Character Survey Thread

[ChicaChicken]

#1. Are there any characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character my magi"? There are almost no characters based off of me . Maybe sometimes but, it is most likely to be used in stories that I create. #2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why? I prefer females because I am female, but I also do males if I felt like it. #3.How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem? I mostly get attached to my own characters. For me it is not a huge deal but for others it might. For example Pokemon Go, people thought it looked so real that it was stuck into their heads before the buddy system happened . #4. How attached do you get to other people's characters? It varies from time to time . Like sometimes I like the character but, sometimes I don't like the characters . #5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story? I write characters to fit a story. #6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an affective mood? I think it's fun making characters. It is kind of an affective mood.

[Jade07]

1. yes i base someone off me quite often now if it's a fanfiction i might use a already made person that is a lot like me in any story i write i often includ m as the first letter in the name of one like myself because m is my insel
2. females are easier and i feel its a lot harder to make males fit into a story while a female can adapt no problem and i'm a girl
3. getting attached can be a problem but it can also help this may be a spoiler for a ep of naruto what i like that show anyway i really like hinata and when negi hurt her and they said co on co she "has 10 minutes left" i was almost heartbroken because she is one of my favorites but then when i saw her in a episode a few eps after i was like don't scare me like that do you want me scared and heartbroken but i do get attached and even tho its really hard on me if something happens and altho i really like it when they are messing with me and that person is still alive i really get mad that hinata moment i was almost crying but then that other ep i was like *gets anime vain* ho your goin down tv you scared me and i almost wanted to jump in and say "Hinata don't ever do that again" i probably would punch negi if he was standing here right next to me for that anyway back to my people i do get attached a lot to the main person or horse [don't judge me]
4. a lot i hope in this one story i'm reading that they are just "pulling a hinata" on me
5. en i make it up as i go
6. usually find somebody i like from a show and see if a fanfic about them with that plot line would do any good without killing them if not i kinda moodle a person of my own making after them if it still don't work then i shall make a whole new person

[TheEmbodimentOfKarma]

I'm going to make another one, since it's been a few months and I have new characters, storylines, and experience.
1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
Most definitely. However, as one of my characters develops, they tend to stray from my persona and they become a better, new character. Pretty neat.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
As a female myself, I usually write females, as I understand females naturally. I find it difficult to write males properly. I also go for agender for gods and entities. However, mostly female, and a few males. Not many males, though, as it relates to the whole "multiverse/alternate versions" theory.
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I don't get very attached, and, tbh, I LOVE making characters suffer. It's just so... satisfying to watch them break... Is that a problem? Also, getting too attached can be a problem; you could end up with a Mary Sue who never suffers or has an unhandleable problem.
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Depends on the character. And their species *cough cough* cat people *cough cough*
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Both. I make a character, base a story off them, and add new characters to fill in holes.
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I have a few methods.
1) A random draw game, with my friend. We collab to make a character concept, and then I mold that into a character/storyline.
2) An idea comes to my head and I make a new character.
3) I take an existing scenario and add characters on to it.
4) I make a character to answer a question so no hole is left.

[MidniteScy]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
A lot of my characters end up being a lot like me, but as they grow, they typically start fleshing out their own personalities, but I like to use myself as a template because I know myself best, and can create a deeper character. The problem with this is now I have a lot of characters who are a lot like each other...

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I find that most of my characters end up being female. I dunno, I'm a girl, so I guess it's just easier and more in my comfort zone. But I've been trying to do boys.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
Honestly I haven't gotten deep enough into anything to become really attached to them, but I'm stating to like them. Yes, getting attached is a problem, as now they will never die or get hurt and the story will never move on. *sigh*

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Depends on whose. Some characters are just so flat and shallow I literally just put the book down straight away. But there are some that I can really relate to, and I really feel for those.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
Huh, this is a tough one. But I think I figure out a general idea for a plot, then sketch out a main character based to fit it.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I usually get a sense of what my main character's going to look like as soon as I start creating the plot--they're kind of a simultaneous process. Then they just reveal themselves as I start planning them out. It's not really much of a method, it's just me.

[Jade07]

i'm redoing mine ok
1. yes still lots all named m
2. female
3. yes i kinda do and yes it can be
4. on a scale of one to ten if there evil or loyal to a evil one 2 to 4 if there good usually 6
5. i don't know
6. i usually read a book to find what they should do and then draw them

[GalacticSnake]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."

None of them are based entirely off of me. However I do add an aspect of myself to all of them; whether that be clothing style, personality, likes/dislikes, etc. And i am thinking of creating a thing based off recent events in my life.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?

I wouldn't say I really have a preference. However I mostly use my characters for roleplay and generally my roleplay buddy and I specifically make characters to ship together, most of the time mine end up male.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?

It varies from character to character, this only presents a problem when I am writing a death scene and I've become overly attatched.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?

As before, it varies from character to character. But admittedly it has, on several occasions, gone to the point where I have fawned over fictional characters whereas most girls my age would fawn over real guys....

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?

I generally create characters for roleplay so there really is no set storyline. However when I am writing an actual story it can vary between both options.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?

I usually get an idea for a design or a concept and I fill out a form such as this: Name, Nickname, Age, Height(ft and cm), Weight(lbs and kg), birthday, Star sign(aka Zodiac), Personality(partially based on the star sign), Appearance, Fears (8 to 10), Allergies (generally 3), Family/Pets (and the relationship), Background, Misc.
Depending whether they character is for a fanbase or not I also add aspects from the series to the form as well. Once I have finished my form I send it to someone for a review to ensure they are not a mary sue. Generally it takes a few weeks or months to create a character, but in the end they are generally well thought out.

[c3l3st3]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
I don't have any characters I officially based on me. I do, however, have one character I made before I found out a lot of things about me that's... surprisingly similar to me. Before I realized I was trans and bi, I created an anxious, bi, trans, Hispanic character. Very similar to me. In retrospect, he kind of looks like me too.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I like writing both! I'm more likely to relate with a male character without dysphoria but female characters are really interesting to write too.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
Considering the fact that the character I first talked about was made about 3 years ago? Probably yes to both.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Fairly! Sometimes I get super attached to characters from books/tv, but some of my friends have their own characters that I get really attached too.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
I used to make charecter for story's but over time I kept the same characters and improved them, then scrapped the story entirely,

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
I usually draw a design and create a story and character to fit that concept.

[Ryutana]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."
I tend to try to avoid having my characters be primarily based on me as much as possible. However, I find that I often end up writing little bits of myself in the a lot of the characters. Either my sense of humor, what I find attractive in someone, or just things like what kind of reading I like to do.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?
I tend to write a mix of both? However, some of the first characters I RP'd were male simply because my partner preferred writing female characters, so I got used to doing so.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?
I definitely get attached. As they become realer to me, I have on a few occasions heard my OC's make no small number of catty comments about what's going on in real life. It helps when I write them, hearing their voices in my head. I don't think getting too attached is a problem for me, because I like to be evil to them just to see what happens.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?
Depends! If its someone who's writing I admire, I'll often get really invested in their characters. Especially in my favorite media and fanfiction.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?
A bit of both, really? Often I come up with the character I want to write, and work their backstory and their personalities to fit them. Of course, at the same time sometimes the story takes over and both myself and my characters are along for the ride!

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?
Often I find a reference picture to start, then try and figure out who would look/dress like that. From there it evolves so that that character becomes more than just the reference.

[TheEmbodimentOfKarma]

Well, it's the end of summer and I last made one of these in January. Let's make another.
1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi." Depends on the canon I'm using. In my main OC storyline,
yes because of alternate universes. In my Homestuck universe, no because they're all original. In my D&D/other characters, not really because I incorporate some aspects of myself into them, but they're still their own characters.
2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why? I have way more female than male characters, simply because I don't really know how to properly write strong male characters (not STRONG male characters, 3-dimensional ones). I also have nonbinary/sexless characters, some who identify as female/male or some who simply don't identify/have no concept of gender.
3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem? A-attached? ME?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... hahaha... sorry. Suffice it to say, I don't get attached. I LOVE putting my characters through hell. It's what I do! Anyways, getting too attached can lead to a Mary Sue/Gary Stu, so that can be a problem.
4. How attached do you get to other people's characters? Depends on the character. wheatley my poor precious baby child i will protect you at all costs
5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story? Both!
6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method? I'm really good at making storylines and characters on the spot. I'd be an excellent Bard. (I just kinda think them up,
mostly.)

[eppy]

1. Are any of your characters based off of you? I notice this a lot with the so called "Keep Stories" where people call their character "my magi."

No, I never include myself in my own stories. I may include personality traits that I consider my own, but all my characters are their own people.

2. Do you prefer writing male or female characters? Why?

I tend to write male characters. I am a female, but every time I watch a TV show, read a book, watch a movie, I always find a favorite male character before a female. The same is true for my books, all 3 books I wrote had male leads. I am not opposed to writing with a female character, though.

3. How attached do you get to your own characters? Do you think getting too attached is a problem?

I get fairly attached to them as long as I like them. Which is usually how I write my main character. I don't consider this a problem. I get the emotional interest in the character that the reader should get, which means I'll know how much of an impact certain events will cause.

4. How attached do you get to other people's characters?

It seriously depends on how much I like their character. I can get as attached to my favorite character or not attached at all.

5. Do you formulate a story to fit your characters, or do you write characters to fit a story?

I write a story and the characters simply exist to tell it. My main goal when I write, in my imagination, is the story, and not the individual character.

6. How do you go about making a character? Do you think it's an effective method?

I take physical traits that I personally find appealing (such as longish hair on males), and also those that fit my common factor on favorite characters (for some reason I like more slightly built characters, or weaker characters altogether, than stronger, muscular characters). And then I decide on a personality usually to fit the appearance 'and' the story. Unlikable characters can make a story hard to read. I personally like to write about characters that I simply like, so it's effective for my muse.