how to CREATE a CHARACTER from *SCRATCH*βπΌmy 3 step character developing process
TLDRIn this video, Anna shares her 3-step character development process for creating compelling characters from scratch. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the story and themes first, which guides the selection of main characters. Using her book project 'Robin' as an example, Anna explains how she chose a female protagonist to reflect themes of feminism and revolution. She encourages writers to consider characters' social positions and personal convictions to ensure they align with the narrative's core message. Anna also suggests creating character profiles for a deeper understanding of their backgrounds and personalities.
Takeaways
- π Start by identifying the story's origin and how it came about, as this will influence character creation.
- π― Focus on the main themes of your story, such as feminism or class dynamics, to guide character development.
- π₯ Limit the number of main characters to one to three to maintain a strong focus in your narrative.
- π Choose character traits, such as gender, social status, and occupation, that align with the story's themes and message.
- π Consider the character's backstory and motivations to inform their actions and decisions within the story.
- π£ Develop the character's personality and physical attributes after establishing their role and significance in the story.
- π Reflect on the character's world and environment to create a believable and engaging setting.
- π₯ Include side characters that add depth and complexity to the main character's journey and story.
- π Utilize character profiles to flesh out the details of characters and their relationships with one another.
- π Provide resources, like free templates, for viewers to use in their own character development process.
- π Encourage viewers to subscribe and engage with the channel for more content on writing and character development.
Q & A
What is the main focus of Anna's video?
-The main focus of Anna's video is to discuss the process of creating a character from scratch, emphasizing the importance of aligning the character's development with the story's themes and plot.
Why does Anna suggest starting with the story rather than the character?
-Anna suggests starting with the story first because it allows the characters to be naturally developed based on the story's requirements, ensuring that the characters serve the plot and themes effectively.
How does Anna determine the importance of having a character focus?
-Anna believes that having a character focus is important because it helps to establish the significance of the characters within the story and ensures that the plot and world-building are centered around them.
What are the key elements Anna considers when creating a character?
-Anna considers the character's role in the story, their connection to the themes, their gender, age, social hierarchy position, and occupation as key elements when creating a character.
How does Anna use the character of Robin to illustrate her character development process?
-Anna uses Robin as an example to show how she developed a character to fit the story's themes of feminism, girl power, and revolution, as well as to reflect the character's hostility towards the kingdom due to her personal backstory.
What is the significance of Robin's background in the story?
-Robin's background, with her parents being exiled and killed by the king, is significant as it provides a motive for her actions as a thief and her desire for revenge, which aligns with the story's focus on revolution and the struggle of the peasants.
How does Anna recommend determining the number of main characters in a story?
-Anna recommends focusing on one to two, sometimes three, main characters to ensure that the story can effectively explore their depth and development without becoming too convoluted.
What is the role of side characters in Anna's character development process?
-Side characters play a crucial role in adding layers and depth to the main characters, helping to further develop their personalities, interests, and the story's world.
How does Anna recommend further developing a character's personality and appearance?
-After establishing the character's role and relevance to the story, Anna suggests diving deeper into their personal details, such as their appearance, name, and specific interests, to fully flesh out their character profile.
What additional resources does Anna provide to assist with character development?
-Anna provides free templates for creating character profiles, which can be found in her video descriptions, to help viewers develop both main and side characters more effectively.
Outlines
π¨ Character Creation from Scratch
This paragraph introduces the video's focus on character creation, emphasizing the importance of developing strong characters from the ground up. Anna shares her excitement about discussing character development and highlights the positive feedback she receives from her audience. She explains her process of creating a character by starting with the story and then determining the characters based on the plot's needs. Anna uses her own book project featuring a character named Robin as an example, explaining how the character's traits and background were chosen to reflect the themes of feminism, girl power, and revolution in a kingdom setting.
π Aligning Characters with Story Themes
In this paragraph, Anna delves deeper into the process of aligning characters with the story's themes and narrative requirements. She discusses the importance of selecting main characters that reflect the core messages and ideas of the story, as exemplified by her choice of Robin, a female peasant thief with a desire for revenge against the king. Anna also touches on the significance of considering characters' social status, occupation, and personal convictions in crafting a compelling narrative. She encourages viewers to think about these aspects when developing their characters and mentions her previous video on character profiles, offering free templates for both main and side characters.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Character Development
π‘Story Creation
π‘Themes
π‘Feminism
π‘Peasants
π‘Kingdom
π‘Revolution
π‘Hostility
π‘Backstory
π‘Conviction
π‘Character Profiles
Highlights
Anna shares her 3-step character developing process for creating characters from scratch.
The importance of understanding your story's origin is emphasized for character development.
Characters should reflect the themes and focus of the plot, not the other way around.
Anna's favorite aspect of writing is creating strong, well-developed characters.
The character Robin is introduced as an example of character development based on story themes.
Feminism and girl power are central themes in Anna's project, influencing character gender and background.
Characters should be chosen based on their ability to authentically reflect and drive the narrative.
The character's social status and occupation play a key role in their development and story relevance.
Robin's character is shaped by her backstory, including her parents' exile and death.
The concept of thieving in Robin's story symbolizes her fight against the kingdom's oppression.
Anna emphasizes the importance of limiting the number of main characters to one or two for focused storytelling.
The character's personality and physical attributes come after establishing their role in the story.
Anna provides free character profile templates for both main and side characters.
The video aims to help viewers understand the significance of character selection and development for effective storytelling.
Anna's process involves creating characters that are integral to the story's themes and plot, ensuring a compelling narrative.