(be ready for cheesiness, please. not ready? get out.)
If you don't know what an OC is: OC's, or original characters, are basically characters you make up. There are more than a million possibilities with creating OC's, it's practically impossible to list every trait/look that you can add to your OC.
I have been having so much trouble trying to make my own OC's (even one that's supposed to look like me :/) and I looked up some tips. A lot of the sites said the same thing, over and over again, meaning it HAD to be important. So, here are some of the tips, written in my own words and from what I have learned. I hope you learn something new! -Skye
An original character can't just be bland (is that a word...?) or boring (unless you really want it to, but that's not the point.). You have to really make a personality that will shine! (that was really cheesy.) An OC isn't just about looks, it's the personality that counts!
Do's and Don't's:
Don't: Stereotype your chatacter, unless that is what you're going for.
Do: Make a more creative one, 'cuz artists have creative minds. No holding back.
Don't: Make all of your characters look the same. Just because they have different hair/hair color or different eye colors doesn't mean they are "not the same as your other characters."
Do: Make differences in the shape of your OC's body, face, eyes, mouth, anything. Just don't make any one of your OC's look the same, unless they are twins.
Don't: Steal from other people. It can be inspired by another OC, but the word "inspired" can only go so far. (get what I'm saying? It's very confusing, I know... I don't know how else to explain it.)
Do: Come up with your own ideas! You would feel more proud to call it yours, trust me. :D
Don't: Make the OC boring. People wouldn't want to read the most boring story in the world with the most boring OC in the world, would they?
Do: Excite and intrigue the reader/watcher/whatever audience with your OC! Make your OC distinctive, and easy to remember.
Now, here are some ways to get inspiration:
Stereotypes are a good way to start. I know I said not to just stereotype your OC, but use a stereotype for an OC that's not expected to have the stereotype.
I used animals to create some of my recent OC's. It seems the traits that animals have can apply to your OC as well.
Listen to your favorite song, or to your favorite genre of music. It certainly helps, with upbeat, downbeat, bubbly, cute, or any type of OC look or personality.
Look at yourself, and what traits you think you have. Don't be arrogant on this one, though, be honest. Make an OC based on you and your personality. Who knows, maybe it will turn out as your best OC!
That's all I pretty much learned from the internetz about OC's and stuff. Did you learn something new? I hope so, but if you didn't, WHAT IS THE POINT OF LOOKING AT THIS?!
