Sticking to the Personality

[Lavi]

Probably my weakest point of all: My characters all tend to get mushed together and acting similarly, if not the same. I want all of my characters to have that realistic feel to them, like you can relate to them, but I tend to think it is too insignificant or too cheesy. Advice on how to avoid this?

 

[Regret]

Look at your characters personality when you're typing what they would do/say. Is that something they would really do/say, or is that what you would do/say? It can be hard sometimes but if you work on it it'll make you a better RP'er. =]

 

[Sovereign]

Everyone here has cheesy characters.

Unless you're writing a novel, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Lavi]

Unless you're writing a novel, I wouldn't worry about it.

I'm thinking about writing a novel. And I'm not joking.

 

[Ser Yorick]

Probably my weakest point of all: My characters all tend to get mushed together and acting similarly, if not the same. I want all of my characters to have that realistic feel to them, like you can relate to them, but I tend to think it is too insignificant or too cheesy. Advice on how to avoid this?

Focus on two characters. Make them opposite each other. Once you get the hang of these guys' personalities, start to branch out. You gotta start small.

 

[Sovereign]

I'm thinking about writing a novel. And I'm not joking.

Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite author, came up with eight rules on how to write a short story. This may help you:

Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
Start as close to the end as possible.
Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

And as an avid reader myself, I'll recommend the following ;

1) Don't write about Star Wars.
2) Make sure the reader can connect to your protagonist.
3) Make sure your reader can connect to your antagonist.
4) Don't write about Star Wars.
5) Be inspired by your own life experiences. Nothing can be more genuine than that.
6) Write your novel as if you're writing the greatest piece of fiction ever. Reread it as if it was a utter crap.
7) Come up with your own style. Don't try to copy someone else. Just write what feels right.

 

[Lavi]

Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite author, came up with eight rules on how to write a short story. This may help you:

Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
Start as close to the end as possible.
Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

And as an avid reader myself, I'll recommend the following ;

1) Don't write about Star Wars.
2) Make sure the reader can connect to your protagonist.
3) Make sure your reader can connect to your antagonist.
4) Don't write about Star Wars.
5) Be inspired by your own life experiences. Nothing can be more genuine than that.
6) Write your novel as if you're writing the greatest piece of fiction ever. Reread it as if it was a utter crap.
7) Come up with your own style. Don't try to copy someone else. Just write what feels right.

This will probably help. Thanks.

Oh, and this is not the first time I'm writing a short piece of prose, but it is the first time I am sitting down to write a story in a long time. My writing style has changed since I was writing for deviantART.

 

[Demiurge]

[...]

And as an avid reader myself, I'll recommend the following ;

1) Don't write about Star Wars.
2) Make sure the reader can connect to your protagonist.
3) Make sure your reader can connect to your antagonist.
4) Don't write about Star Wars.
5) Be inspired by your own life experiences. Nothing can be more genuine than that.
6) Write your novel as if you're writing the greatest piece of fiction ever. Reread it as if it was a utter crap.
7) Come up with your own style. Don't try to copy someone else. Just write what feels right.

You put "Don't write about Star Wars" twice. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to say something... :CHappy:

 

[JM76]

Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite author, came up with eight rules on how to write a short story. This may help you:

Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
Start as close to the end as possible.
Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

And as an avid reader myself, I'll recommend the following ;

1) Don't write about Star Wars.
2) Make sure the reader can connect to your protagonist.
3) Make sure your reader can connect to your antagonist.
4) Don't write about Star Wars.
5) Be inspired by your own life experiences. Nothing can be more genuine than that.
6) Write your novel as if you're writing the greatest piece of fiction ever. Reread it as if it was a utter crap.
7) Come up with your own style. Don't try to copy someone else. Just write what feels right.

Is it just me, or was that an awesome list of tips and advice? As a writer, I enjoyed reading that. :CHappy:

Heh, don't write Star Wars....

 

[Sovereign]

Is it just me, or was that an awesome list of tips and advice? As a writer, I enjoyed reading that. :CHappy:

Heh, don't write Star Wars....

Thank you.

 

[Hanshin]

Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite author, came up with eight rules on how to write a short story. This may help you:

Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
Start as close to the end as possible.
Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

And as an avid reader myself, I'll recommend the following ;

1) Don't write about Star Wars.
2) Make sure the reader can connect to your protagonist.
3) Make sure your reader can connect to your antagonist.
4) Don't write about Star Wars.
5) Be inspired by your own life experiences. Nothing can be more genuine than that.
6) Write your novel as if you're writing the greatest piece of fiction ever. Reread it as if it was a utter crap.
7) Come up with your own style. Don't try to copy someone else. Just write what feels right.

Most of that seems right on and profound (even if i don't recognize the name of that author), however...

I'm not sure what you mean by "Starting close to the end"... you mean like starting at the end then flashbacking the whole movie, or something I don't know about? And... to hell with suspense... yeah I never liked it, but don't give them all the information. The best stories in the world are good because you don't know what is going on, and you keep reading/watching/whatever to figure it out. If you give them all the information to begin with then they have no reason to keep reading, as they know everything. Plus, the more you tell them the less likely you are to surprise them, and I believe it is a good thing when your readers go "OH SNAP!! I never thought of that!! Cool!"

 

[Lavi]

I'm not sure what you mean by "Starting close to the end"...

I think he means "have an idea, then build up to that idea."

 

[Kit]

I think he means "have an idea, then build up to that idea."

I read it as, don't start at your main characters birth, kinda thing. His history should only be included if it's totally relevant to the plot of the novel.