Here we are, week number two! I hope you guys are ready, because we have a bit more to go through than last week. It's all about fleshing out your characters this week and prepping them for your story. In case you missed last week, here you go:
Now that we have covered what a story is, it’s time to look into what makes a story come to life. You want to know what every great story have in common? They all have great characters. Going off of last week, if your story is a tree, and the events are the branches, then the characters are the fruit. You know, the part of the tree that identifies it, and can make people love it, or hate it. Just like a tree, if your characters are dry and rotten, then people aren’t going to stick around.
The key to a great character is all about creation. Every author had to think about each character they have made at one point or another, and if the character is a main one, spend a long time putting all the details in order. There are an infinite amount of characters out there for you to use, the real trick is narrowing down that list. The character you’re looking to fill out is a spot trying to be claimed by thousands of actors. It’s all on you to pick the one you think will make your story come alive. If you’re looking for a family man who is warm and inviting, a guy who has face tattoos and goes around beating people up for fun probably isn’t going to fill the role as well as some other characters can. Now, this is your story, so this could be the guy you’re looking for, all I’m doing here is giving a few tips on how to go through this interview and find the perfect character.
First, you have to identify the role you’re filling. Are they a single father? How about an elderly grandma? Either way, you have to know. Once you have that figured out, next comes their goal. Every story has an end goal that the author is constantly pushing the reader towards. What you need to figure out, is what that goal is. Next, comes the why. Why is the character reaching for this goal? What is their motive? All of these things are not only key to the characters, but for the plot as well. As you can see, the characters are woven into the plot itself. They aren’t just picked up at random and placed on this path to see what would happen, they are deliberately picked by you, the writer.
Once you have the basics, here comes the fun part. The more detail you put into a character, the better. Remember, you won’t be using all of this information in the story, but if the character is real to you, it has a better chance of coming through to the reader. Now that you have the skeleton of the character, it’s time for the flesh. In other words, character traits. Please, for the love of all things writing, don’t say that your character is “friendly”, or “well liked”. That literally means nothing. How friendly is your character? Would your character pick up a friend whose car broke down in a city two hours away? What if your character had to leave work to do it? Is your character so well liked that they get invited to every party in town? Do other characters buy things like coffee or Lamborghinis for your character? In other words, it’s less about adjectives, and more about examples.
Now that you have started getting an idea on what your character’s personality is like, it’s time for even more detail. Since it can be challenging to come up with these all on your own, there’s a few exercises you can do to help you come up with ideas. Have your character fill out a resume. This is extremely useful as you’re covering things like education, job experience, contacts, and all sorts of different things. Now have your character make a resume for a job they aren’t qualified for. Would they lie to get the job? Search up interview questions online and interrogate your character into spilling all of their secrets. Write a short story with the character going through the craziest things. When I say crazy, I mean it’s raining highlighters in the middle of Macaroni Canyon as your character is white water rafting in the Milk and Cookies River crazy. Just go nuts. It’s all about knowing your character inside and out.
Are you still with me? Great, we’re almost done. Now, it’s time for quirks. You know, those weird little traits that make people unique. These are incredibly important as they’ll make your character break the mold of various stereotypes. I have a little theory about characters. I think it has some truth, but maybe you more experienced people can tell me if it’s accurate or not. There’s already a stereotype for every character you could possibly think of. No matter what, your character is going to fit perfectly inside one of these molds. The only way out of these molds, is through quirks. Does your character do something when they’re angry? Do they have any irrational fears? How about hobbies? You don’t want your character having too many quirks, as it will just make your character seem fake and turn off your reader, but you want a fair amount. It’s all about getting the right balance. The amount is different for each character, so it’s practically impossible to put an exact count on it, but it’s easily noticed when you’re way off.
Alright, that’s just about it. All you have to do is follow those simple steps and you have your character. It’s that easy!
Okay, so it’s not easy. Remember my analogy about the actors? Just like in an actual audition, you’ll most likely narrow the field down into a few actors you can’t decide between. At this point, you have to take a step back and look at your story. Throw all bias out of the window, because this is where the fate of your story hangs in the balance. Really look into the cracks and crevices of your story, which traits will help the character proceed along the storyline, and which ones will hinder it. Give it some thought, and I guarantee that you’ll be able to select your character.
Now, I learn best with examples, so let’s dissect a character and see what we can uncover. Since this is a pokemon forum, I think it’s only appropriate that we choose Ash. Love him or hate him, let’s begin.
We look at Ash, and we see the stereotypical protagonist that rushes into things without thinking first, and has an unwavering sense of justice. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a lot of main characters on a lot of different shows. Great! We have our stereotype. What makes Ash different is his quirks. From the show, it’s plainly obvious to me that he doesn’t like school. Anything that’s not hands- on and interactive, Ash can’t concentrate. Okay, a lot of the protagonists on different shows share that trait, so let’s go deeper. One thing that makes Ash stand out is his willingness to put himself in harm’s way for a friend. A lot of protagonists have this trait as well, but not to the extent that Ash takes it. He’s been electrocuted dozens of times, and has slammed into countless walls just so his friends won’t have to. Heck, he even jumped off of the Eifel Tower to save a yellow rat. That’s something not a lot of characters would do. All of that added onto the fact that Ash has a really weird obsession with hats, and you come up with a one of a kind character that can only lead to Ash Ketchum.
I’m going to be honest, in order to do a thorough job, you need to spend a lot of time on this. Will you use everything you come up with? Heck no, and if you do, you either haven’t thought about it enough, or are trying to make too much of an effort to do so. This can be a lot of fun. Personally, it’s my favorite part about writing a story. I could spend forever doing this, it’s all about having the right attitude. Once you have the patience to really flesh out a character, the character will come alive. It’s like you’re now in charge of your own living being. It’s really great, and I sure have a lot of fun doing it.
Just remember to take your time. You have a lot of characters to go through, and it won’t help anything if you rush through it. The entire point of this is to know your character inside and out. If the character is real to you, that’s going to translate to your readers. Characters are the fruit of your story tree. It’s your job to nurture and grow these fruits into characters your readers fall in love with (or hate, depending on the character). If you want your character to stand out, it’s all about quirks. But beware, don’t go overboard. Above all else, have fun with it. If you’re not having fun, then why are you doing this in the first place?
Homework Assignment:
I would like all of you to start fleshing out a character. Hopefully, you have some sort of personality in mind, because I’m going to be interviewing your characters. Well, one of them at least. If you have the time and motivation, I want you to fill out your character’s responses for the following questions, preferably in first person, but it doesn’t have to be, and then send them to me via PM, or post them in the comments below. The reason that I want you to send these in via PM, is so that I can then use your answers to come up with one more round of interview questions to help you even further. I would also encourage you to post your answers in the comments and read through a few others. Heck, you can even ask your own interview questions if the urge hits you.
Anyway, here are the questions. And yes Ray, I did steal these from your old thread:
Spoiler:
What is your full name?
When and where were you born?
Who are/were your parents?
Do you have any family other than your parents?
Any story from the past you'd like to share with us?
Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people.
What do you do for a living?
Do you have any special abilities?
Tell us more of your appearance. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks, these kind of things.
To which social class do you belong?
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses?
What does your voice sound like?
What do you have in your pockets?
Do you admit to having any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
Nice tutorial as ever! :D I'm gonna post here and I'll PM you too.
Spoiler:
What is your full name?
-Nathan Steele, Jr.
When and where were you born?
-June 3rd, 1990
Who are/were your parents?
-My father, Nathan Steele Sr, was a rich England businessman, controlling many societies specialized in a lot of different products. He died, 10 years after I was born, in a tragic car accident. My mother, Maria Alexia Gonzalez, born in Spain, was a world-renowned lawyer. She also died, but during the Cataclysm.
Do you have any family other than your parents?
-I honestly do not know. I had family all over the world, I haven't heard of them after the Cataclysm.
Any story from the past you'd like to share with us?
-No, I do not like talking about my past with anyone.
Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people.
-I live with a band of teenagers that I barely know and I haven't really made any efforts to socialize with them so I can't really describe them on a personality level.
What do you do for a living?
-I kill demons and I steal goods.
Do you have any special abilities?
-Yes, I do. My body contains the "Energy Shard" which grants me surhuman abilities. I move faster, anticipate better, hit stronger and analyze better than your average person.
Tell us more of your appearance. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks, these kind of things.
-I have "brown" skin, stand at 5'9", weigh around 165 pounds and I am human. My hair is jet black, my right eye is red and my left one is black. I have a red dragon tattoo on my right arm. I currently have no scars on me. I don't like to dress fancy and I wear dark colors. You'll always see me with a jacket though.
To which social class do you belong?
-The Upper class, even though social classes no longer exist now.
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses?
-As far as I know, none.
What does your voice sound like?
-Average deep voice.
What do you have in your pockets?
-My smartphones and a few dollars.
Do you admit to having any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
-As every other human, I do. When I get angry, my left eye tends to turn red and I bite my lips. If I'm stressed out, I will yell at anyone.
I thought I would post this here, but I already PMed you so... XD
Spoiler:
What is your full name?
Natalie Thompson
Who are your parents?
I live with my single mother. My father passed away in a car accident when I was fourteen years old. My mother is very supportive and works as a nurse at a children’s hospital.
Do you have any family other than your parents?
Yes. I have a younger sister named Madelyn. She’s sixteen years old. I also have my grandmother and my aunt. They both help support us the best they can and make sure we are well loved.
Where do you live in, and with whom?
I live in a beach house by the ocean with my mom and little sister. My mom is very kind and sweet to everyone around her. The only time she ever gets angry is when people treat me poorly. Madelyn is your typical teenage girl. She is obsessed with boys, fashion and being with her friends. It’s often hard to get along with her, but we try our best.
What do you do for a living?
I have part time job as a stocker at a grocery store. Sometimes, I take care of the carts in the parking lot, but that’s not all of the time. It’s a hard job to manage because my boss can be a real jerk to me.
Do you have any special abilities?
I taught myself how to swim when I was little, but I don’t know if that counts as a special ability or anything. I can also express myself through writing as well, which has helped me in tough situations too.
Tell us more about your appearance.
I am 5’4 and weigh just about 130 pounds. I am also white with light skin, brown hair and emerald green eyes. I often dress in jean capris, graphic t-shirts, petticoat skirts and converse shoes. I don’t have any scars, tattoos or distinguishing marks that I know of.
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses?
I have a mixed form of autism that varies depending on the situation. I can be very clumsy and tend to trip or bump into things. I’m always getting strange bruises from these accidents I have.
Do you admit to having quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits or other defining characteristics?
Of course. I tend to meltdown if something doesn’t go as planned, or I’m overloaded by the environment around me too. I also flap my arms and squeal when I get really excited as well.
An interesting question, to be sure. You call me lots of things. Often your kind has viewed me as three people, even. But I'm one person. Your kind gets a lot of stuff wrong. I guess the closest word you have is "destiny" or "fate," although I am not exactly either. Nowadays I call myself Tess Tycho when I have to deal with mortals. It sounds nice, like one of your superheroes who always has the powers they need and good and evil and purpose are all the same... I'm rambling. Sorry. I do that a lot.
When and where were you born?
I claim to have been born in this very city twenty-something years ago. Of course, that is a lie. The actual time I came into being was a lot longer ago, before we even really had these things you call "places" and "time."
Who are/were your parents?
A necessary annoyance. I don't really, well, I can't tell you that. Or won't tell you that. It would ruin all the fun of watching you aimlessly stagger throughout life trying to hit a metaphorical target ten feet above your head with a one meter stick. For purposes related to your dumb tax code I have to trick some random mortals into thinking they're my parents every once in a while. I mean, it's nice when I get evicted or something, but it's kind of annoying. I try to give them nicer deaths for their trouble. If that's even... rambling again. Sorry.
Do you have any family other than your parents?
There were some gods I guess you could count. Most of them are gone now. I outlived them. I outlive most everyone. I'm pretty sure my not-parents have a real daughter named Stephanie. She stops over sometimes to see how I'm doing. I tell her I'm doing quite well. She's nice. I know it really doesn't matter, but I'll try and give her a good death, too.
Any story from the past you'd like to share with us?
I love stories. I know most all of them. But the most interesting ones aren't in the past at all. They're in the future. Would you mind if I told you yours? No, well I couldn't anyway. Or wouldn't. In truth I haven't actually wrote it yet. I'm a terrible procrastinator. I often don't finish until someone dies!
Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people.
I live alone with a cat. I like cats. They're simple enough that I don't have to write their story so it's always interesting. We live together in a tiny apartment with a leaking roof in a bad part of town. There are often gunshots at night. But it doesn't matter. They can't kill me and anyone who dies would have died at some other point if they hadn't died then. Sure, I could get hurt. I hate that. But in time I always get the last laugh, as you mortals say. I am very good at outliving people.
What do you do for a living?
Whatever I can for however long I can. I'm not terribly great holding jobs, though. Kind of hard focusing on the burger in front of you when you're busy guiding seven billion people to their inevitable ending. But, hey, supernaturally powerful girls have to eat. And that takes money in your time and place. Which I didn't have when I was born. Have you already asked that question?
Do you have any special abilities?
Yes. Like outliving people. And writing their story. And seeing everything that's going on anywhere. But in terms of actual, like, superpowers: no. You could punch me and I would fall down and you could rob me. But then I could have you get hit by a truck and I would get the last laugh because I'm very good at outliving people.
Tell us more of your appearance. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks, these kind of things.
Short, thin, deathly pale. My eyes, which you mortals erronously insist are the gateway to the soul (I can't give you the real answer, but suffice it to say you're wrong) are pale blue. I've been called "pale as death." It's ironic because I'm a lot paler than him. And he even goes around in a hood all day. It would be really unjust if I really cared about that sort of thing. I'm also kind of poor by your standards, so my dress is whatever I can pick up at one of your Goodwills. Which are basically the pinnacle of human achievement so far.
To which social class do you belong?
A low one, but I don't really care. Rich or poor, you'll die. I won't. Have I given the outliving joke yet? Sorry, kind of losing focus dealing with seven billion stories. Tend to forget where I am in your timeline.
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses?
I'm very punchable in the "now-term." As soon as you get into the future, though, I'm still very punchable. But I can punch back much harder. Not that I care. You'll die, I won't. You're lucky like that. And the one time that Stephanie took me into this terrible man he said I had schitz- I don't really remember. He will not have a pleasant death. Not that it matters, of course. The dead care a lot less about their deaths than you might think.
What does your voice sound like?
High-pitched, prone to dragging off into long syllables as I stare off blankly into space from time to time. I also hear it rambling a lot. Like right now. I should stop. Sorry.
What do you have in your pockets?
Twenty dollars. Which is probably my entire monetary supply unless I've already received my paycheck or I am working a different job than I thought I was. Time is really confusing. I wasn't born with it, you know? Sort of a second language to me. I think I told you that though. Did I? Either way, not terribly much money. Never terribly much.
Do you admit to having any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
Nope. Nothing that could be described like that at all.
Some of my friends at the BS wanted to see my writing. So I've decided to post it here...
Spoiler:
What is your full name? “Well… Lyle Mckenzie, but mostly my friends call me Ly or Lai and due to their neglectful ignorance to actually say my real first name I just went with It. *smirks*
When and where were you born? “So I checked the records beforehand so I was born at St. Michaels’ Hospital on the 12th of March, 1993. The name of the town I was born in was Willow’s Peak, California…Hmm.. Willow’s Peak… so that’s the new name of the town! Oh? Yes I lived their but before It wasn’t called Willow’s Peak it was Bakersfield. I know right! The old name sucked. Good thing they changed it. I like the new name. Sounds hot.
Who are/were your parents? “So yeah… I don’t like talking about my family really and I won’t bother to know them. They left me at an Orphanage! Why would I know them? Oh? You meant my adoptive parents! *giggles* Ok!… My dad’s name is Jester Mckenzie… He’s a CEO of a up-and-coming publishing company called “Mack Publishes U!” and my mom, Faith Mckenzie, acts as my dad’s secretary…”
Do you have any family other than your parents? “Well, I do have a little sister or brother…I don’t know yet. My parents didn’t even check yet…But so far she or he is 2 months in my mom’s womb. And I also have my cousin, Dex, and although my friends aren’t technically “family” I still consider them a part of it err- a part of my family.”
Any story from the past you'd like to share with us? “To be perfectly honest, My childhood has been a mess, switching for 4 families until I met mom and dad who didn’t give up on me and never regretted adopting me. They should really be given an oscar or a emmy or something for their hardwork. But back to the story… Yeah growing up was a mess but there’s this one time that I’ll never forget…Me and friends made this movie called “Twatlight” which is obviously based of Twilight. And me and my friends all starred in it until the part where Edwad a.k.a. Olly accidentally gets the wrong script and kisses Gheycub Yellow a.k.a. Wes instead of Belli. It was so hilariously stupid. We kept talking for it like days *laughs*…”
Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people. “As I said before I lived at “Bakersfield” back when it was still “Bakersfield”. But then my parents asked me to move to Manhattan so I can pursue my schooling there…Stating that Bakersfie-err Willow’s Peak’s *gets tongue tied* you know what? I just going to call it WP… So yeah WP’s education was “not enough” for me and I lived at Manhattan for a 2 years with my grandmother, Prescilla Dawson, from my mother’s side and a man-nanny named Fabio. Meeting my grandmother was divine by the way. She took care of me with the utmost love and supported my goals at my school. As for Fabio he was a great Nanny/Butler/Driver I have a pleasure of being a master to because of the fact that I never really had a man-nanny or butler before…”
What do you do for a living? “Well I’m a Urban Artist as well as a writer… On the subject of artistry I mostly do morbid stuff and “Ghetto” subgenre of art. I usually do it on walls around the city with spray-paints. To be honest, I felt so badass when I did those. I felt like I was some inFamous or Assassins Creed game and as for the writing I have published my debut novel entitled “Angeldust” through my dad’s publishing company and I’m proud to say that it was met to great success.”
Do you have any special abilities?
“Now we’re talking… Ever since that ghastly “Eternum Crisis” last year, I can safely say that my Pyrinas strain I gained through crisis has now been completely controlled and I can finally access my Pyrinas. The ability, like any other Riftwalkers that got infected through Eternum, includes heightened senses, strength, dexterity and etc and we also have those disadvantages among others is the fact that we get tired too fast. Though I hope recent studies can help us control that disadvantage though.”
Tell us more of your appearance. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks, these kind of things. “So…Umm… I’m just 5’11. I know I’m pretty short. I weigh about 170 lb and I’m part Filipino from my dad’s side and as you can see through my jet black hair that I have a small scar on my right eyebrow. I have brown eyes and tanned colored skin tone…As the readers can’t see think J-Lo tan. My friends usually classify me as the group’s “hipster” judging from my clothing. I usually sport J’s, Vans and or Chucks. I pretty much just wear V-necks or Tees and haha! Yes I have almost every color in the Primary Colors for my shirts. I go with black jeans since I own like 10 of them. I don’t pretty much like colored pants since it doesn’t go with my skin tone. I just wear jeans, leather or denim, for shorts too. I never even dare to think about taking tattoos... It's just not my style...Not my "hipster" way if you will..."
To which social class do you belong? “My family’s always been in the middle class. It’s only been 2 years, a few months before the Freidrick Mutations and at least 3 weeks after the Eternum Crisis, that my dad’s publishing company was given the light of the day. Both my parents are working hard to get the money for my tuition and such so I try not to become that much of a pain in the ass.”
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses? “Well.. Ugh… *scratches back of the neck and looks down for a second* I have this rash on my chest that comes from the heat when I’m outside and I have mild phobia with clowns I think it counts as a weakness. It’s just that they scare the hell out of me”
What does your voice sound like? “Oh yeah…This isn’t going on television right? It’s on a book…yeah… So my voice sounds more…errr Simon Cowell-ish…With a bit more asian tone sprung into the mix and a more spunky and feisty attitude.”
What do you have in your pockets? “Oh? You mean right now? Ugh… I have ugh…my phone which is a Lenovo A516 by the way with custom rom that came out like 2-3 years ago.*giggles* I feel like I’m endorsing Lenovo right now. You think that they should pay me more too?! Ahaha!… A stick of gum and my wallet that mostly contains some licenses, a credit card and at least $130 dollars…”
Do you admit to having any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics? “Besides the scar on my eyebrow, I usually perform this strange ritual of when I’m alone I act like I’m with Oprah…When I’m typically out of ideas and such I bite the tip of my pencil/ballpen same goes when I’m performing a test or something… I also like to play with the hair of my girl friends and yes there’s a space…not “girlfriends”…girl friends” Just so we’re clear…”
These profiles have been interesting to read, yyyyyyy'allllllllllllllllllll...
Spoiler:
- What is your full name?
I don't know if you'll accept my answer, but I usually go by "eight hours."
- When and where were you born?
I dunno! I don't think I was ever even born anywhere. But I think I first appeared in some sort of city... I forget the name.
- Who are/were your parents?
I don't think I have any. ...Do I? Maybe I have one parent. They're probably more of a creator.
- Do you have any family other than your parents?
Not that I know of!
- Any story from the past you'd like to share with us?
Uh... Well, there are a bunch of times where I saved people. I can't think of anything specific to share. I wouldn't mind it, though. I mean, if you wanted!
- Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people.
I don't live in any particular place. Whenever I..."wake up," it's in a different part of Earth. But wherever I go, I try to meet new faces, find old ones if I already know they're nearby, do good, try not to scare anyone...
- What do you do for a living?
I don't have a job! I'm a hero wannabe. A public do-gooder? I try to be.
- Do you have any special abilities?
Do you really wanna know? I don't want to scare anyone, but...I can do just about anything. I can make things out of thin air and mess with the rules of reality. I try not to do it often, so.
- Tell us more of your appearance. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks, these kind of things.
I have cool black hair in a weird shape. About average height adult or young adult male with weirdly-pale skin. I wear goggles for stylistic purposes and like to wear the same primary-colored clothes every day. Are you really interested in this? This couldn't be more useful than actually looking at me! I'm all over the news now!
- To which social class do you belong?
Technically, the lowest of the low.
- Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses?
Nope!
- What does your voice sound like?
Kind of high-pitched.
- What do you have in your pockets?
I don't even have pockets right now.
- Do you admit to having any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
You can probably say that better than me! I don't think I'm very self-aware... I'm probably annoying. I try to help people and I end up fighting a lot of strangers with weird powers. I might be too violent. I've heard that I mysteriously disappear for sixteen hours every day... That might be my defining characteristic.
Here is my one. Continuing from before with the main character from the idea I posted the previous lesson.
Spoiler:
What is your full name?
Jill Milburn.
When and where were you born?
April the 17th. I'll be turning 20 next year. I was born in Ecruteak.
Who are/were your parents?
Just regular citizens I suppose. Mum was the trainer that went travelling and she showed me a lot about Pokémon from the ones she had; dad was more an electrician and that profession never caught on for me. I'm more into the outdoors anyway.
Do you have any family other than your parents?
The odd relative, I suppose - you know, grandparents, an uncle who appears out of nowhere every five years. I suppose Bessie is family too. But I don't have any siblings.
Any story from the past you'd like to share with us?
Hmm... how I got Bessie, perhaps? I adopted her as a Seel from a group who brought her to the Pokémon Centre. Her clan had been pretty badly attacked and she was one of the survivors, and only a wee little pup. Her and a few others needed someone to care for them while they grew up, and I was looking into getting a Pokémon too and wanted one that hadn't just come from mum. So I took a course, got on well with Bessie despite her issues, and soon enough she was entrusted to me.
Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people.
House on my own in Mahogony, save for Bessie, my Pokémon (a Dewgong). The house has two floors but isn't too big, but that suits me fine. I don't need much space, just something warm enough from the winter months. It can get really cold then...
What do you do for a living?
I work in a Gym as a Gym Trainer! If anything, it's like an internship for being a Trainer - I get taught a lot about battling, and get some money too. In turn, I have to help out in the Gym with challenges, and also housekeeping matters, like cleaning up, setting up the gym puzzles again after damage from stray attacks, and so forth. It's enough to get by, and I have to admit I've gotten used to it.
Do you have any special abilities?
Special abilities? Uh... well, I know how to ski. Not unusual for the other people who I train with in the Gym, but it's something I love to do and I suppose a lot of people have never tried it out!
Tell us more of your appearance. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks, these kind of things.
I'm a bit above average height, I suppose, and am pretty thin. Never put on much weight and I go on a number of walks, and skiing when it's winter. I'm a Johtoian, have black hair and green eyes. I don't dress up very much, more into practical clothing I suppose. I have a couple scars from one skiing incident as a kid on my legs, but there's no damage from that or anything, hasn't stopped me since! Haha.
To which social class do you belong?
The Skier class? I guess I'm just from the middle class, really. Never really thought about that....
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses?
A bit of hayfever when spring comes around. But I'd say I'm reasonably fit, don't have any disabilities, or the like.
What does your voice sound like?
Nothing special about it. I have been told my singing voice is nice, but I don't really like to sing in front of others, just to myself. Maybe Bessie, but then she just joins in. I think I can sing better than her at least.
What do you have in your pockets?
My wallet, which includes some money on hand for lunch, and my trainer card. I also have Bessie's Poké Ball on my belt.
Do you admit to having any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
Hmm... I don't think anything comes to mind, sorry. I guess I have minor quirks, like everyone does, but nothing really that out of the ordinary as far as quirks go?
I'll post this here to if anyones interested, also borrowing from last weeks lesson.
Spoiler:
What is your full name?
David Wisdom Churchill
When and where were you born?
July 17, 3097
Who are/were your parents?
Wendell Kaspar and Carey Edna Churchill.
Do you have any family other than your parents?
My cousin Leslie and her daughter Barbara. I heard rumours of more family though, where ever they are.
Any story from the past you'd like to share with us?
10 years ago, when my parents were still alive, the Musergy (Music->Energy) plant malfunctioned. My parents were sent to go fix it due to their extensive backgrounds with music theory and engineering. They never came back home.
Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people.
I live by myself. My parents used to be with me, until the accident.
What do you do for a living?
I'm a librarian at the local mall. I like to stay in the back so I don't hear the music playing over the malls speakers.
Do you have any special abilities?
I was born with out a love of music, if that counts.
Tell us more of your appearance.
I'm 5'8", 214lbs, a mix of German and Irish, jetblack hair and brown-blue eyes. I usually wear a single outfit of a neat button up and a darn brown/black long coat. Dark blue jeans, and a pair of black Russell and Bromley boots.
To which social class do you belong?
Upper Class, but I choose to live a middle class life.
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses?
I'm Lactose Intolerant, and I have a weak right leg.
What does your voice sound like?
Pretty average, with a little bit of grit.
What do you have in your pockets?
My X-V10, what, do we need anything else?
Here's my homework, delivered just before it's due.
Spoiler:
What is your full name? "My name is James T. Arthurs. And no, you will not be hearing what the T stands for."
When and where were you born? "I was born on September 12th, 1997 in some hospital in Chicgago, Illinois."
Who are/were your parents? "...I was waiting for this. My mother is named Lucy; Lucy Arthurs. She's a kind enough parent, a little demanding at times but she needs the help. She works as an accountant for some big company whose name escapes me. I don't know how she does that, it must be such a bore. And my father... Thomas Arthurs. Ass is what I call him. I haven't seen him in what, 13 years now? I don't care about what or who he is now."
Do you have any family other than your parents? "Yeah. I have a little sister, Cynthia. And as annoying as she may be, I love her to bits."
Any story from the past you'd like to share with us? "Well, there was this time when I saved a bunch of people from a burning building. But I don't think your readers really want to hear much about that."
Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people. "I live in a two story house with my mom and my little sister. My mother is a short, blonde woman who's nearly always in a suit. She's relatively kind, but very busy. And my annoying sister is pretty similar, except you switch the suit for an outfit fit for someone my age, and the relatively kind for always annoying. And yes, I still live in Chicago."
What do you do for a living? "I really don't think that a part-time job at a gas station could be considered 'making a living'. It's more like working your ass of for very, very little reward."
Do you have any special abilities? "Now isn't that an interesting question. Next Question?"
Tell us more of your appearance. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks, these kind of things. "What, am I not good looking enough for a photo? Well, I'd say that my hair colour is pretty unique. It's grey, but not the old people kind of grey. It's more like a metallic silver. My eyes are much more boring than that, they're just brown. I stand at 5'11" and weigh... roughly 140-145lbs. My clothes are casual and my smile is amazing. Next question."
To which social class do you belong? "Middle Class"
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses? "Not that I'm aware of, no."
What does your voice sound like? "You want me to describe my voice? Nice joke... You're being serious aren't you. Fine, I'd say that it's... I don't know, It's a voice! How many way's are there to even describe it?"
What do you have in your pockets? "Uh... My wallet, a piece of gum, my Cellphone... Why?"
Do you admit to having any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics? "Ravaging good looks I constantly annoy people by constantly referring to how good looking I am!"
And here's part two of my homework! In case anyone's interested, I suppose. I suppose this also works as a preview in a way... but first I have to write out the rest of the darn story. :V
Spoiler:
What are your plans for the future?
How long in the future do you mean? I guess for the time being I'm content to stay here and keep on learning along with Bessie. And when we're ready, perhaps move on and travel around, see more of Johto by ourselves.
Do you get to see your parents a lot?
Not at the moment. I'm in an entirely different town after all! We're not too far away though, and I suppose if I had to I could get across those bodies of water and bypass Mt. Mortar.
How do you like your job as a gym trainer?
It's great! I made some friends with the other Gym Trainers, and as I said earlier I get to learn a lot about battling. I mean, I knew a fair bit from my mum already, but Pryce has been really helpful with Bessie's issues, and hopefully we can keep working at them.
What's your favorite color?
Dark green!
What does a typical day look like to you?
Wake up, feed Bessie and myself, and head to the Gym. Then it's a mixture of things. Could be doing work within the building, helping in a challenge, or just training my Pokémon with the others or even in private training sessions with Pryce. Usually I go out and eat lunch with the other Gym Trainers, and I relax at home in the evening.
What would be your dream job?
I...haven't thought much about that. I guess I'm not really sure, beyond 'be a good trainer'. We'll see as I learn more, I suppose.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
Were you listening? =/
If you could catch one pokemon, what would it be? Why?
Oh, well, if only I could do so just like that... Another Seel would be nice, I suppose! And Bessie might like that too, once she got used to it. I might be biased though, seeing my only Pokémon is a Dewgong, haha!
Have there been any trainers that have stuck in your mind for any reason when they come visit the gym?
Oh, there's been a few. Some have been rather rude in challenging, and it's hard to forget when Pryce puts them in their place. And some have come in with really neat combinations as well with their Pokémon.
How good of a skier are you?
You should check out my parallel turn, haha. I can ski down from the Lake of Rage in record time, for instance.
Really really late but I managed to get this done. Will be reading the other profiles during the weekend.
What is your full name?
Ah… I'm Thom. Thom Eisenhorth Mahller.
When and where were you born?
I was born fourteen years ago, on November 3rd, and that was in the town of Crespa. It's just a gathering of houses and markets off the trainroad to the forests, but it's nice.
Who are/were your parents?
Dad and Mom… when they show up, you mean? That'd be Nolan and Alvilda.
…
Oh? If I dislike them? (raises hands defensively) No, I just… I just don't see them often, it's my own fault, travelling too much. They are a much more homely people. Dad is state road guard but he's not working right now, he's on a sick leave; Mom works at home for a risk mitigation company, but I still don't understand exactly just what does she do.
Do you have any family other than your parents?
Ah. Brothers. Hum.... I have one older brother, Ravir, who is basically everything an older version of what my parents don't want me to be, they say. We had another brother with us, but he got sick and he's, uhm, not with me anylonger.
Any story from the past you'd like to share with us?
Yes. Now I wonder which… well, the first time I found my Nincada watching TV. That was really creepy, I woke up in the middle of the night at home because I heard noises and when I walked down the stairs there he was, on the table, watching the TV that I have no idea how the heck did he manage to turn on. And he kept screeching to the weathercast announcer, as if she was to speak back to him.
Where do you live in, and with whom? Describe the person/people.
Well I'm in the middle of a "Journey" now so I more or less live on the road, on this Pokécenter or the next. My team of three is always with me, so I guess they and the random Trainers sharing the road count as the people I'm living with. Croconaw is my Starter and he's well behaved… at least for what you can expect of his species. Nincada and Braviary are my other current partners, they are young and somewhat inexperienced Pokémon and they seem to rely on Croconaw for most of the everyday stuff that is not battling.
What do you do for a living? Beat random people's Pokémon to an inch of their lives for prize money Right now I go from town to town looking for small Team Tasks to apply for. I've been a caravan escort (man those jobs are awful), a publicity stunt and a proxy fighter.
I hope to get enough money by the summer to apply for entry as a Gym Trainer in one of the local facilities though.
Do you have any special abilities?
…Huh? Like what?
I've read of people with strange soul-based powers, some arcane tricks people call Aura, not to mention psychics, channelers and people who somehow seem to understand Pokémon speak and even speak on their tongue. But those are weird things if not just crazy stories; I have nothing of the sort.
Tell us more of your appearance. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks, these kind of things.
I'm a boy, to begin with. Doctors are always asking that for some reason. I have light blue hair, it's a bit on the messy side and spiky on the front but not like those characters you see on the videogames with spiky hair and big swords. My eyes are blue-ish to match, my brothers and I took that from Mom.
I only have one scar but it's a surgery scar, on the side of my hand, and it's because I, uhm... took a little bit to understand back when I was ten how not to play with a Totodile. Even if he's your starter.
To which social class do you belong?
I'm just… from a town. We're not rich or poor, no one in the town is, really. Looking around at how people live in other towns and seeing pictures of places like Castelia on TV I guess I could say I am a middle-class young boy?
Do you have any allergies, diseases or physical weaknesses?
Besides some discomfort on my hand when it's too cold well, no, not really. I'm not allergic to anything that I know of, but since I've never been overseas I guess I haven't tried to be "out there" much either.
What does your voice sound like?
Ugh… don't ask me that. I thought I knew what my voice sounded like up until a couple of years ago, then my parents showed me a clip of myself on TV from a battle. That was so embarrassing. And that's not counting that my voice kinda changed completely a bit before that. I would be only mildly surprised if it ends up I sound like a Squirtle...
What do you have in your pockets?
Uhm… Telephone. Yeah, I know, bad place to keep your phone in but I just don't feel comfortable wearing it anywhere else. Then there's the Trainer card, Government healthcare card, hunting permit card, some money, some road tickers I had to pay some of the money for. Most of everything else is on the bag.
Do you admit to having any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
I-uhm, no? (blushes a bit) Not that anyone's told me... I just tend to sleep all sprawled on the bed and wreck everything over. Why? What did I just do?