Cat Fight In The Kitchen-Wattpad Rant

Make Me A Character

Hey my pretty people! I just have a spare half hour here and I thought I'd rant really quickly, because I love you. And I care about you.

Let's talk about: Make Me a Character

I was talking to someone the other day and she came across a thread (in the clubs I guess) asking for people to create character for their stories. And we both though that was kind of lazy.

So we talked about how to fix that and I came up with this really cool idea based on a little project I had to do.

Everyone is unique, right? So build all your characters based on you.

Write a list of 25 things people don't know about you. They don't have to be big secrets, just things that you don't usually come out and say.

Like the fact that I'm left handed. It's not something that I just come out and tell people, but I don't hide it either.

I guarantee that there will be a pretty good mixture of totally normal and a little strange.

Then pick and choose aspects to put together and you'll have a unique character that's relatable.

And since the idea is a little scary (and a little vague), I'll give you an example.

Here's the list I used for my project (because I'm on a time crunch and I can just copy and paste. Not all 25 will work well, and it'll be the same for your list. But don't think, just write).

1.       I love to clean.

2.       I have chronic insomnia.

3.       There is no genre of music that I don't listen to. I like some a LOT less than others, but I'll listen to literally anything.

4.       I love music so much that I taught myself to read it and play seven instruments comfortably (though I love to dabble with new ones).

5.       I taught myself to play guitar by watching old VHS tapes of rock concerts from the '70s and '80s. People give me strange looks when I say Bruce Springsteen, Gary Richrath, and Angus Young taught me to play guitar.

6.       My handwriting is constantly changing.

7.       I'm a huge Panic! At the Disco fan.

8.       I'm also a huge Hank Williams Sr. fan.

9.       I can't pick a favorite anything, because my commitment issues are too big.

10.   I love the show Friday Night Lights. Matt Saracen will always be my QB-1.

11.   It's my dream to write and record with Ryan Ross.

12.   I taught my dog to eat Candy Corn and now he's addicted to sweets.

13.   I love imitating noises and I've gotten freakishly good at it. It's to the point where I can make people paranoid about hearing their phones go off or hearing phantom cats meowing at them.

14.   I used to drink Mt. Dew religiously, but I've cut back significantly.

15.   Bruce Hall's performance of "Back on the Road Again" from REO Speedwagon's Live In-fidelity changed my life. I had it on VHS when I was 10 and I made my dad watch it again and again. Needless to say, I wore out the tape.

16.   I always have to chew gum. If you ask me if I have gum and I say no, I'm lying.

17.   I also always have to have lotion with me.

18.   I miss running Cross Country in High School.

19.   I grew up wandering down dirt roads listening to Classic Rock and Bluegrass.

20.   I'm a terrible driver.

21.   I have epic concerts in my car on the highway, but I act totally normal at stoplights.

22.   Despite being left handed, I play all my instruments right handed.

23.   I can quote almost any Will Ferrell movie ever made.

24.   Instead of actually communicating with people, I find pictures and gifs from The Office, That '70s Show, or Disney movies and text them to people. And it really makes me happy when people respond that way.

25.   I know every word to every Dierks Bentley song ever. Ever.

Okay. Now I have my 25 things.

And if I combine just two things from that list, I'll have a character that's unique, but relatable.

I can have a girl that is addicted to soda and dreams of writing a song with one of the most esteemed songwriters (in her mind). I can have a guy that is a terrible driver and loves to clean.

Or maybe have a girl that loves watching old concert tapes and eating candy with her dog. Or a guy that imitates noises and listening classic country music.

Seriously, put any of those two together and BOOM, you have a character.

My one suggestion is that you don't use actual pop culture references. Instead of saying Hank Williams Sr. fan, I'd say classic country fan. And instead of saying Friday Night Lights, I'd say primetime drama.

I'm cool with people using movie/song/book quotes, but I don't like it to be obvious. I quote Mean Girls and Anchorman all the time, but I don't say I'm quoting them. I just do it.

Seriously, 90% of what I say come from a movie/song/book. (And you get a high five if you catch me and call me out).

So if you do it, make an author's note and explain. Don't plagiarize. Just allude.

Or, if you want a character to be not like you, ask a friend for a list of 25 random facts. I'm sure they'd be happy to oblige! Or use mine. I don't care!

Now for the fun part! Comment with a list of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 (however many you want!) things that people don't know about you. Then, when people read this, they can pick and choose characteristics they think are cool. (Also, I just love when you guys share stories and stuff. I really do).

Besides, maybe you'll find someone that likes the things you do and you'll start a beautiful friendship. I'm all about friendship.

Or comment with some of your personal traits you passed on to your own characters!

(Or if you have any gifs from one of those shows, do share. I'll love you forever).