Does anyone have any techniques, even random, for coming up with character ideas? I feel I'm quite good at coming up with the storyline and dialogue, but I just need another character to put into the mix.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Searching for characters
Nearly all of my characters have grown from aspects of my own personality. That's why most of my sitcom leads are grumpy, cynical, lazy and sexy.
Quote: Griff @ January 3 2009, 9:37 PM GMTWho is that person?
Mum?! 
Quote: Griff @ January 3 2009, 9:37 PM GMTWhat the f**k's going on with her nose for a start?
Personally I'd work the other way round, start with character and then work out storyline.
But if you want random characters? Horoscope characteristics, personality/aptitude characteristics might help.
I generally come up with characters and the world, the feel and tone, first. I've got no real tips for how to come up with characters, so sorry! I suppose putting together characteristics from real people that you know is a good idea.
Or look at the characters you have already, and put together someone who is the opposite, someone who would rub them up the wrong way and so create conflict. If you have a Lister, then you create a Rimmer. I suppose I did have some tips after all!
Quote: Matthew Stott @ January 3 2009, 9:57 PM GMTOr look at the characters you have already, and put together someone who is the opposite, someone who would rub them up the wrong way and so create conflict.
I tried that last night and it worked really well... think I've got the characters to go now 
Characters do pop up if you listen in on other people's conversations on public transport.
On one bus I heard 2 girls talking about a mutual friends flat mate.
"He ignores me, but he follows you all over the flat staring at you,"
"And if I use the bathroom he sits outside moaning softly for 20 minutes and when I come out he looks at me and says,"
"What does he say?"
"Meow,"
It's at that point I realised they were talking about a cat.
Can't invent dialogue like that.
Quote: Griff @ January 4 2009, 3:55 PM GMTI think this is a really good tip.
I love power transitions e.g. where character used to be a boss or something and is now an underling.
Dead simple but works so nicely.
when creating the characters for my NaNo, they become my family. I knew what they looked like, where they lived, what music they listened to, what they ate. All the things you would know about a friend or family member, to build up a picture of them in the reader's mind. They were not based on one person more an amalgamation of characteristics from several people.
If it is any help I have been writing a blog while working on the novel - where I put in a lot about the character building. If you have a few minutes please take a look
hope it might help someone
Actually, all stories are about something or about a great what if scenario. Characters are secondary to that. If you have an idea the characters will come.
Quote: sootyj @ January 4 2009, 5:30 PM GMTCharacters do pop up if you listen in on other people's conversations on public transport.
On one bus I heard 2 girls talking about a mutual friends flat mate.
"He ignores me, but he follows you all over the flat staring at you,"
"And if I use the bathroom he sits outside moaning softly for 20 minutes and when I come out he looks at me and says,"
"What does he say?"
"Meow,"
It's at that point I realised they were talking about a cat.
Can't invent dialogue like that.
Exactly, you invent it better.
This is all really good stuff - I have a lot of trouble coming up with characters too. What I generally do is pick up on odd/interesting character traits of myself and people I know and develop them.
For example, I have a mate who it is impossible to have an argument with. Absolutely impossible. He'll stick to his point of view rigidly, no matter how wrong he is, till you are furious at him, then he starts to chuckle and you realise its just sport to him, so you get EVEN MORE angry at him and before you know it, he's childishly celebrating his victory and rubbing it in your face.
As much as this trait irritated the hell out of me, I was kind of fascinated by it and have been developing characters around it for years with various degrees of success. None of the characters match my friend exactly (cos you don't want to go down that road), but they share enough of a truth as to be interesting to me.