Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of creating, like, really distinct witch characters. You know, not just your typical pointy-hat-and-broomstick types. I wanted something more, something with depth. So, I started by just free-writing. Seriously, just opened a document and let whatever came to mind flow out.
My first thought was, “What kind of magic?”
- Herbalism?
- Crystals?
- Potions?
- Divination? Like tarot or runes?
I jotted down all these ideas, not worrying about making sense. Then I picked one – herbalism – and started brainstorming around that.
Example:
Okay, so we have an herbalist witch. Where do they live? A cottage in the woods, obviously! What kind of personality? Grumpy? Wise? Maybe a little bit mischievous?
I did a lot of “what if” questions.
- What if my witch was super young, just learning?
- What if they were ancient, carrying secrets from centuries ago?
- What if they hated their powers?
- What if they were obsessed with them?
I spent a good few hours just going down these rabbit holes. I built up little profiles for each idea. Gave them names, even if they were just placeholders. Like, “Willow – the reluctant herbalist” or “Agnes – the potion master.”
Building the Backstory
Then came the fun part – backstory! I figured every good character needs some history, some drama. So I asked myself:
- Where did they learn their magic?
- Did they have a mentor? A good one, or a bad one?
- What’s their biggest fear?
- What’s their greatest desire?
- Do they have any enemies? Any allies?
I really tried to get into their heads. Like, imagine what it would be like to be that person, living in that world. I even scribbled down some dialogue, just random snippets of conversation to get a feel for their voice.
Honestly, it was a bit messy at first. Lots of crossed-out words and random notes. But slowly, these characters started to take shape. They felt… real, almost. And that’s when I knew I was on the right track. It’s all about just letting your imagination run wild, then slowly shaping it into something concrete. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see where it takes you!
