Character Originality vs. Face Claiming

Started by starseed galaxy auticorn May 7th, 2015 6:20 AM
  • 797 views
  • 6 replies

starseed galaxy auticorn

PC's Resident Auticorn

Age 34
she/he/they
the land of magical unicorns
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
6,648 posts
18.9 Years
Just trying to liven up the place. :x Also, kudos for the lack of a better title? 8D

Anyway, do you prefer to create your characters from scratch? Or do you find it easier to find celebrities as face claims for them instead? Do you ever just browse the net for characters that stand out to you for your character?

I find it easier to use face claims. I'm terrible at describing my characters from scratch. I usually try to look for celebrities that fit them though. Most of my characters have lately been inspired by my favorite j-rockers. As for my MCs, I try to use celebrities. It also helps a lot when I ask for covers on Wattpad if I use celebs because the maker of my story covers will know what to do for them. Like I said in my other topic about story titles, my recent story uses Tsuzuku from Mejibray as the love interest and Emily Osment as the MC (I love her okay? She's so much better than Miley Cyrus who took a turn for the worst after Hannah Montana).

Bay

She/They
Dani California
Seen 4 Hours Ago
Posted 5 Hours Ago
6,347 posts
17 Years
A while back when I was doing Nothing, Everything as far as character designs go two main characters go I have them look similar to anime characters while another is already based on a canon character. Part of it is in another forum I would have banners in my signature to advertise my story and that time I don't know how to ask someone to draw OCs, unlike today where you have sites like Tumblr in which you can easily do that if you want. Otherwise, everyone's personalities and interests are different.

For other original characters, I tend to leave how their look like alone to have the readers imagine themselves saved for maybe a couple features that would be important. Lately however I've been writing more canon characters than original characters, so readers already have an idea how they look like and how they act.
Miles Edgeworth
Foul Play [On Hiatus]

txteclipse

The Last

Age 32
Riverside
Seen March 23rd, 2023
Posted November 2nd, 2016
2,322 posts
15.7 Years
Pretty much all of my characters are from scratch. Typically their appearance has something to do with their background, where they come from, and/or their personality. I try not to over-describe my characters however, as it's usually not really relevant. I prefer to sneak in small details when it's appropriate to avoid the info-dump scene of a newly-introduced character doing nothing important just so I can describe them.

Psychic

Really and truly

Female
Seen April 10th, 2018
Posted March 11th, 2018
387 posts
15.5 Years
I don't think I've ever seriously based an original character off an exciting person/character. That said, physical description isn't all that important to me. I don't need to know the shape of my character's chin or colour of their eyes - what I need to focus on is the way they set their jaw in frustration, or how their eyes dart around whenever they get nervous. I don't really imagine exactly what they look like; it's much easier - and more important - to focus on what they do and say, and what that reveals about them.

~Psychic

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SparklingMistral

The #1 Remus Lupin fanatic!

Age 28
Female
In the cardboard box in front of your house.
Seen December 12th, 2017
Posted December 10th, 2017
563 posts
14.4 Years
I do a bit of both, actually, but it mainly depends on what I'm writing.

For stories, I just sort of picture their appearance in my head and make note of it. I don't really put their appearance with an anime character or anyone famous. If I ever really need a visual though, I'll grab one.

For RP, however, I do get that visual, but I have their appearance in mind beforehand. It's not just a thing where I grab a picture and throw it in, I have the idea ahead of time and then I go look for a picture that supports that idea.
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