WRITING TIPS questions for YOUR OC (speedpaint + commentary)

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their journey of developing original characters (OCs) for a web comic, offering tips on how to craft well-rounded characters and build immersive worlds. They emphasize the importance of story, personality, and relationships in character design, providing advice on how to make characters relatable and unique. With personal anecdotes and examples from their own web comic, the creator encourages viewers to explore different aspects of character creation and world-building while maintaining continuity. They also reflect on their own experiences with character evolution and provide prompts for viewers to spark their own creative ideas.

Takeaways

• 😀 Developing OCs starts with understanding the character's personality, voice, and the world they live in, but it doesn't require knowing every single detail right away.
• 😀 Story development is crucial for OCs; think about the plot, conflict, setting, and how characters interact with one another.
• 😀 Asking questions about your OC's traits (e.g., morning habits, social interactions) helps develop them more deeply and define their personality.
• 😀 World-building is just as important as character development; consider the environment, geography, and the customs of your OC's world.
• 😀 Relationships drive conflict and character development, so think about how your OC interacts with friends, enemies, and family members.
• 😀 Consider the setting of your story—whether it's a grounded reality or a fantasy world, it significantly influences both your characters' designs and the plot.
• 😀 Keep your OC's world consistent by referencing past answers and maintaining continuity throughout the development process.
• 😀 Personality types should clash or complement each other to create engaging character dynamics and drama.
• 😀 Voice and how your OC speaks is an important aspect of their design—consider language, accent, and speech patterns to create a unique personality.
• 😀 Don't stress over tropes; it's about making your characters work in the context of your story and enjoying the creative process.
• 😀 Developing the character's appearance is linked to their backstory, occupation, and the world they live in. Consider factors like fashion, scars, and their environment when designing them.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video is focused on providing tips and insights on how to develop original characters (OCs) effectively, drawing from the creator's own experiences with character creation, story development, and design.

How does the creator describe their early experiences with OCs?

The creator mentions that they started making OCs before even knowing what an OC was, beginning with a Pokémon OC inspired by Sylveon and Eevee. However, they did not pay attention to the depth of character development at that time.

What is the biggest challenge the creator faced when developing OCs?

The creator struggled with developing consistent and well-rounded OCs, with characters often changing drastically in design, personality, and story with each new iteration, leading to a lack of depth and continuity.

What advice does the creator give for developing a good story for OCs?

The creator suggests thinking about the OC's personality, environment, relationships, and the world they live in. Questions such as 'How does the character wake up in the morning?' or 'What is their environment like?' can help flesh out their character and story.

What does the creator emphasize about world-building in OC development?

The creator highlights the importance of developing the world around the OC, such as the setting, relationships, and cultural aspects. This includes deciding if the OC lives in a realistic or fantastical world and considering how their environment shapes their character.

Why does the creator avoid a fantastical setting for their web comic?

The creator prefers a grounded, reality-based setting with hints of fantasy, as they feel that straying too far into the fantastical could lead to creative limitations or story inconsistencies. This approach allows for a more relatable and structured narrative.

How does the creator approach character design and personality?

The creator advises focusing on personality first, then developing the design to reflect it. They recommend considering how characters clash with one another, their role in the story, and how their traits interact with others. They also emphasize the importance of ensuring that each character is necessary for the story.

What is the significance of character voice in OC development?

Voice refers to how the character speaks, including their language, accent, and communication style. The creator provides examples of characters with different accents and language skills, showing how voice can shape interactions and relationships between characters.

How does the creator suggest dealing with character tropes?

The creator encourages embracing character tropes if they fit the story, suggesting that it’s more important for characters to be enjoyable and meaningful to the creator rather than strictly avoiding stereotypes.

What additional tips does the creator offer for refining character designs?

The creator suggests asking questions like 'What is your OC's occupation?' and 'Do they have any scars from past experiences?' to further develop the character's appearance and backstory. These details help ground the character in their world and history.