posted
I have an idea for a short story (won't tell you which genre yet because that might change things), and I'm looking for a character. I like character-building probably more than actually writing the story, but I thought it would be fun and challenging if you all gave me a character that I had to work into the story.
Let's create someone together--you can add physical, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual characteristics, as well as history, reputation, habits, hobbies, etc.
I'll start. Our character is male and heterosexual (he has to be for the story).
posted
He’s a lean man, with a build similar to that of a swimmer or runner, but he’s muscles are chiseled and defined. He’s nineteen years old with a green Mohawk, and he has cool grayish blue eyes. He’s not a heavy smoker, but it seems there’s never a cigarette far from his mouth. I don’t want to be greedy, and say what he does for a living, but his personality totally contrasts his appearance. You would think that he’s an uneducated slacker, but he’s actually quite responsible and articulate, always questioning things, and is rather introspective. Enjoys things of philosophical nature.
JOHN!
Hey, men, it was your idea.
[This message has been edited by JOHN (edited February 03, 2003).]
posted
An issue he currently struggles with is finding a spiritual path that suits his needs and beliefs - yet he isn't sure how to gracefully extricate himself from his family's belief system.
Posts: 70 | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
He's an "outie" and a strange scar on his stomach that he doesn't like to talk about (hence, he rarely goes around barechested). He has a celtic armband tattoo.
Posts: 306 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
He owns not one, not two, but three motorcycles, as well as an airplane (5 persone Cessna or Maule, because that's the limit of my airplane knowledge ) and other daredevil paraphrenalia. He's always down and thus always in search for a thrill, but never turns to drugs...except for the aforementioned cigarettes (possibly a trait he inherited from his father?) He likes bungee jumping more than anything else because he thinks it's the most dangerous. He can afford all this stuff from an inheritance from his grandfather (not much, a few million, three or four) or from a dot.com company. His father and grandfather have had a falling out for some reason, but that doesn't stop him from speaking to both of them. He doesn't try to play peacemaker, though. He knows better than that. The only thing his father and grandfather have in common is his green mohawk. It's too "untraditional."
Chris
PS--hey, this was fun!
[This message has been edited by cvgurau (edited February 04, 2003).]
posted
He has a long history of his romantic relationships turning sour for the most unusual reasons. Like the otherwise normal seeming girl that dumped him because one of his motorcycles had a purple paint decoration that clashed too much with his hair. When asked by friends why these things keep happening to him, his reply is to shrug and say, “I just seem to have that effect on women.”
Posts: 652 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Man, I've gotta see this story if/when it's compelted. We're really screwing Brinestone here, but I think he can manage and still pull a out a good one.
JOHN!
[This message has been edited by JOHN (edited February 04, 2003).]
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He spent a year working as a security guard for a north American company that imported chocolate from central America when he was 19. The two years after that were spent as a defacto mercenary for a paramilitary group opposing FARC. He quit and returned to the U.S. after a night raid on a weapons cache. He had recognized one of the bodies as that of a local woman he'd been "dating". He hasn't been abroad since, and he hasn't told anyone about it.
Posts: 8322 | Registered: Aug 1999
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His best friend joined an obscure religious cult. This fellow went to check out the desert commune but was repulsed by the haunted look in his friend's eyes.
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he changes something about his appearance or gets a new toy--the motorcycles, the plane--after every failed relationship or job (and occasionally after visiting his parents). you wouldn't know it by looking at him, but in high school he was defined as a prep, though that primarily had something to do with the influence of his parents and the dated uniforms of his private school. his friends secretly look forward to his next break-up to see what he'd do next.
when he was five he set fire to the shed behind his house.
TTFN & lol
Cosmi
[This message has been edited by Cosmi (edited February 05, 2003).]
posted
disclaimer: This doesn't mean this has to be the end or anything.
His name is Bernard Waldner, and he won't answer to any nicknames. Some people do call him Waldner, though.
This will be a sf story, set pretty far in the future, so I think I'll modify some of the things you guys have said, leaving the principles/ ideas intact. Ironically, Bernard seems to be made for the story I have in mind.
John said he's ninteen, but Survivor said he did something at that age, then something else two years later!
If he has three motorcycles (or jetcycles, antigrav cycles, or whatever) for ground transportation, then he must live in a warm climate. This warm climate may be in America's deep south, or perhaps the tropical region of Planet Stanislaus.
I say that Bernard is fluent in Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, and English. English is not his first language. His mother was Chinese. His parents met in Costa Rica, but his father was originally from North America, where Bernard still has many relatives.
posted
Why would it be ironic that "Bernard seems to be made for the story" you have in mind? I mean, that is why we were coming up with a character...or did I miss something.
Posts: 8322 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Oh--*laughs*--I meant that he is absolutely perfect for my story in many ways. Btw, on second thought, I'm changing his name to Russ. Bernard isn't working for me.
Posts: 814 | Registered: Nov 2000
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quote:Ironically, Bernard seems to be made for the story I have in mind.
This small miracle tends to happen alot, I find, and it's just marvellous. Some of the greatest characters I've ever dealt with have been made this way, by people with no idea what the story is going to be. They almost always come out wonderfully.
posted
Ah, well then. Give us a buzz when you need crits (I'm sure we're all dying to read about this poor messed up guy )
Posts: 8322 | Registered: Aug 1999
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