Hero or Heroine

Chatterbox: Crowd Sorcery

Hero or Heroine


Hero or Heroine

I’m so excited when I start a new story! Most writers believe that the single most important part is the characters. If readers fall in love with your characters—especially the main character—they will read to the end, feeling every emotion, taking part in the adventures. So as we work together toward building our story, please give a lot of thought to the conversation on this thread. Share your own best ideas, think about ideas others come up with, and discuss ways to make the character as interesting and memorable as possible.

Be original, and don’t be afraid to be surprising! What if the main character had a really unusual background or ability or fear? What if she were a girl who could only come out in the moonlight because a witch cast a spell on her great-grandmother? If you’re like me, you’ll find that the more questions you ask and answer about the main character, the more the story will begin to write itself in your head!

For example, if I wanted to introduce the girl who could only come out in the moonlight, I might write: “Quill pushed aside the velvet drape and peeked out through the window’s glass to where the moon glowed, huge and silver, behind the oak trees. It was their nightly ritual, Quill and the moon each peeping through curtains to see if the other were awake.”

I can’t wait to see your ideas! Here’s my list of traits for brainstorming the main character. After you have your ideas, you can write a Crowd Sorcery Sentence, or two or three, that might introduce your character in the story.

1. Name

2. Appearance

3. Background

4. Personality

5. How is he/she different from others?

6. What does he/she most desire or hope for?

7. How is he/she strong?

8. How is he/she weak or vulnerable?

9. What does he/she fear most?

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s)

 

The voting for hero and heroine is now complete. Go here to see our main character and learn the schedule for creating and voting on a villain and sidekick.


You can still add to this Hero and Heroine thread for fun.
 

 

submitted by Fred Durbin
(April 23, 2014 - 10:05 am)

SO COOL! I love it. Can't you write more?

One question: Why is Reed thrown out becuse she has purple eyes and pale skin?

Have you done any other posts? I'd LOVE to read them. I did two already.

submitted by E.m.i.l.y., age 11, Some Where, Indiana
(May 7, 2014 - 11:23 am)

1. Name: Andillioth

2. Appearance: Red scales, is a dragon. Blue underbelly, penetrating green eyes.

3. Background:  Only hached from an egg a dragon year (two human years) ago. Parents got killed by power-hungy knights, had to beg and steal to survive ever since. After he stole a chicken from the dragon qween's hiltroth (human) servants, he was on the run from her, as well.

4. Personality:  kind yet clever, can be protective if he wants to. Usually apologizes to prey before eating them. Very protective to any young animal in danger.

5. How is he/she different from others?  Never eats meat if he can help it, considers other animals as equals. Thinks before acting.

6. What does he/she most desire or hope for?  A family, not to always be on the run, his parents back, for the hiltroth kinights to not be heartless murderers.

7. How is he/she strong? Breathes fire, unusually strong scales, silent as a mouse, sneaky.

8. How is he/she weak or vulnerable? Protects animals (bargaining chips to the enemy) young and inexperienced.

9. What does he/she fear most? The death of every animal in the world because of the Hiltroth. The death of a young bear cub he rescued from the hiltroth.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s)

"No I will not kill him just because it's what other animals call prey."

"Don't worry! I'm not going to kill you."

"Once again, someone is trying to kill me, as usual."

submitted by Tom I., age 5 to 18, Michigan U.S.
(May 3, 2014 - 4:10 pm)

1. Name

 Emily Burd 

Marianna Kasel

 

2. Appearance 

Emily: short blond hair. Brown eyes. Red glasses. Tall.  16 Y.O.

Marianna: curly dark red hair and dark gray eyes. Tall.  10 Y.O.

 

3. Background

They're cousins. They were texting each other when they were sucked up into a magical world where they fought off monsters to defend the land. Then Emily learns she's going to cause the end of the land and runs off to protect Marianna.  DUN DUN DUN

4. Personality

Emily: outgoing. Optimistic. 

Marianna: shy. Intelligent.

 

5. How is he/she different from others?

Emily: telekenesis

Marianna: extremely intelligent.  

 

6. What does he/she most desire or hope for?

Emily: adventure

Marianna: to get home.

 

7. How is he/she strong?

Emily: never losses an argument

Marianna: can create mental plans quickly 

 

8. How is he/she weak or vulnerable?

Emily: holds grudges too long

Marianna: over loyal to friends and family 

 

9. What does he/she fear most?

Emily: that she really will cause the end of the land

Marianna: that she'll never go home/ see Emily again after she runs off

 

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s)

Emily sat on the edge of her bed texting Marianna. 
Emmy658: Hey Mari u free on the weekend???
Booklover7789: Probs not. Mike has his football championships. 
Emily was about to text her reply when she felt a cold sensation on her back. 
She whipped around and was sucked, screaming, into a huge, orange, hole.  
submitted by Zoë S., age 9, New York
(May 3, 2014 - 8:10 pm)

I LOVE writing and can't wait to see what happens! Stories can start one way, and end up totally different! Here is my character.

1. Rainer Dosh

2. Slightly messy brown hair, dark eyes, strong build, firm mouth, and a burn (one as you might give a cow to mark it as yours.) on his left wrist. Wears leather pants, deerskin, and linen shirt.

3. A villain's bodyguard, he was taught the ways of dark magic. And has killed many people. When the villain was (supposedly) defeated, Rainer was taken to work for the king to show he has changed his ways.

4. Grim, takes life seriously, and is a good leader but likes to be alone. Has a very big heart.

5. He feels the need to prove himself and often acts on that need. He is rumored to do black magic.

6. To change and to prove himself worthy (to himself and others).

7. Besides his physical streagth, he was taught to draw bravery from the pain of himself and others.

8. He is unsure if he's changed at all, and he tends to doubt himself.

9. He is afraid of himself. He can't control his feelings and is worried they will defeat him in the end. He is also afraid of dark magic.

10. No Rainer thought. It's in my head. But the voices kept coming, "Unleash me! I gave you power! They don't trust you, they never will! You're mine." A hand touched his shoulder, he spun, and saw the princess. "Are...are you feeling well?" she asked timidly.

Please tell me if you don't like it. I like knowing what people don't like so I can make good, better.

submitted by E.m.i.l.y., age 11, Some Where, Indiana
(May 3, 2014 - 7:29 pm)

Again, please let me know if you don't like it; it's the only way to make the good, better. And it will not hurt my feelings.

1. Maris (means star of the sea) and some long middle name here (not sure what)

2. Skin almost see through, bright eyes, ruby lips, silvery white hair, wears a long silver dress, no shoes, and a necklace made out of ice (it never melts due to magic of course)

3. She is a Water Weaver, a being that lives mostly in bodies of water and can transform into water. She is the Queen of the fifth sea of the seven seas.

4. She is kind, good, shy, a thinker with a kingdom to look after. She likes to take her time with decisions, but often makes the right choice. She is shy to act, clever, and stubborn.

5. She's a queen, she's magical, can transform water into different states of being, and even with a kingdom for company, she feels lonely, something's missing from her.

6. Her sea is drying up, and she doesn't know why. She hopes to find a way to bring back the water and restore the sea.

7.  She knows the kingdom is at her command and takes courage in this fact.
She's also good at hidding, and sneak attacks are her thing.

8. She knows if the kingdom dies it's her fault and waits to long to make decisions. She is also very shy, and does not like the help of others, which can make her fail in the end.

9. The kingdom dying, and making the wrong choice.

10. "We need to do something!" cried the adviser.

"But what?" asked Maris.

"Send one of your guards."

"No. I do not trust them to succeed, and you know we can't go long without water."

"Well who!? You need to make a choice."

The young queen looked at the sunbeams in the water. "What, is there something, someone out there?"

The adviser sighed and muttered, "We're all doomed."

The queen gave him a sharp glare and said quietly, "In three days we'll make a decision." 

"Three days," he agreed.

submitted by E.m.i.l.y., age 11, Some Where, Indiana
(May 3, 2014 - 8:23 pm)


1. Name


Fionn
Pierre Nelson (13 years old)


 


2.
Appearance


Shaggy
brown hair. Brown eyes. Short.


 


3.
Background


Fionn lives
in the village of Aixh. His parents run an emporium of magical supplies. When
Fionn is 18, he will take over the magical emporium, as he is an only child. He
is yearns for that day. Everyone in Aixh has a different magical power that
they are given at age ten based on their personality. This power is bestowed
upon the children by a kind wizard named Norfolk.


 


4.
Personality


Clever. Funny.
Charming. Very likable. Can be annoying.


 


5. How is
he/she different from others?


Fionn can
communicate with anyone. He can be fluent in any language, animal languages and
sign language included, just by hearing it (or, in the case of sign language,
seeing it). Fionn can also be able to read and write in any language just by
seeing it written (including pictographs and this world’s equivalent of
Braille).


 


6. What
does he/she most desire or hope for?


Fionn really
wants to have a pet, take over his parents’ magical emporium, and find
adventure.


 


7. How is
he/she strong?


Fionn is
very persuasive. And, of course, he can talk to anybody.


 


8. How is
he/she weak or vulnerable?


Fionn is
too trusting and he never admits he’s wrong, even if he knows he is.


 


9. What
does he/she fear most?


Change.
Fionn has a good life, and he doesn’t want it to get messed up.


 


10. Your
Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s)


“Fionn, can
you get that fireball down from the top shelf?”


I may be
short, but I’m still taller than my dad. My family always jokes that his magical
power is the ability to shrink, instead of summon objects. “On it!” I reply. It’s
not a real fireball until you throw it, but I still have to be careful.


“Thank,
son,” Dad says.


He’s
pleased with me, and he’s not on guard. I strike. “Can I get a pet?” I hold my
breath.


“Fionn, we’ve
been through this. An animal in the shop would be terrible. Imagine it running
through here, knocking over potions, lighting this place on fire, getting people
hurt, maybe even killed. You can’t have a pet.”


I love the
magic emporium. It would break my heart if the place was destroyed. But I
couldn’t back down now. “Are you forgetting? I could tell my pet not to run amuck!”


Dad looked
like he was going to say something, but the bells on the door jingled. My mom
rushed down the stairs (we live on the second floor) to greet the customer.


When I saw
him, I could barely contain my gasp.


submitted by Bounty, age 12, ?
(May 4, 2014 - 11:36 am)

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Smile That was me squee-ing.

Name: October. She thinks the name's stupid, but she doesn't like her nickname, Loner, either.

Appearance: Wav-ish black hair that will turn Semi-silver over time when she is feeling especially emotional.  Her eyes are usually grey, but will have flecks of bright color every now and then, usually gold or red. Her skin is almost always pale, exept unhealthey times when it turns grey. She will always be seen with tattered white T-shirt (it's so stained you cant even tell it's white!), really muddy jeans, and a gold dagger that never seems to loose it's shine.

Age: 14 

Backround: She has no memory of most of her childhood, becuase she thinks she might've gotten amnesia somehow, all she knows is that she is no normal human being and that her real name is October. For all she knows, she's an orphan. She's been on the move most of her life, trying to keep hidden. She doesn't know why she's running, but whatever the reason, it feels right to her. People have seen her befor, and that's were she got the nickname Loner. 

Personality: In the shadows is the most you can say about her.

How she is different from others: In about any way you can think of.

What she most wants: To know about her past, and to know why she's always running.

How she is strong: Well, she's made it three weeks so far without knowing much of anything, and she's still surviving!

How she is weak/vulnerable: Having amnisia means she doen't remember anything--that's not really a good thing.....

Who does she fear most: Anyone who actually pays close attention to her. She doesn't want to take any chances of being questioned.

Crowd sorcery sentences: I woke up very, very, very confused. I was unable to sit up so I settled for looking around me. Green. Forest, maybe? Then I started to panic when I realised I couldn't remember anything.............

So, please tell me how you like it so far, and may the fourth be with you!

submitted by Classified, age classified, classified
(May 4, 2014 - 1:24 pm)

1. Paige Bliss Casper

2. She has long brown hair, dusty brown eyes, and a crooked smile she is slim and tall and often wears purple.

3. Paige lives in a small cottage during the 1450's with her 3 sisters (Jo, Eliza, and Mary) and Aunt Rose, since her mom and dad died when they drowned coming to America by ship to meet Paige and her sisters, but now since she is the of the oldest she has a lot of pressure to take care of everyone in the family.

4. She is curious, akward, bubbly, and funny, and her hobbies are writing and singing. Paige is also good at cooking, though she does not like to cook. 

5. She is different fom other people because she is a mermaid and whenever she touches water after 4 secounds she gets a tail. Paige is afraid people will think this is witchcraft so she hids this from everyone, even her Aunt Rose!

6. Paige mostly wants to write a book.

7. She is strong because she is good at swimming.

8. She is weak or vunerable about her parents' death and if she is not out of water by the full MOON then she is stuck a mermaid forever.

9. Water

10. The water looked so pretty in the moonlight. The river is never steady, it always flows. Paige looked at  the water rippling slowly. "C'mon Paige, don't you want to go into the water?" her sister Eliza asked. "No, I don't like water," I replied. "Why not?" I just watched the water slowly move and did not anwser, when I felt a push and fell straight in the water. I felt ice-cold and scared..

 

 

 

 

submitted by Ciera B, age 13, California
(May 4, 2014 - 2:00 pm)

A bit of a technical note, America was not discovered and colonized by the Europeans until 1492.

submitted by Gollum
(May 5, 2014 - 2:28 pm)

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS was the guy who first sailed to America. And it wasn't even the US, it was an island of the coast of Flordia. BTW, Chris was a TOTAL JERK!!! He gave the Native Americans food and gifts and then enslaved him. He was super greedy and he only cared about money. Some people don't do their research, if you're asking "Why have I never heard this before?".Yell

submitted by Allison A., age 11, Washington
(May 10, 2014 - 4:55 pm)

NOT TRUE!!! Undecided

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WAS NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO SAIL TO AMERICA.

Leif Ericson (Some times called Leif the Lucky) was the first person to find America. (thought the exact point of where he landed is not certain) He came from Norway and was returning to his home after becoming Catholic, when he was blown far south of his home Greenland.  

submitted by E.m.i.l.y., age 1, Some Where, Indiana
(May 15, 2014 - 8:05 pm)

What about the Native Americans?  They were here first!

submitted by Bounty, age 12, The Americas
(May 17, 2014 - 7:42 am)

Agreed!

submitted by Bounty, age 12, The Americas
(May 17, 2014 - 7:43 am)

1. Name

Eleanor Goodwin 

2. Appearance

A bit on the short side, with short, curly, black hair. Her skin tone is a nice, dark bronze. Has brown eyes. Wears a pair of goggles at all times, whether on her head or on her face. Very practical clothing, with good walking shoes.

3. Background

Eleanor comes from a long line of magic-users. Her magic specializes in summoning things up from her imagination, totally breaking physics in general. Her magic never disappears from around her, and floats close to her body. It's silver in color, and could possibly be mistaken for a cloud at a distance.

4. Personality

She's not particularly brave, but has a very strong sense of wanderlust. (Eleanor's spent more time sleeping under the stairs than in a bed.) Has a rather strange sense of humor, and enjoys a practical joke every now and then. Quite shy around people she doesn't know, and dislikes cities. Perhaps that's the reason she started travelling.

5. How is he/she different from others?

Other than her advanced mastery of her magic, she's one of the few who spend their days travelling. Most people of Noria (the continent Eleanor lives on) aren't too keen on adventuring to places unknown.

6. What does he/she most desire or hope for?

To master her magic completely. Eleanor values control over her abilities, which is a bit hard when it can be affected by your moods. 

7. How is he/she strong?

She can fight off most enemies with magic alone. She doesn't mind solitude, and is very persistant. 

8. How is he/she weak or vulnerable?

Incredibly bad with social situations. Physically weak, other than her legs. (And running doesn't do much against magic.) Overemotional, which can mess with her magic. 

9. What does he/she fear most?

Her magic being taken away. She feels exposed without it, as she is very bad at hand-to-hand combat. 

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s)

Eleanor walked through the open field, her magic trailing behind her. She'd been travelling for days now, sleeping with the sky as her ceiling.

submitted by Elise L., age 14, Washington
(May 4, 2014 - 9:42 pm)

I just finished reading all of the character descriptions submitted so far. Great job, everyone! There are so many interesting characters here. I'm excited to read more and I'm looking forward to illustrating the story all of you are helping to weave with your Chatterbox threads. Keep up the good work!

submitted by Emily Fiegenschuh, Edmonds, WA
(May 5, 2014 - 3:07 pm)