Do You Outline the Characters or do you do the characters and the story?

[MakBow]

This is something I want to know since I'm curious how other authors do it.

How do you keep track of all of your characters and story?

For me who's writing a LitRPG, I have all my characters on a google doc, every single character that will appear, the affiliations, a basic outline of them and even their appearance described, even the final antagonists as well as having the lore of the world there as well.

I also have the stats, level, inventory, and skills written out to memorize them.

But the story arcs I just write, going along with the story.

What about you?

 

[writerwolf359]

How I do outlines:
1) Write a rough outline for the story.
2) Start writing the story.
3) Throw out the outline.

I do maintain a set of notes to keep track of details and ideas for the story, though.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Never gone that far with the planning. Have a tab of "characters" where I record anyone I expect to use again later whenever I think to add them. Pretty much that's it.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Yes, I'd do the characters.

 

[CanOfTuna]

I write scenes on sticky notes, then stare at the blank page until something interesting pops in my head to connect those sticky notes.

Not exactly efficient but works for now haha

 

[CinnaSloth]

This is something I want to know since I'm curious how other authors do it.

How do you keep track of all of your characters and story?

For me who's writing a LitRPG, I have all my characters on a google doc, every single character that will appear, the affiliations, a basic outline of them and even their appearance described, even the final antagonists as well as having the lore of the world there as well.

I also have the stats, level, inventory, and skills written out to memorize them.

But the story arcs I just write, going along with the story.

What about you?

Yes. Same. Full character sheets for all.

characters that:
existed for only a moment.
were conceptual.
were changed.
used
not used
will maybe be used later
or are only half baked

Except, I do it for any, and all genre, not because I write LitRPG. It's just the way my mind works. like a personal/ personnel file for fictional characters.

 

[Joyager2]

I typically don't find much of a difference between the two. Every story beat is an important moment for one character or another and every major moment of characterization is an important scene in the story. For me, this means a Google Sheet with a set of cells for each chapter: one for the events of the chapter, one for the character development (for each character) in that chapter, and one for any notes (anything small that I might forget going forward).

 

[MFontana]

This is something I want to know since I'm curious how other authors do it.

How do you keep track of all of your characters and story?

For me who's writing a LitRPG, I have all my characters on a google doc, every single character that will appear, the affiliations, a basic outline of them and even their appearance described, even the final antagonists as well as having the lore of the world there as well.

I also have the stats, level, inventory, and skills written out to memorize them.

But the story arcs I just write, going along with the story.

What about you?

Umm... well... This example should answer just about all of your questions, and is just one (of many) character detail bits in my notebooks. This sample here, is from The Elarian Chronicles (Expanded Character Details). There's still a few minor updates that I need to add to the source, and will probably get around to it later on. After I finish working on Chapter 2.2. (Like filling in the rest of her Character Status Sheet info, such as Rank, Adventurer Rank, and Attributes, which will all be added during the end of chapter 2's author's notes when I will go over her stat changes from her level increase).

Spoiler: Morrigan Flamecrest Character Details

General Details
Name: Morrigan Flamecrest (Real World Name: Private)
Age: 24
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: 122 lbs
Ancestry: Human
Class: Shaman
Level: 19
XP: 750
Physique: Lithe
Measurements:

• Bust: 34" C-cup
• Waist:26"
• Hips: 36"

Blood Type: A+

Appearance
Skin Tone: Light
Eye Color: Bright Crystal Blue
Hair Color: Raven Black
Hair Length: Short - Shoulder Length
Hair Style: Bob
Typical Clothing Style: Morrigan wears a gothic style gown for much of the first volume, but this changes into her preferred Earth-Style, featuring a simple camisole worn under a fur-topped dress-jacket and thigh-length slit Miniskirt, with her personal favorite piece being her knee-high leather boots after she and Sylvia start talking fashion, and she learns the kitsune is also a seamstress / tailor.
Accessories: Black Lace Choker with Guild Emblem
Tattoos/Piercings: Ears (lobes) both - Post-Isekai // Multiple Tattoos and Piercings Pre-Isekai
Clothing Sizes:

• Dress: 6 - 8
• Shirt: Medium
• Pants: 6-8 (Varies by cut)
• Shoes: 9 (Women's)

Nail Color: Polished Obsidian. Once she gets her hands on other colors, she starts opting for Ruby and Indigo as well.
Physical Characteristics: No special physical traits. Human.

Preferences
Favorite Food: Burgers with the works
Least Favorite Food: Gorgon's Stonebreaker - It's a super-strong ale, for Dwarves. House-Special brew at the Dusty-Crow Tavern.
Sexuality: Straight / Heterosexual
Sexual Experience: Virgin (Post-Isekai)
Lover/Romantic Interest: Lucius Argentius
# of Planned Sex Scenes: 2 (1 Bonus, 1 Late-Series, Volume 5)
Sexual Preferences, Interests, and Curiosities:

• These are being
• withheld for now
• because I don't want to
• spoil the surprise
• for when she finally
• gets what she wants.

Favorite Position: No Comment
Least Favorite Position: No Comment
Thoughts on having kids: No Comment
Finish-Preferences: No Comment

Background

Origin: Earth
Lineage: Earth People - Isekai'ed Adventurer
Family: Parents, One brother, and one Room-mate.
History: This will be revealed throughout the series, so I have to keep it blank until at least that much has been revealed in the series. Sorry. What I can, however, say here, is that Morrigan is not, and never was, what most would call a gamer. She only began playing Duskfall in order to try and see what her room-mate found so enjoyable about the game, and to understand the "weird shit" he was always spouting into his headset with his "weird friends".

So, one day, she asked him about it, and he responded by buying her a gaming PC, and full version of the game so she could try it herself and "see what all the fuss was about."

Personality Information

Personality
Morrigan is a fiercely independent, extroverted, and self-assured young woman who isn't the sort to take shit from anyone. Ever. Always eager to explore, have new experiences, and make new discoveries, she is not the kind of person who can stay inside, or in one place, for very long without her boredom urging her to action.

Bonds
Lucius and Bel are the two closest people to Morrigan since The Apocalypse. They are a source of inspiration, and balance in her life here, as well as her only friends (so far).

Ideals
Adventure - Morrigan is driven by a zest for life, and a near desperate desire to see the world through her own eyes. This drives her to pursue the unknown in order to stake her own claim in this wonderous new land she finds herself in.

Flaws
The biggest flaw that she struggles with is self-worth issues tied to being a novice player and adventurer, and how this has caused her frequently to be looked down upon by other, more experienced, players.

Motivations
Morrigan's primary motivation through much of her early journey is proving herself in the eyes of the other adventurers, and to step out from Lucius' shadow and be judged on the merit of her own accomplishments.

Hobbies & Interests

• This will be revealed over the course of the story. Primarily through Morrigan's flashbacks. As it is revealed in the story, I will update this information here.

Personal Possessions
Contacts: Lucius Argentius, Bel'yshra
Weapons
• Weapon 1: Ashen Heart Scepter / Grim Totem of Warding (Current Equipment - Volume 1)
• Weapon 2: Yggdrasil's Heart (Obtained during Volume 3/4)
• Weapon 3: Warden's Staff (Obtained during Volume 2)
• Weapon 4:

Equipment Slots
• Head: Vaelorian Coronet (Shaman)
• Torso: Vaelorian Bodice (Shaman)
• Back: (Cloak, Cape, Mantle, etc)
• Waist:
• Legs: Vaelorian Leggings (Shaman)
• Wrists:
• Hands:
• Boots: Vaelorian Boots (Shaman)

Accessory Slots
• Neck: (Amulet/Brooch/Charm)
• Ring 1:
• Ring 2:
• Pack/Bag: Robin's Arcane Satchel
• Extra:

Ancestry Abilities:
• Human Ancestry Traits - These are yet to be defined within the LitRPG system, but once they Morrigan will have them, along with every other Human character.
• Human Ancestry Traits
• Human Ancestry Traits
• Human Ancestry Traits

Skills:
• Summoning: A
• Mystic Arts: B
• Wands: B
• Staves: C
• Tomes: C
• Totems: B
• Skill 7 (To Be Revealed)
• Skill 8 (To Be Revealed)
• Skill 9 (To Be Revealed)
• Skill 10 (To Be Revealed)

Martial Techniques:
• None - Morrigan does not take a Martial Class, and gains no Martial Techniques

Spells Known:
• Spirit's Sight - Gain the ability to see through target spirit's eyes until dismissed.
• Spirit's Blessing - Whenever you create a spirit, allies in range are healed for 10 per rank of Mystic Arts. Enchantment Spell.
• Spirit's Armor - You become immune to Critical Hits. Your nearest spirit suffers half the damage you would take from any attacks while this enchantment is active.
• Recall Spirit - Calls target spirit to your location.
• Spirit's Light - Heals target ally for 15 per rank in Mystic Arts
• Spirit's Touch - Touched Foe takes 25 Damage per Spirit you control - Allies are healed for that much if targeted
• One with the Spirits - You regain 25% Mana if close to a spirit when casting this enchantment - While Enchanted you gain 10 Mana per second for each spirit you control. - Enchantment Spell
• Rejuvenating Pulse - Allies within earshot of target Spirit you control are healed for 25 Health per Rank of Mystic Arts.
• (Additional Spells To Be Revealed)

Psionic Powers Known:
• None Known - Morrigan does not take the Psionicist Class

Runes Known:
• None Known - Morrigan is neither a Rune Knight nor a Valkyrie.

Artifice Blueprints:
• None Known - Morrigan does not take any of the Artifice classes.

Summons:
• Totem of the Dark Path -- Summons 3 spirits. Spirit of Anger. Spirit of Hate. Spirit of Suffering. Each spirit deals 'Wand Damage' with its attacks. - "Elite Tier Summon Ability" - Shaman Class
• Rite of Flames -- Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Flame - Attacks deal Wand Damage - Fire Element - Burns foes for 3 seconds when they take fire damage. Burn effect: Spirit loses 10 health.
• Rite of Storms -- Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Storms - Attacks deal Wand damage - Air Element - Stuns foes for 3 seconds when attack hits. Stun Effect: Spirit loses 10 health.
• Rite of Frost -- Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Frost - Foes move 50% slower in when in earshot of the spirit. All foes in range take Wand damage every second. Damage effect: Spirit loses 10 health.
• Totem of Fury -- Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Fury - Deals Wand Damage with Attacks - Foes struck become Enraged. Aggro to Nearest enemy for 3 seconds.
• Gaea's Totem -- Summons 1 Spirit - Gaea's Heart - Spirit heals allies in earshot for 3x Wand Damage each second. Heal effect: Spirit loses 10 health.
• Rite of Rebirth - Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Rebirth - When this spirit dies, it revives all allies within earshot at 10% Health and Mana for each rank in Mystic Arts. - Thirty second lifespan. - RAID Tier summon (May not be used outside of Raid zones)
• Rite of Life - Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Life - When this spirit dies, it heals all allies for 5 for each second it was alive. - 20 Second Lifespan
• Rite of Shadows - Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Shadow - Attacks deal Wand damage - Creatures struck by its attacks are blinded for 5 seconds.
• Rite of Peace - Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Serenity - All allies gain +5 Mana each second while this spirit is alive.
• Rite of Recuperation - Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Recuperation - All allies are healed for 10 each second.
• Rite of Unity - Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Unity - Reduces damage to 20 for all incoming attacks for all allies in range - Reduction Cost: Spirit takes 10 damage.
• Rite of Purity - Summons 1 Spirit - Spirit of Purity - Reduces Condition Duration by 40% for all allies in range.
• (To Be Revealed)
• (To Be Revealed)

Alchemical Recipes:
• None Known Yet - Morrigan is not (currently) an Alchemist

Inventory:
• (To Be Revealed)
• (To Be Revealed)
• (To Be Revealed)
• (To Be Revealed)
• (To Be Revealed)
• (To Be Revealed)
• (To Be Revealed)

Quotes:
• None on file

Story Arc: The Black Queen's Ascent - Volume 1 - 5

I trust this should fully, and adequately answer the questions of "how do I keep track of the character details".
Unless, you mean software. For that I tend to use my hard-copy notebooks, and a digital offline bit of freeware called the Fantasia Archive.

 

[autumnsugar]

I write down my characters name, personality, basic appearance and any other important details (like weapons, cultivation level, techniques, etc.)
I have a pretty basic outline of the plot and certain events that I want to occur, but I go with the flow on how to get to those points.

 

[DismaiNaim]

Presently, from chapter 62-69, MC came to another castle where all the conscripts are being held with the intention of recruiting his team.

There are 77 recruits, and he needs 9 of them.

I watched a few episodes of the Bachelorette for ideas, and yeah, kept a running list of every one of them—where they were, what they look like, their clan, role, etc. Usually when you try to introduce so many characters at once it's not a good idea, but that's where the story is at.

 

[ysgoldt]

I don't write LitRPG, but for my stories, I have character sheets with each character's info, backstory, details, and any art I do of them. And then, for my stories, I have a kind of lore sheet, even if it's just a historical novel or a more contemporary or futuristic world, to have an idea of how that story world works.

Also, character relationship sheets, essentially it's a list of each character and how they relate to every other character in the story (this could also go in character sheet itself to be fair), and then a story outline, if it's a standalone novel then it's just usually beginning, middle, end and then a chapter breakdown with specific scenes, what I want to do in that chapter.

For longer stories like the one I'm currently writing here, which I plan to have around 6-8 arcs, I plan by arc first, then break it down into chapters from there.