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& (hammertech) wrote in rp_tutorials,

Randomly and at the risk of sounding like a huge fangirl? I've always admired how much you update your character applications. I feel like most people (read: me) just get something they're comfortable with and leave that at that. And also (not even going to lie), I try to model mine around how you write yours.

And I've already got your permission to do this (as I am apparently a huge stalker), but to use your apps (which I won't lie: I think are always brilliant) as an example...

I've noticed you start out with one or a few really defining characteristics and seem to work your way from there. You go "my character is x ( ex. shy). He is x because/you can tell he's x because... x affects y because..." and that really helps to keep the application flowing well rather than sounding like a grocery list. Plus, you always find interesting way to illustrate your points. For example you describe Rabastan like so:

Rabastan is an exceptionally awkward man and it tends to show in his appearance. Shoulders permanently slumped forward, you probably wouldn't be a ble to tell that he's almost 6'1" because of the way he tends to carry himself.

I've also always found writing personalities to be a bit overwhelming. But I think the way you do it makes it simplier and ties it all together well. You tend to (whether you realize it or not) start out with a clever line. Then, you elaborate on that statement and let it lead to big ideas that you maybe outlined earlier (ex. "her biggest flaw is..."). With Holly you have:

Don't let the name fool you. Holly is not, and has never been, the sort of girl who inspires Christmassey cheer and happy thoughts. Opinionated and outspoken, she is also not the sort of person who lets others hold things over her head. She's exceptionally pushy when the mood strikes her and she doesn't make any efforts to keep her comments to herself. Indeed, one of Holly's biggest flaws is that she's often very blunt without intending any real harm.

You also put a lot of personality (read: quirks) into your characters and how you write them. A lot of people (and I know I'm guilty of it) go "this is their basic personality. That's all people really need to know. DONE~"

For example with Dorcas and Evan:

Dorcas:

"Dorcas admittedly looks rather boring and unkempt on first glance. She is a great deal shorter than most girls her age tend to be and, due to a diet that consists mostly of sporadic exercise and eating whatever she damned well wants, will most likely always fall on the pudgier side of 'thin'."

"With sleepy eyes and an upturned nose that evens out the rest of her features, Dorcas is pretty pleased with the way she looks and dares you to say otherwise to her face."

Evan:

"Blood Status: Pureblood, thank you very much."

Things like those really give a lot of insight into the characters' personalities. With Dorcas, you get a good idea of her as average and not someone you want to mess with. With Evan you very much get that snobbiness.

I know I'm everywhere (it's 8AM, give me a break), but my basic points are that when when re-writing you want to:
1) give as much insight into the character's personality as possible.
2) make sure you're connecting ideas.
3) the above methods are great ways to do it.

Because otherwise when re-writing it seems easy to just pick ideas from before, add a couple more details, and throw it all together into a mess.

I guess these were more style tips than anything. But if you're asking how to pick and choose what stays and goes? There's really no way to know. Basically, like tetris said, if it sounds off, it probably is off. By reworking it and reworking it you'll probably eventually end up with something very different but much better than you originally anticipated.