#things for characters

[annarts05]

my favorite negative character traits

some of these aren’t necessarily negative in all contexts, and actually, lots would be really great to have in certain scenes, but there are plenty of situations in which these traits are seen as generally negative :)))

reblog with yours, i wanna seeeeee 

arrogant

cocky

overenthusiastic 

self-absorbed or very self-oriented

workaholic

reckless

oversensitive

dramatic

impatient

prankster/bully (when it’s taken too far, that is)

liar (especially if the lies are for someone else’s benefit)

overly selfless

self-deprecating

hot-tempered

LOUD

[annarts05]

smart character(s) friend dynamics

the math smarts and the writing/language smarts 

both very smart and knowledgeable in the exact same field and yet can literally never agree on anything (but they’re still friends)

“thoughts carefully phrased into flawlessly articulated words before spoken” and “dumbass with a quick mouth”

helping each other with something the other isn’t good at/knowledgeable in

cocky smarts and humble smarts (but occasionally the cocky one shows their sensitive side and the humble one roasts literally everyone else and single-handedly lights the world on fire)

lots of smart friends working on one GIANT project together, only for all the slightly (or drastically lmaoo) ideas of each participant to clash, creating chaos and a finished project that, uh, doesn’t go as they’d hoped

“actually have to study really hard for this” but still smart and “i barely have to try” smart in the same friendship

[annarts05]

dynamics to write instead of romantic

obviously there’s nothing wrong with romance, i love reading it, it’s so sweet and heartfelt and just...there’s something so precious about giving yourself so completely to another <333

but let’s not forget that there are more dynamics out there than couples. so many wholesome friendships and parental dynamics and teachers and students and ahhhh

best friends at the beginning, closer friends at the end

best friends at the beginning, enemies in between, back to friends but now there’s a “we gotta regain trust” vibe

reluctant/troubled parental figure (mentor, teacher, adoptive parents, etc.) and child/teen 

“i wish they were my real family” aka your real family sucks and you hang out with people whose families seem amazing </3

weird old person (probably with a dark secret) and a young, innocent, curious child

mentor/parental figure turned villain (or plot twist villain), leaving kid/teen behind, confused and hurt

just good ol fashioned siblings

twins <333 or triplets ahhh

older boy and younger boy becoming friends, being all protective and older-brothery <3333

stepparent being introduced into an existing family, and trying to be accepted and get along with kids and whatnot

[annarts05]

Physical things to add to characters

freckles, on nose, cheeks, ears, arms, wherever

scars, little ones or big ones, zuko style or tiny little marks on your face from a dog bite or smth

calloused hands (or smooth)

chipped nails

pencil behind an ear

chewed drawstrings on hoodies (maybe it’s a bad habit of the character, or an anxiety reliever)

bangs that get a little too long for whatever reason

features that are just slightly too large or too small (i have really small eyes irl)

bags under the eyes

warts on hands

earrings, one gold hoop that gives off pirate vibes, or a bunch of crystals that a princess might wear

really thick, bushy eyebrows

[annarts05]

The pressure to create original, 100% new tropes and stories is overrated. Remember that it's literally fine to use cliches and tropes obsessively, over and over again.

[annarts05]

Questions to flesh out character personalities/morals

Are they generally cheery? Grumpy? Sarcastic? Monotone and seen as bland (even if they’re really interesting inside)?

Do people generally like being around them?

Are they tactless, or careful with what they say and how they say things?

Do they make lots of jokes or puns?

What is their typical reaction to being insulted by someone they dislike?

And by someone they do like/are close to?

How likely are they to punch somebody in an act of anger?

How protective are they of others?

Do they have very paternal/maternal relationships with other characters?

Would they be a part of the chaos in a crazy found family, or would they be the one who lectures other chaos-bringers?

What is their coping mechanism when crap happens? Do they dive into work? Do they keep it inside and stay quiet? Do they make a lot of jokes to distract themselves and others?

How well do they handle high-pressure situations?

If they found a child all alone, what would they do?

How do they treat animals?

Do they surround themselves with lots of friends? Or just a few really close ones?

If they won the lottery, what would be the first thing they would do with the money?

[annarts05]

two characters forced together by necessity or fate bonding and becoming such close friends they're practically family <3

and then after the conflict is over, they choose to stay together rather than go their separate ways again