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Impronoucabl@literature.cafe

Do you ever write characters before a story? (literature.cafe)

submitted 10 months ago by Lacanoodle@literature.cafe to c/writing_lounge@literature.cafe

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Recently I just wrote a characters physical appearance and started jotting down points about the character, I've done a few of these before but never have I started off with the appearance.

The initial note I wrote: A Greyhound-like character with a sleek and slender build, long, narrow face, pointed ears, deep chest, wearing a short, smooth coat, graceful gait, athletic movements.

I normally write with a theme in mind not a character, so the characters I write often feel forced into the story.

I'd love to hear what you feel makes a character apt for a story and what order you tend to build a story in.

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[–] cerement 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

there’s arguments that Tolkien designed whole languages before he wrote his books – that the stories of Lord of the Rings were just showcases for Quenya and Sindarin and Khuzdul …

there’s plenty of precedence for designing the pieces before the whole (“bottom up approach”) – rather than trying to fit your characters into a story, try to let the story grow around the character …

[–] Lacanoodle@literature.cafe 1 points 10 months ago

I feel unclear that way, having a theme makes my work and intemtions clear. I know how to structure a story within a certain idea but without a greater idea in mind I just keep babbling.