Characters for my story - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

ArwenBaggins · 02-27-2002, 04:38 PM

im making a new LOTR story and i need characters!?!?!?!?! will uall help?
herez an example:

Daughter of Arwen and Aragorn
Name:Morrambaiel,Princess of Gondor

Weapon:Bow and arrows, small dagger

Gear:Elven Cloak, wheat for bread, immortality necklace,her horse named Condelia,many fruits and vegetables

Description: Long Brown/Black hair, slim but athletic, tall, very beautiful Elven/Mortal language

Thankz! [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Marileangorifurnimaluim · 02-27-2002, 08:31 PM

Hi ArwenBaggins. Probably this should be posted in another section, but I'm happy to help.

I don't recommend building characters like you do in RPGs, from the outside in, clothes, weapons, etc. You get stuck that way. You probably noticed.

Try building your character from inside out.

What sort of person is she?

How did she get that way?

What is her family like?

What are the people like, and the events that made her who she is?

Bingo, Right there you have a whole set of characters, family, all the people who participated in the events of her life.

Waitaminute you say, that sounds kind of ordinary.

Well, if she's interesting, there must be something interesting about her life.
Otherwise, why would anyone want to read about it? No one wants to read about a boring life.

Waitaminute you say, I don't want to write about her childhood, I want to write about her adventures now!

Ah! Then that's the question you should ask first. You know Who your story is about. Now, What is it about?

Another thing. Good writers know more about their characters, their life stories, their history, where they lived, their friends, than ever appears in their books.

Practical suggestion: get a notebook, carry it around with you, and write notes on your characters, story ideas that come to you. Some you'll use in your story. Some, only you will know. Some scenes will come out complete, the whole chapter right there. Others will bits and pieces, puzzle pieces that don't fit anywhere. Yet. You might use them later. You might not.

RPGs don't really have characters. They have people who play themselves, in imaginary costume. What makes RPGs interesting is they reveal different sides of the players' personalities.

So you can also start with an event, ask yourself, who would have to be there?

Then ask, how would this event effect my main character(s) and her friends?

How would they react? What would they do? Say?

How would their actions change the event? Would they make it better? Would they make it worse?

How would they be different after this?

Would it scare them and make them cautious?

Or would they be braver, maybe over-confident and then make a fatal mistake later?

Would they have done something good, but nobody cares or knows?
Or maybe if Others knew it would undo the good, so they have to keep it a secret?

Maybe they did something bad, and got away with it, and now have to live with the guilt of being praised when they don't deserve it?

What would the consequences be if people found out? Would they just mad and forgive, or would it be really serious?

What if... they did something bad (what would that be?) and it through sheer accident came out to really do some good.

What if that good would be undone by admitting it? Would they choose to unburden their conscience at the expense of others, or choose to live with it, for the sake of the realm? How would that change them?

Would that change in them (let's say they got bitter and became a harsh ruler - "you don't know what I've sacrificed for the good of my people" - and gave themselves carte blanche for the rest of their lives) be a worse effect than the original good?

Characters and scenes go together, they create eachother. And characters and characters do the same. Events and other people reveal different sides of a person.

Think how the Hobbits changed as they made choices, good ones (Frodo deciding not to put on the ring in the BarrowDowns) or bad ones (Pippin giving in to the urge to look into the Palantir). Think how Frodo looked as Sam differently when he discovered Sam memorized the elvish lay of Gil-Galad.

It's all in interviewing your characters, asking ... what if?

Kalessin · 02-27-2002, 10:05 PM

Nice idea ...

What Maril is suggesting is the more challenging road, but it is ultimately more rewarding. Your characters will be more interesting, and quirky, and more a reflection of your own creativity. And not only will you feel more fulfilled, but your story will almost certainly be more readable and entertaining (to you and anyone who reads it).

But it's not necessarily easy. Remember, Tolkien spent years gathering together all the ideas and essences for LotR, and further years revising and refining! You don't have to go that far, but - make it special. Set aside dedicated time, for research as well as for the writing. Do the notebook thing, that is what all successful and aspiring writers do, and look at real people - try and find faces or characteristics in people you know or see that match those of your proposed characters (it's a bit like casting for a movie). In this way you can see whether your characters are believable (I don't mean 'historically realistic', I mean interesting).

You're not the first to be inspired to write by LotR. Make it an honourable venture. You will emerge tired, frustrated and aching, but somehow wiser and more self-aware.

Another (or concurrent) approach is to on principle avoid the obvious choices and build something out of the unexpected. So the daughter of Arwen and Aragorn, instead of being beautiful, might be plain. Instead of hanging out with the beautiful people, she prefers the company of dwarves and hobbits. The first time she is threatened or in danger, instead of boldly smiting down the wicked, she runs away - or joins them ... and so on.

This could take you into a story that is intriguing and unpredictable, especially for you, and will make the writing more fun!

But do what Maril says first, then go away and write the story of the Punk Princess of Gondor (You heard it here first).

Peace

[ February 27, 2002: Message edited by: Kalessin ]

[ February 27, 2002: Message edited by: Kalessin ]

HerenIstarion · 02-28-2002, 01:05 PM

Quote:

immortality necklace

hm....

...well, well...

Sorry, could not resist the temptation. The most warm welcome to the BD

ArwenBaggins · 03-11-2002, 01:15 PM

well,
Maril,
Itz my board and i can do it ANY way i like!! [img]smilies/mad.gif[/img]
i cant get to the board where u do it.
Heren,
y dont u make a character for me?
u can be a:
hobbit
elf
dwarf
mortal
wizard
orc
goblin
OTHER

itz really fun.

(oh..... and Heren, im not that new! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img])

03-11-2002, 01:17 PM

Hobbit
NAME: Rosie May
WEAPON: sword
GEAR: cloak,hobbit pony
DISCRIPTION:hobbit size, curly brown hair,gray green eyes

Marileangorifurnimaluim · 03-11-2002, 03:03 PM

ArwenBaggins, you're welcome. Now don't be childish, you asked for help, someone offered you some. Couple years ago I assisted a former Washington Post reporter on a book which was published by Random House in April 2000. I do know what I'm talking about. I wish you luck, however ungraciously my suggestions were accepted.

ArwenBaggins · 03-11-2002, 04:24 PM

sorry.....
*runs away and cries*
[img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

ArwenBaggins · 03-11-2002, 04:25 PM

sorry.....
*runs away and cries*
[img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

ArwenBaggins · 03-11-2002, 04:36 PM

oopsss.....

shieldmaiden · 03-11-2002, 05:18 PM

Marileangorifurnimaluim has the point. Those were very good advice. I would be gratefull if I got such a long and good response to my question, ArwenBaggins.

ArwenBaggins · 03-13-2002, 05:47 PM

well,
guys,
i just want 2 do it my way!
P.S.
Go to my post in the 'Roleplaying' section.
there u can u those good ideas to make a mini story!

Nice-Smeagol · 04-03-2002, 09:44 AM

Blue Wizard
Name: Mornovion
Weapons: Magic Staff, Sword
Gear:Blue cloak, pointy hat.
Description: Tall, thin, Dark blue eyes, Black hair.
Torured by Sauron and turned over to the His side.
Commands mighty legions of orcs and Haradrim.

Pallando · 06-22-2002, 12:43 PM

Can I help?

A Ithyrn Luin (Blue Wizards)
Name: Ursa(N), Luinran(S), Pallando(FW), Nauru(E)

Weapons: Staff, elven-sword "Amlugbane".

Gear: Lembas, canten, blue cloakm and a white horse w/ blue eyes and a blue mane "Lothluin".

Description: Snow-white beard, snow-white hair, seim-bushy white eyebrows, brown eyes, sea-blue robes, grey hat (Ursa & Gandalf swaped hats), black boots, rather tall, kinda thin, and wears a mithril ring, which has a small sapphire, and has magical properties. The ring is called "Luinfëa".

merlilot · 06-25-2002, 11:07 AM

Dang, that was good advice if I ever heard it. Thanks, you helped me, and didn't even know it...!

02-27-2002, 04:38 PM	#1
ArwenBaggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: I don't know... will there be a quiz on this later? Posts: 486	Characters for my story im making a new LOTR story and i need characters!?!?!?!?! will uall help? herez an example: Daughter of Arwen and Aragorn Name:Morrambaiel,Princess of Gondor Weapon:Bow and arrows, small dagger Gear:Elven Cloak, wheat for bread, immortality necklace,her horse named Condelia,many fruits and vegetables Description: Long Brown/Black hair, slim but athletic, tall, very beautiful Elven/Mortal language Thankz! [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] __________________ .:Chelsy:. Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Terennth Kingdoms

02-27-2002, 08:31 PM	#2
Marileangorifurnimaluim Eerie Forest Spectre Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Buried in scrolls of fanfiction Posts: 798	Hi ArwenBaggins. Probably this should be posted in another section, but I'm happy to help. I don't recommend building characters like you do in RPGs, from the outside in, clothes, weapons, etc. You get stuck that way. You probably noticed. Try building your character from inside out. What sort of person is she? How did she get that way? What is her family like? What are the people like, and the events that made her who she is? Bingo, Right there you have a whole set of characters, family, all the people who participated in the events of her life. Waitaminute you say, that sounds kind of ordinary. Well, if she's interesting, there must be something interesting about her life. Otherwise, why would anyone want to read about it? No one wants to read about a boring life. Waitaminute you say, I don't want to write about her childhood, I want to write about her adventures now! Ah! Then that's the question you should ask first. You know Who your story is about. Now, What is it about? Another thing. Good writers know more about their characters, their life stories, their history, where they lived, their friends, than ever appears in their books. Practical suggestion: get a notebook, carry it around with you, and write notes on your characters, story ideas that come to you. Some you'll use in your story. Some, only you will know. Some scenes will come out complete, the whole chapter right there. Others will bits and pieces, puzzle pieces that don't fit anywhere. Yet. You might use them later. You might not. RPGs don't really have characters. They have people who play themselves, in imaginary costume. What makes RPGs interesting is they reveal different sides of the players' personalities. So you can also start with an event, ask yourself, who would have to be there? Then ask, how would this event effect my main character(s) and her friends? How would they react? What would they do? Say? How would their actions change the event? Would they make it better? Would they make it worse? How would they be different after this? Would it scare them and make them cautious? Or would they be braver, maybe over-confident and then make a fatal mistake later? Would they have done something good, but nobody cares or knows? Or maybe if Others knew it would undo the good, so they have to keep it a secret? Maybe they did something bad, and got away with it, and now have to live with the guilt of being praised when they don't deserve it? What would the consequences be if people found out? Would they just mad and forgive, or would it be really serious? What if... they did something bad (what would that be?) and it through sheer accident came out to really do some good. What if that good would be undone by admitting it? Would they choose to unburden their conscience at the expense of others, or choose to live with it, for the sake of the realm? How would that change them? Would that change in them (let's say they got bitter and became a harsh ruler - "you don't know what I've sacrificed for the good of my people" - and gave themselves carte blanche for the rest of their lives) be a worse effect than the original good? Characters and scenes go together, they create eachother. And characters and characters do the same. Events and other people reveal different sides of a person. Think how the Hobbits changed as they made choices, good ones (Frodo deciding not to put on the ring in the BarrowDowns) or bad ones (Pippin giving in to the urge to look into the Palantir). Think how Frodo looked as Sam differently when he discovered Sam memorized the elvish lay of Gil-Galad. It's all in interviewing your characters, asking ... what if? __________________ Deserves death! I daresay he does... And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?

03-11-2002, 01:15 PM	#5
ArwenBaggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: I don't know... will there be a quiz on this later? Posts: 486	well, Maril, Itz my board and i can do it ANY way i like!! [img]smilies/mad.gif[/img] i cant get to the board where u do it. Heren, y dont u make a character for me? u can be a: hobbit elf dwarf mortal wizard orc goblin OTHER itz really fun. (oh..... and Heren, im not that new! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]) __________________ .:Chelsy:. Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Terennth Kingdoms

03-11-2002, 03:03 PM	#7
Marileangorifurnimaluim Eerie Forest Spectre Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Buried in scrolls of fanfiction Posts: 798	ArwenBaggins, you're welcome. Now don't be childish, you asked for help, someone offered you some. Couple years ago I assisted a former Washington Post reporter on a book which was published by Random House in April 2000. I do know what I'm talking about. I wish you luck, however ungraciously my suggestions were accepted. __________________ Deserves death! I daresay he does... And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?

03-11-2002, 04:24 PM	#8
ArwenBaggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: I don't know... will there be a quiz on this later? Posts: 486	sorry..... runs away and cries [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] __________________ .:Chelsy:. Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Terennth Kingdoms

02-27-2002, 10:05 PM	#3
Kalessin Wight Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Earthsea, or London Posts: 175	Nice idea ... What Maril is suggesting is the more challenging road, but it is ultimately more rewarding. Your characters will be more interesting, and quirky, and more a reflection of your own creativity. And not only will you feel more fulfilled, but your story will almost certainly be more readable and entertaining (to you and anyone who reads it). But it's not necessarily easy. Remember, Tolkien spent years gathering together all the ideas and essences for LotR, and further years revising and refining! You don't have to go that far, but - make it special. Set aside dedicated time, for research as well as for the writing. Do the notebook thing, that is what all successful and aspiring writers do, and look at real people - try and find faces or characteristics in people you know or see that match those of your proposed characters (it's a bit like casting for a movie). In this way you can see whether your characters are believable (I don't mean 'historically realistic', I mean interesting). You're not the first to be inspired to write by LotR. Make it an honourable venture. You will emerge tired, frustrated and aching, but somehow wiser and more self-aware. Another (or concurrent) approach is to on principle avoid the obvious choices and build something out of the unexpected. So the daughter of Arwen and Aragorn, instead of being beautiful, might be plain. Instead of hanging out with the beautiful people, she prefers the company of dwarves and hobbits. The first time she is threatened or in danger, instead of boldly smiting down the wicked, she runs away - or joins them ... and so on. This could take you into a story that is intriguing and unpredictable, especially for you, and will make the writing more fun! But do what Maril says first, then go away and write the story of the Punk Princess of Gondor (You heard it here first). Peace [ February 27, 2002: Message edited by: Kalessin ] [ February 27, 2002: Message edited by: Kalessin ]

03-11-2002, 01:17 PM	#6
Mr Underhill Guest Posts: n/a	Hobbit NAME: Rosie May WEAPON: sword GEAR: cloak,hobbit pony DISCRIPTION:hobbit size, curly brown hair,gray green eyes

03-11-2002, 04:25 PM	#9
ArwenBaggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: I don't know... will there be a quiz on this later? Posts: 486	sorry..... runs away and cries [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] __________________ .:Chelsy:. Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Terennth Kingdoms

03-11-2002, 04:36 PM	#10
ArwenBaggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: I don't know... will there be a quiz on this later? Posts: 486	oopsss..... __________________ .:Chelsy:. Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Terennth Kingdoms

03-11-2002, 05:18 PM	#11
shieldmaiden Wight Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: oblivion Posts: 103	Marileangorifurnimaluim has the point. Those were very good advice. I would be gratefull if I got such a long and good response to my question, ArwenBaggins. __________________ Huonya harya vanyë heni yassen sila i eleni! :)

03-13-2002, 05:47 PM	#12
ArwenBaggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: I don't know... will there be a quiz on this later? Posts: 486	well, guys, i just want 2 do it my way! P.S. Go to my post in the 'Roleplaying' section. there u can u those good ideas to make a mini story! __________________ .:Chelsy:. Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Terennth Kingdoms

04-03-2002, 09:44 AM	#13
Nice-Smeagol Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Somewhere under the Misty Mountains Posts: 48	Blue Wizard Name: Mornovion Weapons: Magic Staff, Sword Gear:Blue cloak, pointy hat. Description: Tall, thin, Dark blue eyes, Black hair. Torured by Sauron and turned over to the His side. Commands mighty legions of orcs and Haradrim. __________________ Wicked Masster Cheatss Us!Cheatss Smeagol, gollum. He mussn't go that way, mussn't hurt Preciouss. Give it to Smeagol, yess, give it to uss. GIVE IT TO USSSSS.... I'm evil I know, but hey, who's gonna stop me! Bwahahahahahahaha!

06-22-2002, 12:43 PM	#14
Pallando Wight Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: On your grave, Dancing. Posts: 101	Can I help? A Ithyrn Luin (Blue Wizards) Name: Ursa(N), Luinran(S), Pallando(FW), Nauru(E) Weapons: Staff, elven-sword "Amlugbane". Gear: Lembas, canten, blue cloakm and a white horse w/ blue eyes and a blue mane "Lothluin". Description: Snow-white beard, snow-white hair, seim-bushy white eyebrows, brown eyes, sea-blue robes, grey hat (Ursa & Gandalf swaped hats), black boots, rather tall, kinda thin, and wears a mithril ring, which has a small sapphire, and has magical properties. The ring is called "Luinfëa".

06-25-2002, 11:07 AM	#15
merlilot Wight Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Brandy Hall, Buckland, the Eastmarch of the Shire Posts: 204	Dang, that was good advice if I ever heard it. Thanks, you helped me, and didn't even know it...! __________________ <--- and Billy Boyd. Thanks for the pic Alatariel (hope I spelled it right) even if i took it without permission

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