Quote: Tursiops @ April 29 2012, 9:10 AM BSTPossibly not the best place to come to then to ask people to do your work for you...
What a silly reply. Asking for advice, or a bit of help, or some friendly (HAHAHA now we KNOW it's a comedy site!) suggestions ain't the same thing as expecting your work to get done for you.
Seems there's a lot of bitter never-has-beens out there...
Are you the original poster's mum?
Quote: Tursiops @ April 29 2012, 9:36 AM BSTAre you the original poster's mum?
You made a funny! Turns out there IS a first time for everything.
I appear to have started a shit storm.
I do apologise.
And I agree - the third person profile does sound a bit wanky- but that's the way resumes tend to be written in the professional world
I just lifted it straight off my agents page.
The one who gets me work.
As a writer.
*ducks*
It's like the whole internet, distilled into one forum thread.
Quote: Badge @ April 28 2012, 6:23 PM BSTGood idea. You could set it on a planet!
Just not Earth though, it's become a bit of a cliche.
Quote: David Galand @ April 28 2012, 5:41 PM BSTNot really. Telling someone that they're not cut out for the job when they are simply seeking a few ideas is hardly 'constructive' I have the characters I just need a realistic place to put them all somewhere in which different personalities would meet. That is all is that too much to ask for?
Maybe explain a little bit about the characters you have. It's a difficult question to answer without knowing what your characters want and, therefore, how best to frustrate them getting it.
I can't imagine having even half-formed characters without a premise/setting. I don't know anyone who isn't defined at least in part by their environment.
Quote: Vince Ives @ April 29 2012, 12:34 PM BSTI can't imagine having even half-formed characters without a premise/setting. I don't know anyone who isn't defined at least in part by their environment.
That's interesting. I assume you mean real people? because I don't know a single person who is.
really??? I think the "at least in part" in that sentence is important and inarguable. I am sure I have been shaped and continue to be shaped by my environment.
In sitcom terms it is difficult to, for instance, imagine the Steptoes as, say, father and son gynaecologists or Father Ted as an air traffic controller.
For an example of how a character works differently in a different setting contrast Fletcher winning petty battles in the institutional world of Porridge and all at sea in big wide world of Going Straight.
My point is regarding the OP's question. I don't know a single person who's character is defined by their environment at any instant in time.
Of course we are all 'shaped', in part, by a collection of experiences throughout a lifetime, though our character is largely set at a young age... whatever you go on to do or where you find yourself alters that minimally.
What's the quote... " Give me a boy until he is seven and I will have your kid..." Or something like that.
I think Tursiops point is that it's very hard to create/imagine characters without having some sense of their environment ie G&S didn't think of Albert & Harold Steptoe, and then think of what they might do for a living or where the SitCom might be set.
The two are intrinsically linked.
Therfore it is hard to imagine how the OP got themselves into the situation of having characters but no setting.
Hence some of the sarky comments which - on reflection - were probably best kept to oneself.
Quote: Vince Ives @ April 29 2012, 12:34 PM BSTI can't imagine having even half-formed characters without a premise/setting.
Quite, one generally informs the other; it's weird to have thought of all the characters but have no idea who/what/where they are. When you're building characters/relationships, a setting/situation to house them should jump right out at you.
Lovin' this, however does not make us seem 'friendly site'.
I have been travelling on coaches (nat. express) and trains to Newcastle, lots of characters there! from staff to passengers, oh err, giving ideas away!
Wish folks luck anyway 
Quote: Lazzard @ April 29 2012, 1:13 PM BSTI think Tursiops point is that it's very hard to create/imagine characters without having some sense of their environment ie G&S didn't think of Albert & Harold Steptoe, and then think of what they might do for a living or where the SitCom might be set.
The two are intrinsically linked.
Therfore it is hard to imagine how the OP got themselves into the situation of having characters but no setting.
Hence some of the sarky comments which - on reflection - were probably best kept to oneself.
I disagree slightly with that. Of course people write in different ways and whichever way suits each person is fine.
I do think a perfectly good way to start is to create a character first though. In fact to create a whole range of characters first... and to force some or all of these characters together and see where it takes you. The 'setting' may become apparent to you afterwards.
The character is the most important thing. True enough Father Ted has his desire for worldly things frustrated by the priesthood but, just as easily, a certain character's flaws can be exposed in any number of settings. A hotel is not essential for Basil Fawlty... he just needs to be forced to deal with people who aren't 'his sort'.