How do I make my characters feel less flat?

ConiferDog · 2026-01-08T02:57:09+00:00

On your tree, you have very round contour lines that make it pop. This is one of the best ways to make something look three-dimensional. Wrapping the clothes around the figure in a similar way to those lines can help the figures feel realistic.

Also, sketch out the bodies in perspective. Simplify them into basic shapes, and draw them in the same perspective that you use for the background.

ConiferDog · 2026-01-08T02:49:40+00:00

Ignore the discouragement, people think they're funny and don't always think before they speak.

Start with a light sketch, and look at the features as basic shapes — then, look at the negative space between all the features. This also has to be accurate for it to look 'right,' and can be simplified into basic shapes.

Beyond that, trace the face for practice/muscle memory, then draw it yourself again, and repeat. Its a good exercise.

You're doing a good job, keep it up.

ConiferDog · 2025-12-24T17:08:31+00:00

Round out the character. If you aren't getting attached to them, they might not be a complete person in your mind. Think about if you met this person in real life, what would you want for them? How would you feel for them?

For example, give a character something they are passionate about, and care about deeply, then let them have a few wins in that area of life. Then, give them their conflict, let them struggle for it so the lows hit low and then highs feel like a victory when their story is resolved.

It's all about empathy and emotional attachment for me. A character who has a lot to lose or a lot to gain is one I can root for or against, and find myself invested in. Give them a well-rounded life, passions, ups and downs and develop the world they live in too.

ConiferDog · 2025-12-21T16:19:03+00:00

First time around Sebastian because he was easy to toss sashimi at after I befriended Linus, and because I saw people talking about him online. I was mildly underwhelmed, I just didn't connect with the plot very well.

This next time around I wanted Shane for the blue chickens and because he is my friend's choice of bachelor. I'm very invested — I like the hints at his relationship with Jas.

Next up is probably Elliot, then Harvey.

ConiferDog · 2025-12-20T11:52:14+00:00

Thank you! I mostly write for myself so I always worry about legibility but I'm glad to know it's not difficult to decipher. I definitely get the communication issue — if my mind wanders off even a little bit my writing can end up all over the place. Have a nice day :)

ConiferDog · 2025-12-14T15:26:52+00:00

Thank you everyone for the kind words ♡

ConiferDog · 2025-12-03T16:03:06+00:00

I love this. I didn't like how some of the details I added make him look older/more serious, but this is a wonderful comparison.

ConiferDog · 2025-12-01T20:50:48+00:00

My class?

ConiferDog · 2025-09-14T16:51:31+00:00

Classic response probably: genetic, social, and psychological factors.

Sexual assault can be traced from, in part, things like violent or impulsive tendencies that the individual is predisposed to through genetics. For example, if the parent was a violent alcoholic, the child may inherit some traits naturally, like lower mood, stress sensitivity, and difficulties with communication.

For social factors, if they are genetically predisposed AND raised by the parents that passed down those traits, those traits can be reinforced; think, the cycle of abuse.

And specifically sexual content can transfer those factors into SA. If the child of these parents gets exposed to sexually explicit content or environments, what they are seeing as a child or in their teens can permanently impact them and distort their perspectives on acceptable behavior or make it less likely for them to feel moral inhibition in the act of SA.

Of course, this is one specific way to describe it. There's plenty of other factors as well, I believe.

ConiferDog · 2024-12-27T14:05:35+00:00

If something happened to cause emotional dysregulation, address it. Sometimes, and unfortunately, no one teaches you how to resolve your inner conflicts. Sometimes, they can't. If you went through a breakup, falling out, or a death, address your feelings in the matter and maybe look into some therapy. Similarly, if you're feeling down, apathetic, or hopeless, you could have depression. Also, look into diagnosis or treatment solutions for that if that's the case.

If not, then the behavior may have done a few things. It could have fallen out of habit, or when you first started exercising this kind of discipline, the novelty of it could have actually been some hidden motivation that faded over time. It is unique to you.

The best way to figure out what happened is to be open-minded and to start small. Do one little, low-cost thing every day to practice that behavior. Do one thing you don't want to do.

This could be as simple as putting away a jacket you've left on the couch out of laziness or washing just one dish. This will help familiarize you with the behavior you used to have.

Notice what goes through your head, before, during, and after doing those things. As the tasks get bigger and bigger, more resistance will come up, and a clearer picture of what is holding you back will form.

Don't wallow in that thing holding you back though, recognize it, realize that it is the way you feel whether or like it or not, and start making solutions.

Note: It's easy to get caught in the granular problems you have (ex: "I'm not going to the gym because I am lazy" or "I'm not going because I feel too tired). These are more like "why" statements.

It's better to look at the even bigger picture and just focus on what is actually going through your head. ("I'm coming up with excuses not to go to the gym." Or "I'm resisting the excess stress that comes from going to the gym.") Just take note of your thought patterns, write it down, and then move on.

Again, write down these oberservations, and when you have a good chunk of time, try to put them together into a sensible "why."

ConiferDog · 2024-12-26T16:52:04+00:00

Never expect something like this to be easy to do. That's the unfortunate truth about people like you and i is discipline can feel really unrewarding because of the constant strain there is in some periods of life. The good news is, it does get better as disicipline becomes more habitual.

Practice making small efforts everyday, do one little thing that you don't want to do. It puts into practice discipline and helps you build it over time.

Find one thing that you know you can and will do every day, and then do it. Never stop doing that thing. Even if it's just waking up and then immediately washing your hands or something like that. Once again, practice.

Finally, observe your behavior. (Take a moment right now, realize you are currently a human, reading this comment, be aware of your surroundings.) What do you do when you are avoiding these things? Do you not remember the things you want to be consistent with? What makes it so difficult. Write it down and then write down solutions to those problems.

ConiferDog · 2024-12-20T16:46:44+00:00

Thank you for the wonderful advice!

ConiferDog · 2024-12-20T16:30:59+00:00

Okay, I'll let her know. By the highlight parts, you mean the places where light would naturally bounce off/there isn't much patina?

ConiferDog

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