I'm a new author to the site, long time reader. And I was wondering how many do full character bios for your main and supporting characters? If you do, how do you manage and organize them?
I'm a new author to the site, long time reader. And I was wondering how many do full character bios for your main and supporting characters? If you do, how do you manage and organize them?
I keep them in a separate document in alphabetical order for each story.
I list what chapter I introduced them and their physical description too
This way if I forget where their tattoo is or what I said about the size of their clit I know that too.
If it's a big story I track important location and details on those too.
For anything short of novella length, I keep the details in my head. For anything longer, I keep bios of the principal characters at the end of my story working-document.
AJ
I'm a new author to the site, long time reader. And I was wondering how many do full character bios for your main and supporting characters? If you do, how do you manage and organize them?
I only do them for myself, as part of the notes I use to try and keep stories straight. They are not for others to read.
I'm a new author to the site, long time reader. And I was wondering how many do full character bios for your main and supporting characters? If you do, how do you manage and organize them?
I used to use simple text documents, but now I use my Wiki (which is available to readers as well). Things I don't want to reveal are kept in Scrivener.
It depends on the story. If the story I'm working on is very complex, I'll write character bios and sometimes go so far as to write what is going on from that character's point of view. If I'm only working with a few characters, I'll keep it all in my head. Since I'm constantly turning my text, if I wind up doing something inconsistent or contradictory, I'll fix it in a revision.
Every character needs a detailed physical description including all distinguishing features, a complete Meyers=Briggs workup, full CV and credit report.
You just never know when one of those little details will make or break a flash piece.
Every character needs a detailed physical description including all distinguishing features, a complete Meyers=Briggs workup, full CV and credit report.
And you have to maintain a meticulous count of ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations to ensure that no minorities are under-represented ;-)
AJ
And you have to maintain a meticulous count of ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations to ensure that no minorities are under-represented ;-)
I could actually pull demographic stats from my Wiki. Don't record race, though (but do record nationality).
and sexual orientations
Is that a thing anymore? Or is it supposed to be 'sexual identity' now, along with 'preferred gender pronoun'?
"And you have to maintain a meticulous count of ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations to ensure that no minorities are under-represented ;-)"
Lol, No I don't and no I won't. If there is a lesbian who is half Asian and half Black in the story that is because I need her there. It is never because of inclusion or representation.
My motto is I write what I write to the best of my ability and the readers will like it or they won't.anyone wants representation get off your butt and contribute some stories that have your characters who are whatever.
As to character bios and stuff. I keep them in Scrivener. The amount of info I use is normally just enough to make the character 3 dimensional in whatever part of the story they're in. I make a list of every character in a story down from the doorman up to the MC. Only major and secondary characters get a bio. The doorman is whatever I feel like making them. If I introduce them as a more significant character in another story then they get a bio
Lol
That was the point of my (and AJ's) comments. If you're going to write a series of ten epic novels, with hundreds of cast members who you need to keep consistent, you might want to go to the extreme that I mentioned. If you're writing a flash piece (1000 words or less) then having thousands of words worth of information on every character appearing in the story is likely overkill. And in any case, keeping government bureaucracy mandated employment statistics on your characters is overkill no matter what.
But it's just sad when someone comes along that forces a joke to be explained.
But it's just sad when someone comes along that forces a joke to be explained.
Like they used to tell us at school, if one person doesn't understand something, it's likely others don't too. For the record, bk69 is correct: my over-the-top parody was for entertainment only (unless you work for the BBC).
As a side note, I found I needed to maintain bios for the main characters in the thing I released yesterday, although many of the details didn't make it into the story text.
AJ
Hey now, I may be slow, but I'm not thicker than cold lard. I knew that it was a joke. I was taking the opportunity to fly double fingers at some concepts I disagree with at all levels of society. I was hee-hawing so I guess you can call me a dumbass, lol
I knew that it was a joke. I was taking the opportunity to fly double fingers at some concepts I disagree with at all levels of society.
Ah, but I put a smiley after my parody.
No disparaging intended, I'm 'thicker than cold lard' at times :-(
AJ
I have a separate file, similar to the dramatis personae that you'd find in regular novel, where I keep what I consider relevant information about a character.
For example, here's the notes I have for two living (and one deceased character in A True History.
Harry (Harold) Watson, Jr. – 41 – born Holcomb, Kansas, June 14, 1943
Widower (Elspeth) – served US Military (1963), Farmer
Elspeth Watson (deceased) – injured June 19, 1981, tornado, died September, 1981, professor, University of Kansas, Lawrence
Vehicle: F-150 XLT Super Cab, Dark Blue, 4WD, full size bed, trailer package
Beth (Elizabeth Betty Liz) Watson – 16 – born Sacramento, California, January 12, 1968
6'0" tall, thin, blonde hair, A cup – Period on 4th of month – shaved pubic hair –
GF#1 Vehicle: Ford Ranger, White, Short Bed, 4WD
Is there a free version of Scrivener? I'm not that serious into writing right now and don't want to pay for software for something that may not continue.
Is there a free version of Scrivener? I'm not that serious into writing right now and don't want to pay for software for something that may not continue.
It has a free trial period of 30 days. That is 30 actual days. So if you use it every other day the trial period last for 2 months.
It has a free trial period of 30 days. That is 30 actual days. So if you use it every other day the trial period last for 2 months.
And, of course, there's usually a way around the time limits of free trials. (Usually involving uninstalling and purging all traces of the software before doing a fresh install.)
(Usually involving uninstalling and purging all traces of the software before doing a fresh install.)
That's one of the nice things about my Raspberry Pi. I just swap SD cards and I'm somebody else.
And, of course, there's usually a way around the time limits of free trials. (Usually involving uninstalling and purging all traces of the software before doing a fresh install.)
And thus depriving the author of revenue to which he is entitled once the offered free trial ends.
Some people would call that theft.
Some people would call that theft.
Yeah. And it's also why any decent programmer would come up with a nastier tactic - as in tracking who's 'cheating' the free trials, and if those people are making any money using the software, they'll be paying out more than they made in legal fees and a civil trial.
Problem is, software is typically priced for business users, who'll write off the entire cost and can afford a fair bit. But making software free to hobbyist users would make it too easy for those businesses to also not pay.
So, basically the hobbyist can effectively 'steal' the software, while commercial users end up paying one way or another. And really, the guy who wrote the software doesn't usually get royalties, usually it's that guy's employer.
So, basically the hobbyist can effectively 'steal' the software, while commercial users end up paying one way or another. And really, the guy who wrote the software doesn't usually get royalties, usually it's that guy's employer.
My philosophy was always: borrow if you're using it to train for a new job, just to get used to the technology so you can hit the ground running, but as soon as you make any money off of it, then pay for it like everyone else.
But that's a part of the 'shareware' ethos which has largely driven that whole counter-industry. Yet, when I was working in Manhattan as a technical consultant, I continually encountered people (company's) who were generating millions in profit, who'd nevertheless steal software for struggling entrepreneurs who are trying to establish themselves.
Unfortunately, not-for-profits are a while 'nother question, and the stipulations (of most programmers) isn't so cut and dried.
There is a program called ywriter that is absolutely free forever. It is Scrivener like but more basic. I used it to write two books so I know it's very usable. Use it until you feel the need to upgrade.
Like everyone else, I don't publish them, but I do share them with my editors, to make it easier to track down details. But rather than a single large file, I break it down as follows:
- Character List - a list of each character, their sex, age, relation to the MCs and when they first appear.
- Timeline - A record of what specifically happens in each chapter, so we can track when things supposedly happen, for tracking down discrepancies.
However, since I mainly write full novels, I'm relatively unconcerned with specific kinks or clit/dick sizes. ;)