is a boxed section titled Character Sheets. You don't need to search or anything.
Title: Re: character sheets
Post by: LizW65 on April 16, 2007, 08:54:14 PM
Apparently the link wasn't working properly earlier today, since it took me to an AOL Fimo jewelry site.  Finally got the "write" site and bookmarked it.  thanks!
Title: Re: character sheets
Post by: SirThinks2Much 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?

Title: Re: character sheets
Post by: the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh on April 19, 2007, 02:55:17 PM
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.

This one kind of makes me giggle rather than being any use, though.

Quote
3. You got any bad habits?
4. You a virgin?

That's got two of them offended enough to walk away and one of them going into a rant about how weird gendered species are.

Quote
9. Killed anyone?
10. Hate anyone?
11. Any secrets?
12. Love anyone?

I have 80% agreement from the chosen five that the answers to all these questions are "Why do you want to know, and why on Earth should I tell you ?" 

Quote
18. Eye color?

The alien with no visual sense says "Don't be so bloody stupid."

Quote
26. Believe in aliens?

That alien is now lost for words at the stupidity of this quiz...