How to create a story that you like?

Klaustasya · Oct '19

Ever since i was a kid i had the habit to create new stories, most inspired from personal little experiences, every now and then by music, other times by meeting interesting characters from tv shows or comics and wanting to create other original characters with similiar personalities and traits.

At some point though, i was still inventing stories, but always ended up disliking them or not being really interested in them (getting tired) and trashing my own ideas, leaving myself with no story to write or draw.

Somehow most of the characters i create are always on my mind, i still can get attached to some of them but they are all left completely storyless, and this hurts, because it feels like you have a glimpse of something about a story, but lacking the whole substance. it sucks.

Therefore i was eager to ask: how do you come up with stories and comics that you're just too excited to put down and turn them into a reality?

I don't know how it's possible, but even when i try to sketch down random panels with my beloved oc's i might get things going for a little while, but no story, no comic, and a deeeep sense of void. As if i'm not so passionate about what i get out of my own mind (?).
I'm curious to know if any of you got tired of their works or characters but at the same time how did you come up with loving your own stories so much that you couldn't help turning them into a novel or a comic.
So...what's your process? do you have one? Why do you like your characters and story so much? Most of the people i got the pleasure to talk about this with always told me that they just start sketching down a character, fall in love with them and at some point they also have a good, passionate story/envoirment to put around them. I envy these people so much, honestly XD not even my starting a comic with a plot that's been in my mind for so long i can't get something done or far on the paper at least....

Maybe being a writer or comic artist is jusr something that you have in yout blood, so you feel the natural impulse and inspiration? Rather than keep on feeling frustrated because of this, i prefer hearing your point of view on this topic

yansusu · Oct '19

I normally come up with the main characters and the general story at the same time and then put down some notes on the most important cornerstones of both. Afterward, I just jump into the story when I finally have the time (I have a long backlog so that takes years sometimes even though novels are written much faster than comics are drawn) and the rest of the plot basically creates itself automatically while I pin down the first chapters.

I've actually never gotten to the point where I didn't enjoy a story and/or the characters to the point where I didn't like them at all anymore. I did have phases where I wasn't as passionate about them though.
At those times, I just continue working on the story (I have a schedule for all the ones that I'm posting so I can't really take a break) and after a few chapters, it normally gets better. It's just that there are some parts I'm not that eager to write compared to others. If I really have trouble focusing on the work and everything slows down to snail pace, then I try to think of the major plot points that lie ahead.

Curiously enough, I've noticed that I have this problem much more with stories that I'm not updating as often. E.g. there's one that I only updated once a week and there were several weeks where I wasn't too eager to work on it. Later on, I finished another project so I could free up some more time in my schedule for that project and started posting two chapters a week. Since then, I feel much better about it and didn't really have any problems anymore.
I guess before that the time I needed to get back into the mood of writing that particular project was too long compared to the time it took to write the actual chapter so I didn't really have fun. Now, I have a much easier time getting back into it since the last chapter isn't that far off in the past so I get back into it faster as well and can enjoy the writing process. I'm actually thinking of raising the release rate to three times a week as soon as I finish another novel

CarltonIsaac · Oct '19

The story comes first; the characters are secondary, like puppets on a string to be yanked along the story’s path. The key is to not get emotionally connected with any character, and try writing from multiple POVs of different characters, including the antagonists’.
Once the story is defined, characters will fall into their key roles, one by one, all the way to the end.

xabelmind · Oct '19

I always learn things I didn't know about myself, so I keep going even after hiatuses because I want to discover more

And it also gives me the opportunity to analyse social situations, human psychology, phylosophy, spirituality, sociology... Fields I'm passionate about

So I would ask you, what does the adventure of put your OCs stories on paper gives you? Are you listening to them or are you giving them a story? And what does that say of you? -deep analyse moment-

silacinnamon · Oct '19

I had the same problem as you for years, I kept rewriting my comic because I didn't like where it was going, or I didn't know what to do with it...

One thing you can do is try to analyse what kind of stories you like and what makes you like them, then try adding some of these elements in your own story! And you can search for some writing processes on the internet. I really like Alan Moore's process in "Writing for Comics" (even tho I don't follow it exactly as he says). There's a lot of other methods out there, if you try one and it doesn't work for you, just try another one!

You can also try to start making just a short story, if you're like me and get overwhelmed by trying to make something too long and meaningful then, as you get more experience, you can write longer stories or add more to that short story

Klaustasya · Oct '19

Uh, hard questions to reply to XD
1) What does the adventure of put your Oc's stories on paper gives you?
- Depending on which oc's i'm using, sometimes it's entertaining, sometimes i don't feel anything, like i can't feel any "warmth" from the characters or me (?)

2) Are you listening to them or are you giving them a story? And what does that say of you?
- if i got the question right, i would say the latter: i focus more on giving them a story rather than asking myself "if X has this personality what would they do? what's their hobby? etc etc..." . Probably this says that i'm too focused on creating a cold envoirment where to put them, rather than let them create their own envoirment and plot XD i dunno.

joannekwan · Oct '19

Most of the stories that I like enough to act upon and make into a comic or novel usually come from me seeing a thing and thinking, "I like this concept. But I can do it ~~better~~ my way."

It's this passion of wanting to put my own stamp on things and shoving them into the world that sees me through to the story's completion.

As for characters I get it. Sometimes I'll come up with some great characters but they don't have stories I can sequence yet. I can go through a few story ideas for them before I find one that sticks.

My latest batch of characters went through that process. I started with a human and monster couple. I thought of a few different story ideas but none really grabbed me. It wasn't until I decided to go full self-indulgent with them that I came up with two other characters meant to be romantic rivals to the monster that I thought "Hey, I've got something going here!"
During that time I was also reading a few monster romances. They were nice but I thought of so many ways they could be tailored to my tastes specifically. Eventually I came up with a plot to tie them all together and lo and behold I liked it so much I didn't want to wait to turn it into a comic so I started writing it as a novel right away.

Klaustasya · Oct '19

Indeed i was thinking about getting some books about creative writing but even what you just suggested and look dor specific texts about writing for comics sounds like a good idea! Makes me feel a little bit better knowing that i'm not the only one with this little conflict XD thanks

LDJones · Oct '19

I tend to start developing my works after seeing a movie/show or reading a book in a similar genre. Usually, I'll pull ideas or inspiration from those other mediums and innovate them into something more original for my own works. As a result, I usually end up with something I'd love to read myself that is also wholly unique to me!

Black_Waters · Oct '19

When it comes to creating a story. I come up with the storyline and what the story is about. Characters are the last thing I create. They are made based on how an average person would in the context of the story. Which makes me fear that my characters my come off as two dimensional.

silacinnamon · Oct '19

I'm glad I could help!! I actualy had to read some books about comic writing for my bachelor's thesis ahahah, can look for some books by Scott McCloud and Will Eisner too, they were helpful for me

xabelmind · Oct '19

I was meaning more, what is the challenge? Do you learn something out of their experience/personality?

And, okay, you decide the story rather than let the OC tell it to you. In that case I would wonder what does that say of me as a person?

But it's the kind of questions I ask myself, because I'm passionate about all those fields I told you up there, that doesn't have to be at all the way your brain works.

Maybe you're more passionate about animal behaviour and want to experiment with stories that give you an insight on the amazing wild life deep in the sea, idk.

But all those are questions you have to ask and answer to yourself, not to me.

Klaustasya · Oct '19

This is simple and very effective i would say!
I'm trying to do the same, watching tv shows and reading books that i like too, see if i can take something that i like from them and put it in the story so that it would turn more likeable i guess!

Klaustasya · Oct '19

Defenetely going to check them out! Thank you!!

Adeca · Oct '19

I don't even know how can a story be good if it has no interesting characters. Out of every comic, TV series or movie that I like, I can't think of any where the whole point of the story isn't one or more characters' experiences, feelings, development or such. Characters are not the reason why I start watching or reading something, but they're the ONLY reason I stay. And of course I can say the same thing about writing stories. If I start writing about a character, and I suddenly feel like I stopped liking it, I keep changing the character until I like it. Are the most important characters in that story not good or interesting enough to me? Then there's no story to listen to, or tell.

But you have to bear in mind that a character is not just their looks and personality. A character can (or must, even) also be an idea of a life; a story in themselves. The way I think of it is... Am I just a human that looks this way and behaves that way, or am I also, and more importantly, a life, a memory, and a story in myself? My life is who and what I am, and (ideally) a character is also their story/life/goal/role first, and their other atributes second, even if those are directly related.

My process of creating characters goes more or less like this when the first idea is a sketch (actual example):
I wanted to make a vigilante. I sketched what came to mind first: A blonde, goodlooking, mature, responsible and well intended ex-cop with a big sense of honor and justice but with obvious anger issues and merciless attitude towards criminals.
That didn't last long because it was bland and uninspired. I started digging and realized that I didn't like the idea (done too many times, not that special, it's literally the Punisher, whatever). Then I took that same character and gave them another twist. What if he's not honorable or just, but he believes he is because he has a severe case of misophobia and, coupled with some other external factors, he thinks dirty=evil and clean=good? I then came to like this absurd, nearly insane version of the same character more, then changed his personality to fit his past, his beliefs and his goals, and then changed his appearance to suit all of that. More specifically, I made him wear mostly white cotton clothes and perfectly clean and combed white hair, along with a skinny and weak body because he hates sweat and doesn't do any kind of exercise, eats very little food in order to have to poop less often, and doesn't eat meat because those are just rotting corpses (as opposed to muscular blondie with black leather clothes). Then, I thought "how can he be a vigilante if he's physically weak"? Well, maybe he has psychic powers or sci-fi gadgets that do all the job for him! Maybe somethint that resembles a vacuum cleaner. Then I decided that I would no longer make this character serious, and would turn his story into a comedy and his universe into something he made sense in, such as a very dirty neighborhood he wants to purify, a lot of fantasy elements that could explain his powers/gadgets and a development that will make him learn that clean doesn't equal good. Yes, it's similar to the likes of batman or the punisher, but with a personal little twist that makes him unique enough to don't feel like the blonde version of either.
I like asking a lot of questions about any given character I design if I'm interested in their story, and go through all of those steps to make it more interesting.

Well this is like, the polar opposite of what I just said lol. Or maybe you're saying the same thing I did in another way, from another POV? Not sure.

Mari · Oct '19

I make a character design, think of a basic backstory for them and then see where that goes. Sometimes it goes nowhere (like my poor old lesbian scarred pirate captain that was just an outlet for me to work out my love for mermaids and pirate costumes )Sometimes I'll be mulling over the story's minute details for 5 years.

Just keep doing what you do. If you don't feel invested in something you're writing, it's not wrong to just drop it. If it's something small that irks you, that's a different matter, but if the entire thing brings out nothing but dislike in you it might be better to give up. If you actively dislike what you're doing, it will show in the finished product.

borzoiteeth · Oct '19

I mostly design by themes. Questions I want to ask and have answered. Such questions can range from, "are characters who lose their original flesh forms when thrown into isekai stories become trans characters regardless of who they were from their original world?", "What if the Bermuda Triangle was a fae land?" to, "what if I designed a chimera beast made of dogs and fish won't it be funny that they will thirst for food twice as hard lol".

I've mentioned before on here that as a creator I luck out on enjoying the process more than the results. Not to say there aren't stories/characters I love, but I never expect to enjoy the finished project. I don't need to love, I just need it to be interesting.

Sometimes it can really in the blood for people to be able to just create- but for most its a learning/training process. If you have never finished a story before, I can't stress enough- give yourself goals. A lot of stories die young due to perfectionism running wild with no guidelines. You start with something cool and your mind just loves it but its still sitting in a very vague space in your head. Then once you start defining anything the story already starts loosing its luster as nothing can stand up against this better "idea" which is really only a "feeling" of greatness that doesn't even explain why it is. You might have something really good but when against the vague undefined need of perfect, no idea can win.

So set yourself something basic, even with stuff that you feel is pointless to mention because you love that genre/theme so much. Just put it down. Ex: urban fantasy, 3 main characters, super gay, what is fate, monsters, etc. Make a goal of a possible ending. Yes, saying you want an open ending or no defined ending (even perma-hiatus) result of the story is stating a kind of ending. The point is to help give your mind the right kind of expectations so when you drop your story you know its because it simply couldn't work in general, not just because of lost interest.

These goals can also change. You don't have to stick to them unless you discover that you are the kind of artist that flourishes best with defined set challenges.

And finally, please consider, most creators creating process is like an iceberg. All the work it took, edited story or tossed ideas are unseen under the ocean. I have hundreds of characters and a ridiculous amount of stories that will likely be never seen by anyone. Some of them I love much more that what I have shared, but the ones I share just happened to pull themselves together to be worth sharing.

AVXP · Oct '19

The first:
Push, pull, add, edit, subtract, build upon, tear down...rethink, retrace, narrow, expand, work, rework the thing
until I feel giddy. I try to never stop at 'good enough' as in "That's good enough."

There's an excitement about the reader's experience too. Dying to see how they react when they get to certain parts or see certain things. Half the fun is creating, the other half is sharing.

When I love an idea and I think it's brilliant...it gets considered.
The second, which is tougher, is to let it marinate.
Sit on the idea and keep thinking about it and see if it holds up over time.

The only stuff that I've lost interest in, was stuff that had a huge interest spike at the start and I went with it and over time my feelings waned. Wait. That's an important lesson I've learned. If something is a really, really good idea, it will stay a good idea for a very long time.

Rhonder · Oct '19

I've always been a very reactive & inspiration based writer. Like I'll see a cool thing in a show I'm watching or game I'm playing or whatever and be like "wow, that was awesome! I want to try that out too :D"- obviously putting my own spin or ideas into it and trying not to blatantly copy, but yeah~ So like I'm writing about concepts that I'm already excited about which helps to keep me excited about the project as a whole.

The other "secret" that goes into my planning process is that, for better or worse, I tend to begin building my stories by first thinking of really cool scenes or interactions that I'd like to try out as the starting point and then craft a lot of the rest of the plot around those scenes. Like how do I get to this really cool moment? I find that having those cool moments sprinkled throughout helps to give me a "carrot in front of the donkey's nose" effect like even if the slower moments aren't super cool, you know that the next big scene is around the corner and you wanna get to it, so away we go! I couple this with brisk pacing so that there's not too much downtime between the big moments: the biggest issue with my prior project to my current one is that the pacing sucked relative to my drawing speed (I was pacing it out like a weekly shonen manga series but could only draw 1-2 pages a week) and it was going to take like a year to get to the first big cool scene... I don't have the patience for that (and wouldn't expect readers to either ) so I gave up on the 8th page of the re-re-reboot and moved to this new shorter project.

For a quick example of my process with my current comic, it went something like this:

Was playing a few videogames that had a focus on elemental magic, and specifically combining different elements to get different effects
Wow that's super cool, I wanna try!
What elements should I use for this comic? I wanted to create a more tactical fighting scene rather than a brute force one, so I thought using water, which is typically not a very offensive element in combination with something else might be interesting. Decided on water + fire = steam (which was a combination which showed up in both games I was playing hehe).
Got to thinking about what might make a cool comic, and envisioned this panel:

And after that literally the whole writing process was just structured around how to get to this cool moment xD

Spoiler for the basic plot development of my comic

"well I want this water mage to team up with a fire mage to create a big steam effect to win a fight... so maybe the opponent has vision based abilities that the steam interrupts? Who is the opponent then... well maybe the characters are treasure hunters and the opponent is someone who steals a treasure that gives them a reason to team up?"

and so on.

AVXP · Oct '19

I do that too. Work backwards.

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