To Gorgeous Geek Readers:

Writing tip from Minnie and Sheryl~
Someone has been complaining that I don’t update my blog frequent enough. I won’t be mentioning names however. It’s because I don’t have anything to write about. However, I thought of an idea to write about for random post. Writing tips! I don’t know how I did it but I inspire a couple of my long-time readers to become part-time writers (aside from homework, extracurricular activities, house chores, etc). Anyways, I will just write out random tips now and again.
Most of my readers actually ask me how to make characters. I blush because that’s my expertise. I really need to work on other stuff like plot and setting. Even though I want to put my essay up here, I’ll restrain myself from making people read a long essay just to find out how to write a character. Tips instead. These tips are not in order of importance.. just in order of which ones I think of first.
Making Character Tip #1: Memorable Quirks
All characters have personalities and background right? Most writers talk about it a lot. Very frequently too. However, a lot of the time they forget to mention the most memorable thing about characters- their quirks. How many people really care what CC from Code Geass’s personality is like? Most of us remember her because she eats lots of pizza! Characters from fiction are the same. You need to give them a trait that no other character else has and from there, they become memorable. Try it out!
I guess the question is- how weird should a quirk be to make a character memorable? It doesn’t matter in my opinion as long as they have one or several. However, none of the other characters should have the same quirk. Quirks are absolute must in a large cast of character. A perfect example is Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. Huge cast of characters right? All the students have their own quirks. Remember Chiri? What comes to mind? I know for me, I think of how she always has to have her hair split straight in the middle because she’s a perfectionist. None of the other characters have this quirk and that is why she is memorable. Heck, even the Normal Girl is memorable because all the other characters are so wacky that she stands out! I use quirks all the time. Here is a short (maybe) quiz of quirks in relation to what characters:
Quiz
(IMPORTANT NOTE: Characters are only used ONCE)
1) Who is a Korean Drama Fanatic?
2) Who is gluttonous to the extreme?
3) Who has an interest in movies?
4) Who is allergic to all types of nuts?
5) Who carries a teddy bear and a blanket?
6) Who is religiously orientated?
7) Who likes to play with marbles?
8 ) Who refuses to sing no matter what?
9) Who is famous for having asthma?
10) Who collects a lot of bracelet?
11) Who is allergic to cats?
12) Who is scared of cockroaches?
13) Who likes to hum songs for fun?
14) Who wears dresses and only dresses?
15) Who carries around a white purse w/kitchen utensils?
16) Who is famous for being unable to swim?
17) Who cannot stand chili?
18) Who loves chili?
19) Who is an advocate of animal rights?
20) Who can talk and control animals?
21) Who is addicted to coffee?
22) Who is addicted to alchohol?
23) Who is an irrational character thanks to the weather?
24) Who is obsessed over video games?
25) Who is married 3x?
26) Who is politically active?
27) Who is very self-conscious about thin arms?
28) Who is famously known for not knowing how to read and write?
29) Who loves junk food?
30) Who believes in Darwism/Survival of the Fittest?
31) Who is a tea expert?
32) Who plays every type of instrument possible? (Two answers)
33) Who is a proud drug addict?
34) Who has an ankle fetish?
35) Who is allergic to grass?
36) Who tries to solve everything by blowing things up?
37) Who wears his tie as his belt?
38) Who enjoys to eat seafood?
39) Who sleeps over 14 hours a day?
40) Who is the only character that is canonically in love with his sister?
41) Who is the only character to be poisoned for 99% of the story?
42) Who likes to date talkative girls?
43) Who hates to wear shoes no matter what?
44) Who needs many pillows in order to sleep at night?
45) Who is the luckiest character in all Minnie’s stories?
46) Who likes to kiss men? (Male character)
47) Who loves to eat lots of candy? (Two of them)
48) Who is the self-proclaimed pessimist?
49) Who hates the word “Hero”?
50) Who has a weakness for strawberries?
Wow. I had fun with that. That was a not so short quiz. I’ll give everyone a hint. It’s from all my stories except for the few Spirits that no one read yet (Spirits II and III) and yes, Honey Pie is included. I’ll be very impressed if anyone gets 50% right. XD As you can see from the list, quirks don’t have to be something out of this world. I swear, I can make a 50 question quiz like the one above just on Lucas or Theresa alone. Those two are the extreme end though. More normal characters like Teddy (the boy who puts ketchup in everything) has very few quirks so it’s best to make them as memorable as possible.
Anyways, what was the point of this post again? Oh yeah. Gorgeous Geek Chapter 20. I love this chapter. It’s a very climatic chapter. I can’t wait to type up Chapter 21 soon. I’ll shut up now.
-Minnie
I think something’s wrong with the chapter :(. It says “No Document Found” for me.
I fixed it Gracie. Apple told me about it over MSN. Actually, he just finished the quiz with Koala 5 mins ago. XD 14 correct for Apple and 17 for Koala.
How do you DO this?! The drama in this chapter was just AMAZING and I’m not even joking. Ugh, the line Bo said to Jin was so true (made me understand Bo a bit better) and made me want to cry :(. I was just reading this storywriting website and it suggests so many of the things you do already: make an outline, already know your ending, set up character motivations and whatnot, have some “juicy chapters you’re dying to write scattered about” to keep you motivated to write, etc. I’m just stunned at how easy you make it seem. Every character (or the main ones) seem alive, somehow, and now I totally get what you mean by hearing their voices in your head (dialogue still remains the hardest for me to handle). … I’m so busy right now, so I can’t write a proper (or really coherent) review but just– the more I try to write my own thing, the more I’m impressed by what you’re able to do. 🙂 Thanks for writing this so well. (Although I think you’re more suited to writing movie scripts or manga storylines than actual novels. Your writing doesn’t seem very novel-y; it’s more drama-y and would be perfect with visuals (you also have a lot of dialogue). That seems to be your forte, I think)
UGH honestly I’ve watched SO much shit and read so many stories that they’re all blending in (plus I haven’t read yours in such a longgg time). I’m pretty much skimming this (and going to fail too haha)
It might help if you gave me a list of names
1) Who is a Korean Drama Fanatic?
2) Who is gluttonous to the extreme?
3) Who has an interest in movies?
4) Who is allergic to all types of nuts? Dash?
5) Who carries a teddy bear and a blanket? Aesa
6) Who is religiously orientated? Luchia
7) Who likes to play with marbles?
8 ) Who refuses to sing no matter what?
9) Who is famous for having asthma?
10) Who collects a lot of bracelet?
11) Who is allergic to cats?
12) Who is scared of cockroaches?
13) Who likes to hum songs for fun?
14) Who wears dresses and only dresses? Theresa
15) Who carries around a white purse w/kitchen utensils?
16) Who is famous for being unable to swim?
17) Who cannot stand chili?
18) Who loves chili?
19) Who is an advocate of animal rights?
20) Who can talk and control animals?
21) Who is addicted to coffee?
22) Who is addicted to alchohol? Riddle
23) Who is an irrational character thanks to the weather? shoot I forgot her name :(. Starts with A.
24) Who is obsessed over video games? Jin
25) Who is married 3x? Ada, technically
26) Who is politically active?
27) Who is very self-conscious about thin arms?
28) Who is famously known for not knowing how to read and write? Russ
29) Who loves junk food? Cookie
30) Who believes in Darwism/Survival of the Fittest?
31) Who is a tea expert?
32) Who plays every type of instrument possible? (Two answers) Uhh. Rogelio? Teddy? IDK
33) Who is a proud drug addict? Loni
34) Who has an ankle fetish?
35) Who is allergic to grass? Padma
36) Who tries to solve everything by blowing things up?
37) Who wears his tie as his belt?
38) Who enjoys to eat seafood?
39) Who sleeps over 14 hours a day?
40) Who is the only character that is canonically in love with his sister? James LOL
41) Who is the only character to be poisoned for 99% of the story?
42) Who likes to date talkative girls? KT
43) Who hates to wear shoes no matter what?
44) Who needs many pillows in order to sleep at night?
45) Who is the luckiest character in all Minnie’s stories?
46) Who likes to kiss men? (Male character) Hesperos
47) Who loves to eat lots of candy? (Two of them) Rai and Megami
48) Who is the self-proclaimed pessimist?
49) Who hates the word “Hero”? … Lipse?
50) Who has a weakness for strawberries? Xach
MINNIE~~~~~~~~~~ WHY IS THERE NO CARAMEL IN THE QUIZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOLLLL
I didn’t look at Grace’s answers…. I SWEAR.
1) Who is a Korean Drama Fanatic? Mel ❤
2) Who is gluttonous to the extreme?
3) Who has an interest in movies? Hien (STOMP)
4) Who is allergic to all types of nuts?
5) Who carries a teddy bear and a blanket? Not Jezebelle?
6) Who is religiously orientated?
7) Who likes to play with marbles?
8 ) Who refuses to sing no matter what? Theresa??
9) Who is famous for having asthma?
10) Who collects a lot of bracelet?
11) Who is allergic to cats? MISTER DARINGTON *_____*
12) Who is scared of cockroaches?
13) Who likes to hum songs for fun? Spring~
14) Who wears dresses and only dresses? JAMIE!!
15) Who carries around a white purse w/kitchen utensils?
16) Who is famous for being unable to swim?
17) Who cannot stand chili?
18) Who loves chili? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO <3333333
19) Who is an advocate of animal rights?
20) Who can talk and control animals?
21) Who is addicted to coffee? Francis!!
22) Who is addicted to alchohol?
23) Who is an irrational character thanks to the weather?
24) Who is obsessed over video games? Jin duh.
25) Who is married 3x?
26) Who is politically active? Claire….?
27) Who is very self-conscious about thin arms? Maybe Jezebelle again. Where is she????
28) Who is famously known for not knowing how to read and write?
29) Who loves junk food? Cookie~~~~~~~
30) Who believes in Darwism/Survival of the Fittest?
31) Who is a tea expert? Rin??
32) Who plays every type of instrument possible? (Two answers) TEDDYYYYY
33) Who is a proud drug addict? LONIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~~~~~~~!!!
34) Who has an ankle fetish?
35) Who is allergic to grass?
36) Who tries to solve everything by blowing things up? LOLLL Number 1@@
37) Who wears his tie as his belt? Sounds Kristian-like LOL
38) Who enjoys to eat seafood?
39) Who sleeps over 14 hours a day?
40) Who is the only character that is canonically in love with his sister?
41) Who is the only character to be poisoned for 99% of the story?
42) Who likes to date talkative girls? KT that pimp LOL
43) Who hates to wear shoes no matter what?
44) Who needs many pillows in order to sleep at night? Is this Jezebelle?? Or is it that cousin.. Shuijin or something……..
45) Who is the luckiest character in all Minnie’s stories? Theresa again? Oh wait. SHOOT!!!!
46) Who likes to kiss men? (Male character) I said Quinn already!! WAH!!
47) Who loves to eat lots of candy? (Two of them) RAI AND MEGAMI!!!!!!!!
48) Who is the self-proclaimed pessimist? Vance, no duhhhh
49) Who hates the word “Hero”? Lipsyyyyyy~~~~
50) Who has a weakness for strawberries? XAAAAAAAAACH
Minnie, for Chapter 20, are you FINALLY going to go the Bo/Rin direction??? Did it really take you 20 chapters to realize that they are meant to be??? ^0^ What a chapter though!! Kristian is being a bad boy again dun dun dun!!! Jin/Jordan has a really HIGH chance of happening…. 0_0 WTH Sidney sounds soooooo cute~~~ KAWAII!!! These minor characters are so amazing!!
And thanks for the tip Minnieeeee!!!!!! ILY~~~~~~~
how does no one remember that 12 is Sylvie and 46 is Sandler
SHIT SANDLER ;_; HOW COULD I FORGET YOUUUUU
Hello Minnie,
Sandler sounds like an interesting character already. I want to meet him. 🙂
Damn it. I look at Marissa and Grace’s answers by accident. I wouldn’t have done very well anyways. I would have definitely gotten the Cookie, Loni, and Hien one.
This chapter is fabulous in every sense of the word. The first half is like all those easygoing chapters- interaction between the major and minor characters. Then, by English class, everything goes downhill. Bo hates Jin now. Kristian, the magnificent bastard, manipulates Rin into forgetting Jin. Vance who is Rin’s friend will definitely stop talking to Jin (they never had a good relationship anyways). Kristian who is falling for Rin will also treat Jin badly. In other words, Jin is completely isolated, except for Jezebelle and Jordan. This is really clever Minnie. The setup. The execution. Everything is done perfectly and in such a dramatic manner too. This is your way of isolating Jin from the other important characters in order for his relationship with Jezebelle and Jordan to develop. This will also develop the love square between Rin, Kristian, Bo, and Vance (come now, are you expecting us to believe that Vance doesn’t have feelings for her?) while Jin is out of the picture. Absolutely brilliant.
Sherry is… so… cute… She sounds like a loli. I like loli’s in my fiction/anime! I am very curious as to how Jezebelle’s relationship with the others beside Jin will be from now on. The unsteady friendship she has with Rin will probably be gone now. I like those two together too. =/
A lot of drama going on right now:
Jin and Jezebelle are still having a love/hate relationship.
Rin and Kristian are getting closer at the expense of Jin.
Rin and Bo are getting closer while Jin and Bo are getting farther.
Rin and Vance will most likely develop a lot from now on.
Jin and Vance will be on bad terms.
Jin and Jordan are definitely going to get closer.
Jin will probably be better friends with Frida and Victoria with Monika as a rival.
Rin, Bo, and Vance will regroup somehow or split apart.
Juliet and Xuan Lan will probably tear apart after finding out they both like Kristian, who doesn’t care for either of them. To make it worse, Eunice and Jennifer are both in love with Kristian.
The Cory/Roselle/Grim love triangle is still not resolved.
The Wendy/Jordan/Victoria situation is still as bad as ever.
Venus needs to get a lesbian girlfriend already.
Tiffany is still in unrequited love to Jin and hates Jezebelle.
Jezebelle and Kristian have a mysterious relationship in the background now.
Sidney and Sherry are in an almost perfect relationship- this ever ends well.
The twins are most likely in love with Jezebelle. This can prove very interesting.
How did all that happen in 20 chapters? Good job Minnie. I want to see how you resolve everything in 50 chapters (especially since you have 30+ characters left that haven’t been touched much yet). Good luck.
I love your summary Steve. Good job. 🙂
I’ll post the answers for the quiz soon! Thank you for the comments everyone. I appreciate it sooo much. ^^