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 SF Creator
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Joined: Aug 06 2010, 8:43 am Posts: 828
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Sep 16 2010, 2:38 pm
Character reference page
Hard to believe it took me a couple of years to do this, but I finally wrote the blurbs for all my characters and sorted out my "cast" page so that reference and gift art are immediately accessible for each character: http://www.malaakonline.com/cast.htmlI hope I didn't miss anything... The weird blanks are because I have more art to add that isn't formatted yet and I'm too sleepy now, so it'll be tomorrow... at some point... I have a live TV interview that's going to take up all my afternoon  I know some people go into real detail when it comes to their character descriptions, including likes, dislikes and every detail of their biography, but I find that's really unnecessary if it's not directly relevant to the plot. I prefer "show not tell", and keeping my options open for future plot developments. For instance I really don't know where Adrian comes from and where he got his training, but I'll only bring that up the day the plot requires this to be brought up – and then I won't be bound to anything pre-decided. What's your own approach?
-- Joumana
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Spider Guest
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Joined: Oct 23 2011, 6:05 pm Posts: 88
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Oct 29 2011, 10:40 pm
Re: Character reference page
Mines is reveal it as it develops so this way people will read the page as a refresher or so new people can see it and want to read about said characters, also people grow because of the story so the Bio would change.
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 SF Creator
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Joined: Aug 06 2010, 8:43 am Posts: 828
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Oct 29 2011, 11:39 pm
Re: Character reference page
Yes, makes sense to keep it updated as the story advances. But are you worried about the spoiler potential then? Do you put a disclaimer for new readers to read the story first?
-- Joumana
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Joined: Oct 23 2011, 6:05 pm Posts: 88
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Oct 31 2011, 11:28 pm
Re: Character reference page
Mmmm... Not much spoiling going on if done right, you can only talk about the one character, you can add stuff in your comic you can say Malaak shoots energy beams outta her eyes, that is not a spoiler no one would notice it. Also in some cases spoilers are good builds interest and also its not the spoiler itself that tells the story its how it happen. My page has some spoilers in NG bio but far less then in my dA page and well it happens really. Does not seem to hurt anyway. Just depends what you put, but either way it will happen.
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 SF Creator
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Joined: Aug 06 2010, 8:43 am Posts: 828
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Oct 31 2011, 11:55 pm
Re: Character reference page
In my case there isn't much I can say about most of the characters past the basics. Too much of my story relies on unexpected twists 
-- Joumana
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Joined: Oct 23 2011, 6:05 pm Posts: 88
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Nov 03 2011, 12:14 am
Re: Character reference page
very true but as the story is told you get give them out but that be your choice, when I read comics I tend to look at archives and character Bios to see what is what and so on. But you do not have to tell secrets to show character growth.
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 SF Creator
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Joined: Aug 06 2010, 8:43 am Posts: 828
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Nov 03 2011, 2:49 am
Re: Character reference page
Exactly why I mention a disclaimer: I'd want people to find out these things through the story, as they're meant to be given out, for their own sakes, otherwise the whole pleasure of discovering them is gone.
-- Joumana
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Joined: Oct 23 2011, 6:05 pm Posts: 88
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Nov 05 2011, 5:18 pm
Re: Character reference page
Well, even if you say something it is not the something itself that is the fun it's how they got their. Always remember that 
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 SF Creator
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Joined: Aug 06 2010, 8:43 am Posts: 828
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Nov 05 2011, 11:31 pm
Re: Character reference page
Uh, yes, that's what I've been trying to say, although you make it sound like you mean the reverse  So I don't really know what you meant just there! But my point remains: if you have a story building up to certain revelations, giving those away in the cast page without warning is a thoughtless spoiler on the author's part. Facts that are not introduced dramatically and/or that don't spoil the storyline don't matter, of course.
-- Joumana
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Joined: Oct 23 2011, 6:05 pm Posts: 88
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Nov 05 2011, 11:32 pm
Re: Character reference page
yes yes
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