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Word Clusters Help Generate Ideas

I was talking with a friend the other day and when we got on the topic of stories and characters, I proposed that he try something one of my art professors had us do.

It is simply a word cluster map. The idea is start with a word--in this case, my character's name (see example below)--and branch off continuously. After a while, you will end up with words that differ from the ones you started with, and oftentimes, these can help you see more aspects of your character or new avenues for your story, all of which can still be traced back to the original concept.

This is a great activity if you are having trouble coming up with ideas, whether for stories, characters, or art. Explore ideas and possibilities you wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

Great to pass time in boring classes or on rainy days, too, while still being productive!

Question of the Day (Day 49): Cell Phones

So if your character had a cell phone, no matter the time period, what kind of cell phone would it be? What things could you find on it? Would they hide the contents of the phone from a significant other?? Opens up a whole new avenue of character exploration for those medieval characters. Really, what -would- they do if they had access to cell phones back then?

Question of the Day (Day 48): Knowledge In Death

Say your character was offered the chance to know how and/or when they would perish. How would they react to this? That is, would they want to find out their fate? Would they rather be blissfully ignorant instead?

Question of the Day (Day 47): Breaking Ice

Some characters are outgoing and talkative, some are introspective and slow to strike up conversation, most are somewhere in between. No matter a character's inclination, they will occasionally find themselves in a position where they want to strike up a conversation or casually gather information from a stranger.

How a character breaks the ice can say a lot about themselves, especially since this is effectively a character's introduction to whomever they are talking to. Will your character energetically burst into another conversation shouting a greeting? or quietly wait for the topic to shift to one that they can introduce themselves as an expert on? There exist many ways to start a conversation, what's your character's go-to method?

Question of the Day (Day 46): Duty VS Family

Some characters have a strong obligation towards their duty. If not their profession, then towards some goal or mission. Regardless of their commitment, sometimes your character may find themselves in a situation where they must choose between their duty or their family. What would they choose? How does this affect them, their loved ones, and the task at hand ?

Question of the Day (Day 45): Room to Grow

Most people's values, beliefs, or even personalities change over time. A person in his mid-thirties is rarely going to find value in the same things he did when he was a teenager. When making a character one thing that can add more depth to them is to decide on something that they have changed their minds regarding. Either they no longer value something they once did, or they now value something they did not care for. Alternately, you can create a character with a value or opinion that you intend for them to 'grow out of' as the game progresses.

Has your character's opinion on something changed? Is it possible that an existing opinion or value might change? How has your character grown? How will or can they grow?