New Creation Now!

Hello again. For those who have been following this site regularly, I'm sure you've noticed the recent lack of updates.


For that fact, before anything else I write in this blog, I want to apologize. Writers and artists can't exist without an audience, and your continued support -- even during this lull -- has been greatly appreciated.

Were there reasons for the lack of updates? Sure, there's always reasons. Every member of the team here at NewCreationNow.com has their own personal lives and projects in addition to our work here. Sometimes those workloads overlap and require some creative juggling. Sometimes things blow up and derail our plans completely.

It could be anything: A personal illness. A financial crisis. A family tragedy. A church split. It could be something we should have seen coming. It could be a surprise that came out of nowhere. It could be all of the above and then some.

But no matter the cause, the result still looks the same to an outside viewer -- a silent website, an empty in-box, and unfinished stories.

So as we roll up our sleves and get back to our figurative and literal drawing boards, it raises an important question: How does one deal with disruptions to our plans?

HUMILITY
When our plans don't work out, it's understandable to be upset. But we also have to ask ourselves, are we upset because of the results (late comics, disappointed readers, etc.) or is it really because it reminds us that there are things outside of our control? There's an old saying that "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans". Or as the Bible states, "A man's heart plans his way, but it is the Lord who directs his steps". (Proverbs 16:9)

LETTING GO
Sometimes, being frustrated is a perfectly appropriate response to a disruptive situation. So is anger, sorrow, fear, and worry -- up to a point. But we finite human beings can only handle so much. There comes a point where our arms are simply too small to hold any more, and we have no choice but to let go and trust in a God whose hands are big enough to hold all our problems -- and us too.

GET BACK UP
Once momentum on a project is lost, it's hard to get back to work on it -- but it only gets harder the longer we let it sit there. We need to dust ourselves off, stand up, and keep moving. It might not be fun, it might be hard work, it might even be frightening -- do it anyway.

It's too intimidating to face the blank page and start drawing again for a story that's been stalled for so long. Pick up the pencil and face it anyway.

It's too overwhelming to turn on the computer and face a screen full of unread emails. Boot it up and face it anyway.

It's too embarrassing to write a new blog post after such a long dry spell between updates.

But here I go -- posting it anyway.

 

This is final part of Kevin Yong's "Character Creation Guide" checklist, from an article originally written for Alpha-Omega #100.

META-CONCERNS:

These concerns are "meta" in the sense of being "outside" the internal context of the story. These are things about the character that you know because you're the writer, but that the character himself may be unaware of.

Admirable traits: What do you like about the character? Even if they are a villain, what aspects of his personality and motivation can you sympathize with, or even admire? Can they or other characters see these traits in themselves?

Negative traits: What do you dislike about the character? What traits do you disapprove of, simply find annoying, or (begrudgingly) remind you of your own shortcomings?

Character motivations: What is the character's short term goals? Long term goals? Short term needs? Long term needs? Are they consciously aware of them? The character may not be aware of these innermost desires, or he may be mistaken about them, but it's something that you as the writer should know if you are going to write a story about it.

Character's view on life: How would you (as the writer) sum up the character's attitude toward the world? Would the character agree with your assessment of him? Why or why not?

Plot conflicts: What are the character's main problems to solve or overcome during the story? What are the minor problems? Can your character tell the difference?

Plot resolutions: What are the solutions to the character's problems? This may be actual solutions, or they may be false hopes. Some problems may actually have no solution outside of divine intervention, and thus the true problem of the story is how the character chooses to react to the situation.

Changes: Does your character change or grow through the events of the story? Or had he been the catalyst to have others change and grow? What lessons have the characters learned? Are the characters better or worse off after what they've gone through? 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

In presenting these lists of character brainstorming questions, the intent was never to make this into a "paint by numbers" shortcut to creating a story. Tools like character checklists or long range story outlines are not meant to set your storytelling options in stone. Rather, they are meant as stepping stones, tools to help you look at your characters and ideas from different perspectives. The majority of possible questions listed here may not apply to your particular character or the needs of your particular story. Other questions may provide a starting point for thinking about your character, but you'll later find that your character needs to change into something different as the story is told. If so, follow where your story leads, and don't let preliminary outlines or character log sheets hold you back. You don't need to have a secret crisis of infinite cosmic cubes as an excuse to diverge from your original draft. You have an even better excuse than that: You're a storyteller. Go, tell stories.

End of part five

This is part four of Kevin Yong's "Character Creation Guide" checklist, from an article originally written for Alpha-Omega #100.

POLITICS: If your story isn't about politics, it's probably safer not to bring it up if you don't want your readers distracted from what the other themes of your story may be. (Politics has a way of polarizing readers and drowning out all other discussions if not handled very carefully.) But whether or not you choose to bring politics into your stories, it helps as a writer to know your character's point of view even if the subject of politics never enters the story itself.

Political party: Is your character even registered to vote? Do they belong to a political party? Do they fit within the spectrum of the political (liberal Democrats, conservative Republicans, and moderates in the middle), or part of a smaller, independent movement (idealistic Libertarians, reform-minded populists), or possibly downright eccentric fringe groups (theocratic communist vegetarian secessionists, etc.)

Political involvement: Are they active in politics, volunteering for campaigns or donating to causes? Do they pay much attention to political news, or do they tune out except for the big Presidential races every four years? Do they care about the local politics of their community (school board, city council, etc.)? Of their state?

Left, Right, or Middle: How does your character describe their own political leanings? How would their friends, family, or co-workers describe them? (For example, a person that we might safely define as "liberal" might define himself as a "moderate" because he only reserves the word "liberal" to describe those to the far left of Karl Marx.) To provide a point of reference, who would be to the "right" of your character? Or to the "left"?  How do they view people on the other side of an issue from them? (As a fellow patriot with an honest disagreement? As dangerously naieve and misguided? As contemptibly stupid and ignorant? As vile enemies of all that is true and right and decent in the world?)

Political and social issues most cared about? The world is too big to be passionate about everything. Are their certain issues that push your character's hot buttons? Are there issues they don't care about? Do they take to the streets in protest over abortion? Over the protection of sea turtle eggs? Do they write letters to the editor about gun control? Do they fall asleep from boredom during debates about income tax reform and ethanol farm subsidies.

PERSONAL LIFE: When your character isn't busy saving the world, having wacky misadventures, or teaching your readers valuable life lessons, what do they do in their "down time"... the sort of everyday things that may not be the focus of a story's main plot, but which help define their personality.  

Sports: What is your character's favorite sport to watch on TV? (The Super Bowl? Olympic Figure Skating?) To watch live at a stadium? (Local basketball games? NASCAR races?) Did they play sports in school? (Badminton? Volleyball? Football? Cheerleading?) Do they still play sports as a hobby now? (Tennis with friends? An amateur hockey league? Bowling with the guys? Basketball in the back yard with their kids?)

Clothing: What are their commonly worn clothing styles and/or favorite outfits. Do they dress for comfort, for appearance, for functionality? Do they keep up with the latest fads, do they stick to a "classic" look, do they defiantly keep wearing clothes that have long since gone out of fashion? Do they dress to be noticed by others? If so, how, why, and by whom?

Favorite books and reading materials: Do they spend their time reviewing non-fiction in their field of work or hobbies? Study the scriptures daily? Do they enjoy classic literature? Pass the time with the latest bestselling novels? Focus only on the particular genres? Browse magazines? Collect comic books?

Pets? Does your character have a pet? What kind? For how long have they had it? How well were the pets treated? How and why did they acquire them? (For companionship? For security? As a gift?) If they don't have a pet, why not? Have they ever owned one in the past? Would they like to own one in the future?

 

Diet: What kind of meals does your character usually eat? Low-fat and healthy? Vegetarian? Deep friend? Do they follow trendy diets? Do they experiment with gourmet recipes? Do they stick with "safe" range of foods they're familiar with? What are their favorite meals? Favorite snacks? Favorite restaurants? Does he live off of cosmic energy and only eat for the sake of appearances among humans?

Favorite drinks? Water? Juice? Tea? Coffee? Soda pop? Alcoholic beverages? (and if so, what kind?)What can you always be sure to find in their freezer? What can you count on them ordering at a restaurant? Is their preference so predictable that it might give away the cover of a shape shifting imposter who bypasses their "traditional" beverage of choice? 

Favorite pastime: How do your characters relax? What activity are they most likely to lose track of time while doing? What tempts/distracts them most when they are stuck with "all work and no play"? Do they prefer spending time off "out on the town" or relaxing around the house?

Favorite travel destination: Do they prefer seeing nature (mountains, beaches, etc.), touring cities (large metropolitan towns or quaint local villages), or visiting man-made attractions (theme parks, museums, memorials, etc.)  Do they prefer spending vacations exploring somewhere new, or returning to cherished memories from the past?

Enjoys shopping? Are they the kind who see shopping as an adventure and a challenge? Or merely as a chore to be finished as quickly as possible? Is this true across the board, or only for certain items? Perhaps they see nothing wrong with shopping all day for electronics, but turn up their nose at the idea of shopping for new clothes. Do they experience the thrill of the hunt when spending the day scavenging back issue bins at a comic convention, or would they rather avoid the crowds and snipe for collectibles on Ebay?

Favorite flower? Someone who lovingly cultivates a garden of daffodils is a very different character than one whose home is decorated with potted nightshade and venus flytraps. 

Musical taste: Is their taste more in line with "Classical" (Beethoven, Bach, etc.), "Cultural" (African tribal drums, Chinese festival dances, Irish jigs), or "Popular" (which might be anything from do-wop to gangsta rap). Are they avid fans/students of such music, or is it merely something they listen to as "background noise". If your character is religious, what role does religious music play in their lives? Do they love traditional hymns, but only in a church setting? Do they listen to contemporary Christian music? Do they favor it as a God-glorifying alternative to all other "mainstream" music, or do they shun it as a "sell out" for copying "worldly" art styles?

Other minor but revealing details about a character may include...

Favorite colors? Favorite movies? Favorite TV shows? Favorite radio hosts? Favorite video games? Other hobbies and interests?

VERY PERSONAL LIFE: Questions about your character's romantic relationships, and the standards that define (or compromise) their character.

Romantic interests: The more possible romantic interests or rivalries, the more dramatic tension (or comedic possibilities). Whom does your character have an interest in? Do others have similar feelings for the character? Are others aware of these feelings, or is it kept secret? Are they in a relationship or is it unrequited from afar? Does your character have past relationships that have shaped their outlook (or might return to complicate the plot).

What attribute does the character have that are attractive to others? Is it their appearance? Their confidence? Wealth? Power? Personality? Is it their virtuous moral character? Is it their conspicuous vices? (Some people like dangerous rouges.)

What traits does your character find most attractive in the opposite sex? Personality? Fame, wealth, power? Self-confidence? Appearances? Does your character accept the modern media portrayal of glamour as an ideal, or do they have their own standards for what is attractive? (Is their eye drawn to elegant models? Muscular athletes? Bookish librarians? Redheads with freckles?)

Relationship ethics? What governs your character's behavior in their romantic relationships? Does she have firm religious convictions against premarital sex? Does he go along with cultural traditions on what is "proper" behavior for the sake of reputation and appearances, but would be willing to break those rules if he thought he could get away with it? Have they taken vows of celibacy for the sake of devoting themselves to some noble cause? Are they unrepentantly promiscuous, and view relationships as a game to be played?

Their imagined ideal? What person or image (real or fictional) best symbolizes the character's imaginary "ideal" of the opposite sex? How would a character react if she actually met someone who resembled that idea? How would a character react if he found himself becoming attracted to someone who (at first glance) appeared to be the opposite of that imagined ideal?

Of your story's cast of characters, whom would they be most attracted to? Ignoring whether or not they are "just friends" (or even enemies) in your story, which other person from your cast of characters could be a potential match? Does either one of them (or both) recognize this? Do others? 

Of your story's cast of characters, whom could they be tempted by? If your character is already committed to someone else, who else from your cast of characters could make them reconsider their affections? Could your character be lured away from their girlfriend or boyfriend? From their fiancee? From their spouse? If your character thinks they have found their "one true love", what would they be willing to sacrifice for them? Their job? Their existing relationships? Their good name? Could they be tempted to compromise their faith, their wedding vows, or their moral convictions? If they did, would the be able to self-justify it to avoid guilt, or would they actually feel remorse for their decision?


End of part four, to be continued

This is part three of Kevin Yong's "Character Creation Guide" checklist, from an article originally written for Alpha-Omega #100.

SPIRITUALITY: Defining what your character believes about the deepest issues of life.

What would your character be willing to die for? His family? His country? His reputation? His faith? What would prompt him to take the risk of putting his life on the line? What would he refuse to back down from even if there were a gun to his head?

Who (or what) does your character love most? If forced to "choose sides" between the things that he loved, who would win? Would she choose God over the disapproval of her family? Choose duty to work, country, or starship over commitments to romantic partners? Choose a wife even at the risk of being disowned by parents? Getting rid of her pet for the sake of her allergic fiance? Would they choose to risk losing their other relationships for the sake of their children? Their father? Their mother? Siblings? Friends? Teammate? Sidekick? Spouse? Adulterous lover? For the sake of their faith, their moral code, or even for money? Do they love anyone or anything that much, or are they entirely self-centered?

Religion: Be s vauge or specific as needed. Some people might fall into a broad category like "New Age", or "Agnostic", or "Protestant". Others might be more specific, like "Russian Orthodox", "Southern Baptist", "Sufi Muslim", "Foursquare Pentecostal", "Lutheran Church: Missouri Synod", or even "Cult of Gorto the Cosmic Cow".

Degree of religious practice: Many people count themselves as "Christians" if they were baptized as children, or if they go to church on Easter or Christmas. How does your character's faith (or lack thereof) influence their day to day life? Are they active in a church? Do they start reading the Bible daily as a resolution each year, but can never make it past Leviticus?  Do they hold to their parent's Judaism for the sake of cultural identity, but not enough to pass on an occasional BLT sandwich? Are they indifferent to religion? Openly hostile to it? A "foxhole" believer who only prays during times of crisis? Active in full-time ministry to the poor? A zealot planning bomb attacks against unbelievers?

Worldview: Broader than just a simple religious label. Even those who don't identify with a specific religion still have their own personal views about the big questions of life. What are their thoughts about the nature of reality, about the existence of God, about the basis for morality, about human nature, about life after death, etc.

Motto of life: When asked to define "the good life", is his ideal more in line with classical philosophy, or more in line with a holiday sale at Sears? Are we just meant to "Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die"? Is life all about money, and "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need"? Is life simply "vanity of vanity, all is vanity and striving after the wind"? Or better, "the chief end of Man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever"?

===

ETHICS: How does your character face the hard choices?

Guiding moral principles: Regardless of what he says about his religion or worldview, what standards does he live by in real life? What behavior does he excuse? (Stealing office supplies? Politicians he agrees with being caught lying?) Even if he says he cares about ABC, does his behavior show he really cares more about XYZ? What is most important to your character? What do they actually invest time and money in order to gain, keep, or protect? Is it money? Fame? Love? Honor? Revenge?

Feelings on the use of force or violence? Are they a pacifist who will do nothing even if people are being raped and murdered? Are they a quick-gun vigilante willing to shoot first and ask questions later? Somewhere in-between?

Would he ever kill? Is your hero against all forms of violence? Or like a paragon of Silver Age virtue, are they willing to fight crimes with their fists but have a strict moral code that draws the line at ever killing under any circumstances. If they're opposed to killing, could they still justify it to themselves under certain circumstances? What would those be? In self-defense? In the defense of others? During war? Are there some crimes so heinous that they would be tempted to kill out of anger or revenge? (Child molestation? Nazi war criminals? Corrupt judges? Racist terrorists?)

Would your character ever lie? To save a life? To spare someone's feelings? To avoid getting in trouble? To preserve national security? To not spoil a surprise party? Would they tell half-truths with plausible deniability during a political campaign?

What would he "never be caught dead" doing? These are the sins that the character finds so repulsive to their own way of thinking that it is easy for them to not be "tempted" to do such things. Naturally, these are also the sins that are easiest for them to look down on others for. What are the things that your character holds in such low regard? (Drugs? Sex crimes? Public drunkenness?)

Past actions they are most ashamed of? What has your hero done in the past that they regret the most? It might not be an obvious "sin" like theft or murder. Rather, it could be something more subjective like the breakdown in relationships with an ex-wife or estranged parents. (This can get tangled with the question above if the character already has done the things they "wouldn't be caught dead doing".)

Hopes that others will never find out about ___? This isn't quite the same as the previous question. For example, if he's a famous politician, perhaps what he personally most regrets are the unidealistic compromises he's made while in office, or the emotional cost his career has taken on his family. On the other hand, what he most desperately hopes that the public never discovers is that early in his career he fathered an out-of-wedlock child with a former campaign volunteer.

If he was totally honest, how would your character describe themselves? Perhaps he'll never be totally honest, because he's truly worse than he's willing to admit. Or perhaps he's better than he ever gives himself credit for, thus ruining the excuses he gives for his failures. How would others in the cast describe the character? (How would they describe him to his face, at a tribute in his honor? At a roast? At an intervention? When gossiping behind the character's back? Or if they could describe them anonymously to a biographer?)

Bad habits / vices? These might range from the harmlessly unpleasant (biting fingernails), to the socially or morally unpleasant (cursing, pornography) to the physically unhealthy (overeating, smoking tobacco) to the physically life-threatening (alcoholism, drug addiction). On the other hand, perhaps their vices are spiritually harmful but socially acceptable (such as gossip, greed, impatience, pride, etc.)

End of part three. To be continued

.

This is part two of Kevin Yong's "Character Creation Guide" checklist, from an article originally written for Alpha-Omega #100.

PSYCHOLOGY:
What makes your character tick?

General Personality Type: Describe your character's personality using whatever standards best apply, be it clinical psychology or literary archetypes. Type A vs Type B? Introvert or Extrovert? Phlegmatic, Melancholy, etc.? 


 

Quirks: The kind of harmless yet odd habits that is either endearing or drives their spouse crazy. Do they alphabetize the contents of their refrigerator? Refuse to stir their tea with anything except a literal teaspoon? Always drum their fingers on their rocking chair? 

Eccentricities: These are a step up from mere "quirks". They're the kind of odd behavior that makes for rumors among your neighbors and possibly interfere with day to day life. It could be odd behavior like mowing the lawn by candlelight at 2 AM, or obsessive-compulsive behavior like endless door locking or hand washing. (Note that a character dressing up in tights and leaping from rooftops in the middle of the night doesn't count as eccentric if you're writing a superhero comic, but would definitely qualify if you are working in a different genre.)

Temperament: Patient? Easily provoked? Stoic? Pessimistic and cynical? Calmly trusts in God? easily offended? Holds a grudge? Quick to anger and quick to apologize?

Method of Handling Anger: Do they yell? Curse? Send poison pen letters? Do they hold it in and give themselves ulcers? Do they simmer in resentment until they explode in response to an unrelated annoyance?

Approach to Money: Spends all their income? Spend more than their income? A balance of some savings and some debt? Is their focus on hard work and long hours? Entrepreneurial wealth creation and careful investment? Risky get-rich-quick schemes? Gambling or other questionable financial habits?  

If they were suddenly made wealthy, what would they do with the money? Invest for the future? Give to idealistic causes? Pursue a dream? Quit his job and retire? Gloat? Lose it all in a short-lived orgy of riotous living? 

What are their stated goals in life? From being President of the United States, or owning their own comic book studio, what are their most often expressed goal in life? What do they think would allow them to "die happy". Is your character wandering aimlessly through life? Or do they have a goal of some sort? (It doesn't have to be good goal or one that ultimately satisfies the soul -- but it sure helps keep the characters motivated in the story!) Is their life focused on a gold medal at the Olympics? To be rich and successful? To write comic books for a living? To get married and have a family? To take revenge upon the six-fingered man who killed their father? 

Fears: What keeps your character up at night, worrying? Makes them nervous? Gives them the heebie-jeebies? It can be specific threats (his secret identity revealed, a family history of cancer, layoffs in their chosen career, their spouse leaving them), or it could be general situations (public speaking, being lost, going to the dentist, etc.) or more philosophical in nature (fear of wasting one's life, fear that there's no purpose to anything, vanity of vanities, all is vanity...)

Phobias: More than causing simple unease, these are psychologically crippling fears. It can be anything from claustrophobia or fear of heights, to something more exotic like a fear of peanut butter or of circus clowns.

Manias: Obsessions beyond mere hobbies or quirks. What inner motivation does the character find to be irresistible? Curiosity such that they literally can't leave a mystery uncovered? A fixation on fighting only for certain narrow causes (such as an activist obsessed with animal rights but apathetic to other human beings) or fighting only certain things (a vigilante who only targets drugs, or political corruption, or sex offenders). Perhaps their "mania" is a weird obsession, such as devoting the majority of their income and spare time on collectible figurines. What separates these from a mere eccentric hobby is a matter of degree. (For example, most of Batman's villains fall into this category, in that their obsession with riddles or coin flipping may in fact jeopardize their criminal schemes.)

Addictions: Any physical or mental crutch that they can't function without. The addiction may be as physically destructive like heroin, or destructive to family relationships like pornography, or destructive to personal time management like video game addiction, to "mostly harmless" caffeine addiction to a morning cup of coffee.

Mental Disturbances: The difference between this and the above categories depends on how technical you want to be in your psychological diagnosis. Personally, I reserve this category for actual problems within the brain rather than just behavioral issues -- that is, mind-altering afflictions like paranoia, hallucinations, bipolar disorder, etc. 

How does your character treat or get along with other people? How do they handle conflicts with a spouse? Their children? Their parents? Siblings? The opposite sex in general? Children in general? Neighbors? Friends? People more successful than them? People less successful than them? Their boss? Their underlings at work? Rivals at work? With the local police? The IRS? With people who owe them something? With people to whom they owe something? 

Sense of humor: Do they even have one, or are they deadly serious at all times? Do they dabble in puns? Prefer to be dry and deadpan? A prankster? Do they prefer wordplay and slapstick? Are they the kind who embarrass others with "dirty" jokes about sex or offensive ethnic humor? Can they laugh at themselves, or only at others? Is their laughter with others the good natured teasing of friends, or the mocking ridicule of a bully?

Distinctive mannerisms, gestures, habits: What is distinctive in their physical movements, posture, etc. If they were being lampooned by comedians, what traits would most likely be imitated? 

Posture: Do they stand rigidly at attention? Straight but not stiff? Graceful and elegant? Slouched, slumped, and depressed? Carelessly informal and relaxed? Does their posture change with their mood, or does it stay consistent.

Vocabulary/Manner of Speech: You can tell that a character who exclaims "Golly gosh gee!" is very different from someone who routinely unleashes a barrage of foul-mouthed obscenities. A trendy teen who uses modern slang is different from a stubborn hippie who refuses to abandon the groovy-speak of the 1960s. A scientist is different from a literary critic, even if both may be elitists who enjoy using fancy big words.

Heroes/Influences: Is the character influenced or inspired by someone else? Their hero may be fictional (a child who finds courage from reading Tarzan), or historical (admiring the leadership of Abraham Lincoln), or "fictionally real" (a character in the DC universe being inspired by Superman). Their influence need not be someone famous like athletes, musicians, actors or politicians. Their role models could be a family member, friend, teacher, or a "local" hero (doctor, policeman, pastor, etc.)

Childhood/family life: How did they grow up? In poverty? In middle-class suburbs? In aristocratic wealth? With a loving yet busy hard-working family? With doting parents? Drunk or abusive parents? Was it a literate, book-loving household? Did they spend every spare moment watching TV? Did they play with their siblings, or just torment them? Was their after-school childhood spent playing with friends, participating in sports, catching up on homework, or being sent to bed without supper for the mischief of the day? How do they feel about their past? Does it match what their siblings remember? Are there facts they don't know which would change how they view their past?

Traumas from the past: What is the thing that scared him most as a child? It could be something real (getting lost while camping, bit by a dog, beat up by a bully), or something they saw (by sneaking into an R-rated slasher film when they were 8), or simply an idea that worried them (afraid of parents divorcing, afraid of growing up into a geeky fanboy). Are their childhood pains still something they resent as an adult? It doesn't even need to be an obvious trauma like physical abuse -- it could be a perceived injustice like a sibling getting nicer toys at Christmas.

Most crucial experiences: What events in your character's past shaped who they are as an adult? What shaped their outlook on life? Or on their view of God and religion? Or on morality and the rules they live by? What inspired them most? What hardships "taught them a lesson"? 

What is their earliest memory? A sight, a sound, a smell, a feeling, an event, a place, a person?

Things that make them uncomfortable or embarrassed? Any talk about politics, religion or sex? Discussion of their family or childhood? Touchy-feely stuff about emotions and relationships? Is he embarrassed to discuss his work (because it's not "respectable" enough) or to be praised about it (because they're the best there is at what they do, and they won't want to look like they're gloating about it.)

What are their traits admired by others?  Traits disliked by others? Are they aware of these things? 

Prejudices: These can be social stereotypes they hold for racial/ethnic groups, positive or negative. It can be assumptions made about those who disagree with their politics or religion. It may also be cultural prejudices, such as that all Japanese animation is pornography, or that any Disney movie must be pop culture trash, or than any comic produced by [insert hot artist/writer name here] must be good.

Pet Peeves: What are the minor aggravations that make your character grumble, and are likely to be "the straw that breaks the camel's back" if they've already had a bad day. It could be things like telemarketers, or ATM surcharges, or noisy neighbors, or people who use emoticons in their emails. Whatever gets under your character's skin, it's the small annoyances of life are often the ones we complain the loudest about. 

End of part two, to be continued.

As Ralph Miley noted in our previous blog posting: "It is important for the writer to really know their character. Their history, their passions, political view points, flaws, family, etc. Hopefully the reader will make some kind of emotional connection (negative or positive) with the character. In future blog articles, we hope to explore some of the techniques writers can use when creating characters."

To give our readers a glimpse of what goes into the making of a character, we now present one such "Character Creation Guide", an article originally written for Alpha-Omega #100 by Kevin Yong.


This is a list of questions that I use when brainstorming new characters. The questions were compiled over several years, gleaned from a variety of sources: comic book reference guides, creative writing workbooks, fanzines, etc. I make no claim to having invented all these questions on my own. I rephrased them to suit my purposes, threw them in a blender, and categorized the results.

These questions may touch upon matters of interest to your readers (like the old Marvel Universe or DC Who's Who series), but the questions are meant to primarily serve as aids to you, the writer. Writing down obscure details helps keep them consistent throughout the story. They also serve as idea springboards for future stories.

Not all question here must be answered--in fact, I've never answered every question here for any of my specific characters. Unless you happen to be J.R.R. Tolkien, nobody expects you to invent a character and immediately chart out the character's family genealogy for the past thousand years. However, asking questions about the character's family relationships might get you thinking about possible story ideas.

CHARACTER CHECKLIST: QUICK REFERNCE
Putting a name to a face (and a face to a character).

Name: Superhero name, character's birth name, other titles, pseudonyms, nicknames, etc. Also note of the source of the name has a particular significance for you or an intended symbolism for the story.

Physical description: If you're an artist, you can work out these details yourself, but if you're a writer partnering with an artist, it’s important to provide as many details as possible. This is especially true if you have a large cast and you need the artist to be able to keep the characters' height, faces, body types, etc. consistent. Also note any distinguishing marks like tattoos, birthmarks, scars, etc. It's embarrassing for a birthmark to be a major plot point in issue #3 if you forgot to show it when your hero was swimming in issue #1.

Nationality: What's their citizenship? Where they born there or did they immigrate from elsewhere? If this is a fantasy or sci-fi tale, what planet or otherworldly realm do they come from? Unless your fantasy world has some monolithic one-world government, indicate what group/state/clan/race/religion the fantasy character is a part of. (Don't assume that aliens never have disagreements over religion, or that Elves won't argue over politics?)

Race/Ancestry: Not necessarily the same as national citizenship. By this I mean their sense of their family's ethnic and cultural history, not merely a skin tone.

Age: This doesn't have to be exact, and you may choose never to directly mention it due to the flexibility of time in comic books. However, your character's age will make a difference in defining their experiences and expectations. (For example, if your teen sidekick 14, 16, or 19? All three would be within the "high school" range, but the concerns of a high school freshman adjusting to a new school and trying to find the courage to ask a classmate for their first date will be vastly different from the concerns of a 19-year-old on the threshold of legal adulthood facing college and career choices.)

General Health / Medical Conditions: Is he a burly superman with has never been sick a day in his life? A scrawny nerd with chronic asthma? A generally healthy fellow with a bad knee and weak shoulder? Also note any allergies, diseases, injuries, inherited illnesses, etc. that may be used as plot points later on.

CHARACTER CHECKLIST: SUPERHERO STUFF:
(also known as the fun part for your inner fanboy)

If you're writing a superhero comic (or any sci-fi or fantasy story featuring characters beyond the normal human expectations), this is where you list off the details (if any) of any powers or abilities far beyond those of mortal men. You can be as generic ("he has super strength") or as specific ("he can lift up to 1456 kilograms") as you need. This list is for your own reference and as springboards for story ideas. Do they have physical powers like super strength or invulnerability? Energy powers like shooting lightning bolts or manipulating cosmic quasi-quantum superstrings? Mental powers like super hypnotism or mind reading? Or powers that just defy categorization, like the ability to change the colors of any cloth into plaid?

Often, it is the limits we impose on our characters powers that provides the challenges and conflicts needed for an interesting story. Are there specific things that your hero is vulnerable to? (Such as Kryptonite for Superman, or silver for werewolves?) Are there unusual limitations on your heroine's powers? (A time limit on her transformations... her X-ray vision can't see through copper... etc.) Are there practical limits to how their powers work? (If he is super strong but not invulnerable, he may be strong enough to push through a brick wall but perhaps his bones wouldn't be strong enough to support lifting a truck over his head.)

Perhaps there's more to your action hero than just being faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive. What are their other talents, skills, or training? Is she a black belt in Karate? Fluent in Hebrew and Greek? A gourmet cook? An expert sharpshooter? A brilliant heart surgeon? A certified Xerox repair technician?

If your character is a costumed hero, what sort of costume is it? Beyond just the visual design, the details of their costume and gear can make for interesting story springboards. Is their costume normal spandex or is it a fireproof alien cloth? Could their bulletproof chain-mail be held down by giant magnets? If they have their own unique tools like wrist-mounted web lasers, how did they get them and how hard are they to maintain or replace if damaged?

CHARACTER CHECKLIST: BACKGROUND HISTORY:

Group affiliations: This is more than just if they are a member of the Legion of Super-Avengers, or the Justice League of Society. The groups your character is a part of tells us more than just superhero team ups. It can tell us about their...

Hobbies: are they part of the school chess club? A Christian comics APA-zine? A knitting circle? An online gamers' team?

Profession: Are they part of a professional group? Did they just sign up for the free newsletter, or are they active participants? Are they part of a union? Did they join willingly, or is membership mandatory in their state?

Politics: Are they on the mailing list for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals? Are they volunteer spokesmen for the National Right to Life? Are they part of the Young Libertarians Club in between their college classes?

Religion: I suppose church membership would count, but I was thinking more along the lines of "para-church" organizations. Promisekeepers, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, the Salvation Army, etc.

Legal record: Think back and try to imagine what might be dredged up against your character if they were ever a political nominee appearing before a Senate confirmation hearing. Have they ever been arrested for anything? Convicted or sentenced? Is he squeaky clean? Only a few minor offenses? Skeletons in the closet? Their past record may include anything from hit-and-run drunk driving, to being arrested for civil disobedience at a peaceful political protest.

Employment record: Assuming your character's adventuring is not a full-time paid profession, what do they do for a living? Is this the only career they've had, or have they worked other jobs prior to their current job. Does their manager's file for them have any complaints or commendations? What did your character write for their résumé? What is written up about them during their annual employee performance review?

Financial status: If your character struggling in poverty? Comfortably middle-class? A wealthy billionaire? Living frugally? Living beyond their means? Are they paying their Visa bill with their Mastercard? Is his wealth invested precariously in high-risk stocks? Is her life savings buried as gold ingots in her backyard?

Extent of education: Did your character drop out of high school? Stuck in junior college for years, trying to get their units to add up properly? Zipped through a university graduate program? What was their area of study? What grades did they get while they were there? What degrees did they earn? How do they view their education -- a source of legitimate pride in the hard work it took, a source of arrogance against those from "lesser" schools, a source of disillusionment over how little of what they studied actually applies to life in the real world?

Military experience: For people in peacetime who don't make a career out of it, this might fall in the gray area between an education and a job. Why did they join? A duty to country? A love of adventure? A family legacy? A pragmatic choice to pay for education or as a career stepping-stone? All of the above? None of the above? For those of an age where the draft was in effect, they may not have had a choice.

Transportation: A person's personality (or income) can often be reflected in their mode of transportation. Do they ride a bike? Take a bus? Own an electric car? A pickup truck? An SUV? A luxury sedan? A custom-built drag racer?

Inventory of personal possessions -- items of note? What valuable or unique things does your character own? A mylar-bagged comic book collection? Souvenirs of trips to foreign lands? Cosmic treadmills or Phantom Zone ray projectors? A Babe Ruth signature baseball? Seven spare copies of the Mona Lisa? A stone from the beach where they first met their future spouse? Unless your character has taken a vow of poverty, they probably own something interesting. (Interesting to them, at least, if not to the rest of the world.)

Current address: Be it 221-B Baker Street, or an Antarctic fortress of solitude, be as specific or as vague as you need to be with your character. You can map out his town, or just hint at a general area. Does he rent or own the home? Does he have more than one? Or is he always traveling from one adventure to another, without a fixed abode? If money were not an issue, where would he prefer to live? What kind of home would he prefer?

Brief description of their home: "In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit..." If we were a stranger visiting your character's home for the first time, what would our first impression be?

Decor of their personal space: How does your character keep his home, lab, office, or cubicle? Is everything neatly arranged and orderly? Are the furnishings expensive, cheap, clean, sloppy, comfortable, cluttered? Is the work space meant to be attractive, and if so, to whom? Is it meant to impress visitors, or was it designed only with the character himself in mind?

Other occupants of their home: Does our heroine live at home with an elderly mother? Does our hero have roommates sharing a cramped apartment? Does he live alone, and if so, does he enjoy the solitude or wish for company?

Relatives: Parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, spouse, children, in-laws, etc.

Marital status: Single and desperately looking? Single and gleefully promiscuous? Contentedly celibate? Engaged? Married? Unmarried, but "shacking up"? Separated? Divorced? Widowed? Remarried? Did he have his marriage annulled when he discovered that his "wife" was really an alien shapeshifter impersonating the synthetic android impersonating the clone impersonating the woman he had married in a parallel universe?

Married life: If married, what is the nickname by which they address their spouse (and vice versa)? Did they marry for love, convenience, money, obligation? Do they have any children? If so, what are their names and ages? If not, do they plan to? Do they wish they could, but can't?

Type and number of close friends? Is your character the type who cheerfully befriends everyone they sit next to at the bus stop, or an enigmatic loner whom the neighbors worry and spread rumors about? Are their close friends most likely to be old classmates, current co-workers, acquaintances from church, or fellow sci-fi fanboys? Who is their best friend? Who are they people they spend the most time with after work when they're "off duty"?

Allies and aquaintances: These might not be close friends, but are people your character knows well enough to send a Christmas card to during the holidays, or to call for help if they're in trouble. (Our hero might not think Aunt Mabel is his favorite relative, but they're close enough that he could ask to use her guest cottage if his neighborhood burned down. Our heroine might not be a member of the Avenging Justice Legion, but she knows them well enough to have her unlisted cell phone number on speed dial in case of emergencies.)

Enemies: Does our hero have a grudge against someone, or attract grudges from others? Does he have a particular arch-enemy or group of villains who target him from among the other heroes? Does she have a viciously personal rivalry with a classmate or co-worker. Does he have a neighbor with whom he trades police noise complaints, zoning board violations, and loose dogs on the lawn?

Travel record: How far has your hero traveled in his life, and for what purpose? Did his family go on cross-country vacations? Did her family move to another country when she was young? Has he ever had to relocate due to a job? Has he traveled the world in search of adventure, or has he been always stuck in one spot, never able to leave Bedford Falls?

Brief history: This can be as long or as short as you like. These are not meant to be an outline of the events of your story's plot, but rather the background details known only to you regarding the history and motivation of your character. Explore their formative experiences, and list the things that shaped their personality and led them on the path that brings them to the point in your story where you first introduce them to your readers.

End of part one. To be continued!

An interview with Ralph Miley about chapter two of the Ragged Capes webcomic.

Q. Lioness seems like a character with a lot of thought put into the history behind her.  Has she appeared before?

I have mulled over the character for over two decades.  She first appeared in Valiant Efforts #1 and #2, 1989-1990. Though the readers saw this angry woman in those stories, they never got any insight as to the source of her rage.  Ragged Capes gave me to opportunity to explore the reasons for her bitterness.  

Q. What were your inspirations in creating the character?

Lioness is based off a former girlfriend.  I though I did not see her flaws during the time I was dating her, it was as I got older that I was able to look back and realize the extent of her pain. Then I began to explore the immense impact that fathers have on a culture. For some it is a very painful experience. If God allows me to create a character that can expose those pains, then maybe that can be an opportunity for the Lord to touch the core of that person.  Once the person knows where it hurts, the Lord can heal.

Then there was the time in early spiritual journey towards an abiding faith in Jesus Christ, I found myself frequenting many Black Muslim meetings. I read the literature and listened to the leader of the Black Muslims, Minister Louis Farrakhan. There was an anger, mistrust, and sometimes hatred of White America. This appeal towards the tragic history of Blacks in American society was enticing to my racial sensibilities. However, Christ asks me to take a much different road… a road that led to peace and forgiveness. These factors played a prominent role in the creating of the Lioness character.    

Q. Is it difficult as a writer to “get into the head” of a character like Lioness?

If there is a familiarity with the character, it is easier to see how the character thinks. Almost all the characters that I’ve had the privilege to create have been based on someone I’ve known in my life.  For me, as a writer, it is important that I know the character and how they will respond to certain situations.  

For example, Lioness would actually despise the election of President Obama.  One, his turning his back on his former pastor Dr. Jeremiah Wright, who in her eyes was actually speaking the truth about White America. Second, she would think he must have compromised you values somewhere, for so many white people to vote for him.  

It is important for the writer to really know their character.  Their history, their passions, political view points, flaws, family, etc.  Hopefully the reader will make so kind of emotional connection (negative or positive) with the character. In future blog articles, we hope to explore some of the techniques writers can use when creating characters.

Q. Do you ever hesitate when writing characters who have such deep flaws?  Is there a worry that readers may sympathize too much with her negative qualities, or may wrongly assume that you share the attitudes expressed by the character?

As far as worrying about people thinking I may hold to her views, I don’t.  If anyone has seen my un-smiling photo at the CCAS social network site, they would think I’m one unpleasant person. But anyone who has ever met me knows that neither an online photo nor the characters I create in my stories reflect the totality of who I am.  

As for writing flawed characters, we are all flawed and scarred in some way.  It may be pride, selfishness, stubbornness, or any number of sinful personality traits.  Hers just happens to be unresolved anger.  And without Christ, some can go through their entire life and never come to grips with those flaws. When writing a character like Lioness, I want the reader to say, “I recognize her”. It may shine a light on how our past dysfunction shapes our present day character. 

Q. Do you have other stories to tell with this character?  Will we see her again?

There are so many stories I’d love to tell with this character.  I would love to introduce the other heroes that come into her life and cause her to rethink her opinions.  It would be a rethinking that would take years!

However, all that is in the hands of the Lord.  If He wants these stories to be told, He is more than able to open up the doors of opportunity.  So though I’d love to share these stories, it is totally in His hands.  If there is never another Lioness story that see the light of day, God allowed me to share the one He wanted me to share and that is fine with me.