WDC Teen Forum

Okay, question one:
I usually freewrite to get to know my characters well. In my opinion, you can freewrite type as opposed to writing, as you can go much faster. It allowes my mind to run off into hidden corners and discover traits I would have never come up with if I just filled out a sheet.

Two:
Hmm, this is a hard one. I've gone many ways in naming my characters, from pouring over my piano recital sheets (it has the names of the people playing) to collecting lists to turning to a random page in a baby book. Names have to fit the personality of the character. Sometimes it takes a long time for me to stumble across the right one, and sometimes I remember it hear a name and I think, oh, that's perfect!

Three:
If by profile you mean filling out a sheet, then no and yes. It's like taking a test and putting in your answers. I freewrite to discover my character and some of his/her traits, than enter that information into a profile. There's this awesome app on my phone that gives you a bunch of things to fill in, and though I wouldn't recommend using the app instead of freewriting, it can be pretty helpful. Especially when trying to remember things about your character. (It also does scenes =D) it's called "A Novel Idea", by the way.

Four:
I don't often sketch my character unless I'm hit by sudden inspiration or have fallen in love with the character, but I'm not the best artist either, and that's part of the reason. I do think it would help a lot, but I can't just sit down a sketch all my characters for some reason.

Five:
Embarrassingly often, actually. Almost all of them (maybe all, actually) have at least a tinge of someone I've met before. I find it very difficult to shape a person if I don't have a few base expectations, like how they will react to somthing or at least their hair and skin colors.

Six:
Um...that would have to be Eoin. He was named that Irish name after his grandfather, but he spells it how it's pronounced. (Owen) he has blue eyes and darkish blond hair, usually put up in a funny little faux-hawk. He's a happy, energetic sort of person, though overreacting is to be expected sometimes due to his age. His backstory is pretty sad, actually. He has two older brothers and no younger siblings. The second oldest (J.L.) joined the military for a while, wanting to see if it was a path he'd go down. Apparently not, as he died in a training accident. Sure that's sad, you think. But not THAT sad. Yeah, right. Until you find out that they didn't tell Owen. J.L. Knew his younger brother would be worried sick, and didn't plan to tell him unless he da to be in some actual danger, or decide to join the military for good. And so his parents got the privilege of telling Owen, who thought his brother was save and sound, that he would never see J.L. again. After that, a wedge formed between Owen and his parents. As an eight year old then, and a ten year old now, he could forgive them relatively easy, but there was always a splinter. (Hope that was as brief as you wanted it, I can go on and on about my own characters )

Seven:
Let's see. I've sketched my favorites, (yes, I do it sometimes!) made little mii avatars of them, (you know, on the Wii gaming system) entertained myself with mini stories featuring them, entertained myself with mini stories featuring them and my favorite (already created by a favorite author or producer) characters, and drempt about them. Yes, you heard me. I'm the girl who has dreams about her characters.

Eight:
Freewrite, fill in a sheet. (Using that all I told you about) Over and over. That's almost always my set process.

Hope I helped!!

Auji

When it comes to books, the only thing necessary to apologize for is the lack thereof.
-unknown