I feel the need to preface this with a statement: it is absolutely within the rights of all involved to write their character however they want. This thread is not meant to contain any sort of e-peen wagging or "I'm a better writer nya nya". This is intended as a tool for those who are interested in adding additional facets to their character, and nothing more.
This is a deceptively simply writing challenge that is useful for highlighting the prominent features of a character's personality while also accentuating any excessive reliance on superficial details and exposing any wild inconsistencies that may have gone unnoticed. After all, the core of a character is their character--that is to say, their traits, their personality, their beliefs and morality, how they react, and so on. Having a strong core is essential to making the other elements of your character compelling.Â
In other words, this exercise is about adding--or expanding upon--your character's level of depth and dimension.
Like the title says, describe your character as extensively as you can without referring to what they look like, what they do or did (both in combat and a profession), or where they came from. For a further challenge, do not refer to their reputation, their family or friends, or their historical background. Keep the focus solely on your character in the present day.
Essentially, pretend you have a friend, and that friend don't know anything about nothing about Final Fantasy, basic fantasy elements, or anything at all of the sort, and is also critically allergic to explanations to the subject. Now tell them about your character.
Here are a few basic guideline questions in case you are confused on how to start.Â
This is a deceptively simply writing challenge that is useful for highlighting the prominent features of a character's personality while also accentuating any excessive reliance on superficial details and exposing any wild inconsistencies that may have gone unnoticed. After all, the core of a character is their character--that is to say, their traits, their personality, their beliefs and morality, how they react, and so on. Having a strong core is essential to making the other elements of your character compelling.Â
In other words, this exercise is about adding--or expanding upon--your character's level of depth and dimension.
Like the title says, describe your character as extensively as you can without referring to what they look like, what they do or did (both in combat and a profession), or where they came from. For a further challenge, do not refer to their reputation, their family or friends, or their historical background. Keep the focus solely on your character in the present day.
Essentially, pretend you have a friend, and that friend don't know anything about nothing about Final Fantasy, basic fantasy elements, or anything at all of the sort, and is also critically allergic to explanations to the subject. Now tell them about your character.
Here are a few basic guideline questions in case you are confused on how to start.Â
- How does your character react to someone new? (Shy vs. Grandiose, Cold vs. Friendly, Polite vs. Uncouth, etc.)
- How does your character react to having their beliefs challenged? (Stubborn convictions vs. open mindedness, skepticism vs. faith, etc.)
- What does your character value, and why? (Money because it represents power, family because they hate feeling lonely, excitement because they are inspired by adventure, etc.)
- What is the general life's goal of your character? Why? (Seeking a purpose in life because they've never fit in, protecting loved ones because family means everything to them, exploring the world to see new sights, making money, just living day by day because they don't think too much about their motivations or the long term, becoming famous, any combination of the above, etc. Do not refer to their goals or motivations with professions, locations, or explicit historical background.)
- How does your character deal with things they do not like? (Avoidance vs. Belligerence, passive aggression vs. direct confrontation, sarcasm vs. silence, etc.)
