Young Writers Society

A story can not possibly succeed if the characters are boring.

So, let's avoid boring characters. We can avoid them by figuring out how our characters grow, where they are going, and how they're getting there.

So who are your characters, how are they going to grow from this experience and how are they going to get there?

Henry Leander Preston is a thief who hates being bored, unchallenged or static. His actual reason for going on the Journey Into the North is to rob the heroes of plenty of gold and jewels, and run away with the profits. He really doesn't want to help the King or anyone else in power, but knows that the travel will cause many challenges he can show off about.

I'm hoping Henry will turn from this state into a more caring person, where he values the lives of his fellow adventurers after fighting together many times, and will learn that he can't judge everything so quickly and easily.

He'll get there slowly. For the most part of the storybook, he'll be the same as always, stealing and joking and being suspicious of the law. But I'm planning a big event his mind will totally change, back to a time when he didn't hate and mistrust the world (something that grew from his childhood) into something much better.

Seraph, well...he lives for adventure. He follows a Lawful god, but only in the sense that he delivers retribution on those deserving of it. He really follows his own law, which is more one of Neutrality than anything else. He's gruff, pompous, arrogant, and uncaring to those who do not know him, but warm, charismatic, and fiercely dedicated to those who have earned his respect.

Seraph will not likely grow during this adventure. He's close to forty years of human age, but that doesn't mean much to his bloodline. His personality is set, much like Valin's is likely to be, but he is likely to develop new relations during the journey.

Not good, a character that doesn't grow is a stagnant character. Stagnant characters aren't good because they don't create any conflict.

How about this for Seraph?

Seraph been doing the same stuff for about 40 years, going on adventures and delivering retribution. In the past it was great, there was always one battle to fight for, and always some glory to gain from it.

Now though, he's stuck in a rut. If he goes home, he ends up doing boring administrative work. If he goes out, he feels like he is just spinning his wheels and accomplishing nothing.

He wants that sense of accomplishment desperately.

How will he get it? By becoming more open to the needs of others. That's how he grows as a character.

What do you think Hunter? I think something along these lines will deepen Seraph's character and make him interesting (vs. stagnant.)

Also, if you guys have suggestions for characters, feel free to post them. I'm only gryphon after all .

Adrian as you read is unsure he fought in a war ages ago and ran. He was persauded to do this quest by his father. He worries he'll run like ages ago. He unsure he swore to protect defenceless people but is unsure whether he can. My plan for him is for him to gain confidence and i'm thinking he should be at one point defenceless.

Grif, since when are you the boss of whats a "good" character? Maybe Hunter can play Seraph quite well, while still advancing story line, as a so-called "stagnant" character?
I'm sick and tired of you deciding EVERYTHING for this storybook. You decided the overall storyline/plot (which I think could be better but I don't have many ideas, so I wont complain) then you told poeple they could use certain characters, nad now you're telling Hunter, one of the best RPers on the site, that his character is a "bad" character. Shove it, Grif.

/rant.

Sab ... he was just trying to help Hunter develop a conflict for his character.

A storybook is supposed to help us write, and in all honesty I'm on the side of Grif, even though I know Dono is a great RPer. The best characters are the ones that grow/learn.

Firestarter wrote:Sab ... he was just trying to help Hunter develop a conflict for his character.

A storybook is supposed to help us write, and in all honesty I'm on the side of Grif, even though I know Dono is a great RPer. The best characters are the ones that grow/learn.

I understand, and he may very well be right. But its just that he ALWAYS dictates pretty much EVERYTHING in these storybooks. period. Hell, I don't think his idea of a griffon is correct, but I go with it for the sake of continuity, and keeping the peace. I don't think this plot is really decent at all, I don't think that it has any real motivation for characters like Henry or Valin, and Seraph is really stretching it. Overall, I really disagree with Grif on practically everything as far as this storybook is concerned, but I don't say anything/go along with for the sake of continuity/unity. But this is too much. Telling people their characters aren't good enough is too much. Grif is being a grade-A genuine dick, and I'm sick of it.

Fair enough, but there's no need to get so angry toward Grif about it. Come on Sab, I know yo might be pretty annoyed towards him, but try and keep some of that language to yourself.

I agree on many parts with you, though: the storybook seems hastily put together, with little thought for the characters, and it does seem ot be being controlled by one person. But let's try not to get too angry about it,okay?

I'm going to PM you.

Aw... how cute. A mutiny.

Anyway, I was thinking that my character was going to be a total smart ass. We have so many serious characters in this story that a hint of joke, if possibly done in a smart way, can be nice. Besides, I LOVE writing comedies and would like to have a break from the dreary writing of FREAK.

So yeah. I think all of you shall hate my character. It's going to be great!

Snoink wrote:Aw... how cute. A mutiny.

Anyway, I was thinking that my character was going to be a total smart ass. We have so many serious characters in this story that a hint of joke, if possibly done in a smart way, can be nice. Besides, I LOVE writing comedies and would like to have a break from the dreary writing of FREAK.

So yeah. I think all of you shall hate my character. It's going to be great!

I don't appreciate your tone, Snoink. Also, Valin is a REAL smartass. There just hasn't been any opportunity for me to really play him in his element, as the whole situation is rather out of character for Valin.

Smart asses, like individuals, are varied and we're sure to have different characters who are probably going to annoy the snot out of each other. It'll be fun!

The variant of smart-ass I'm using for Ursa is someone who doesn't know when to stop or start and is not very tactful. Like, at all. So he'll seem to be a mixture of Pippin from LOTR and Wash from Firefly. Which, upon thinking about it, is kind of a weird mixture, but oh well.

What about Valin?

You'll just have to wait and see. Just think kind of like a combination of Bender from Futurama and Bender from The Breakfast Club and that'll give you a rough idea.

Griffinkeeper wrote:Not good, a character that doesn't grow is a stagnant character. Stagnant characters aren't good because they don't create any conflict.

What do you think Hunter? I think something along these lines will deepen Seraph's character and make him interesting (vs. stagnant.)

Also, if you guys have suggestions for characters, feel free to post them. I'm only gryphon after all .

Appreciated, but I have him figured out already. Just because he won't change his whole outlook on life doesn't mean he won't learn something. If every character changes their entire philosophy during the story, it will sound like a cheesy children's novel. "Golly gee Johnny! I learned that smoking is BAD, and that the sharp side of the sword is NOT good to hold onto when you're trying to fight!"

I got it covered, thanks.

Dan...BAMF, as awlays. Over the top, but BAMF.

Learning something = growth.

Doing the same thing over and over and over... = dead.

Sabradan wrote: I don't think this plot is really decent at all, I don't think that it has any real motivation for characters like Henry or Valin, and Seraph is really stretching it. Overall, I really disagree with Grif on practically everything as far as this storybook is concerned, but I don't say anything/go along with for the sake of continuity/unity. But this is too much. Telling people their characters aren't good enough is too much.

I'm completely open to suggestions. One of the great things about writing storybooks is that you have a pool of talent to draw on, not merely your own. If you have an idea on how to do things better, even with regards to my character, then do not hesitate, just post it.

I controlled a lot of things at the beginning: the plot being a major part of it.

Everything since that posting of the plot has been open for discussion. Snoink will tell you that the opening plot of a storybook isn't gospel; she took a teen-drama storybook and turned it into a fantasy-comedy.

Talk about a change in direction!

I appreciate that you are trying to be a team player, but don't silence yourself on account of me. Heaven knows I'm not a great writer, that's why I need talented writers in this storybook, so that I can develop, practice, and reinforce my writing ability.

All I really do is post a lot. Everything else is suggestions. That's about all I can do.