The 30 Characters Challenge
We triple dog dare you.
A total breach in etiquette, we know. But such is the weight of the gauntlet. The month of November has become a bastion of creativity for the aspiring or even casual storyteller. It is likely that you know at least one person involved in the wildly popular NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) campaign. But perhaps through years of trial and error or sheer intuition, you’ve decided a 50,000 word draft in 30 days isn’t quite your speed or format.
What if you’re drawn not to plot, but to character? And indeed, for many storytellers, it’s the hustling and bustling of our protagonists and antagonists generating plot in the first place.
November is as good a month as any to shake loose 30 bright, funny, dangerous, winsome, loathsome, heroic characters from your mental stores. Because for the third consecutive year, November is host to the 30 Character Challenge from Comix Tribe.
It’s as simple and as daunting as 30 characters in 30 days. And hundreds have already registered to try their hand.
From the official 30 Characters website:
The 30 Characters Challenge is Back!
The Challenge: Create 30 new characters in 30 days- one for every day of the month of November.
Why: Because the world still needs new characters.
When: Starting November 1st, 2011.
Where: Right here on at 30Characters.com.
How to Register: Simply sign up here with your name and email address to be added to the 30 Characters 2011 Challengers Roster.
Returning Challengers: If you participated in the 30 Characters Challenge last year and would like to take part again this year, leave a note in the comments section below, or send an email to tylerjamescomics@gmail.com confirming participation.
Stay Connected and Spread the Word:
– Follow the hashtag #30characters on Twitter for the latest information on the 30 Characters Challenge!
– Like the 30 Characters Challenge Facebook page!
– Keep an eye on your inbox for weekly 30 Characters Challenge updates!
– Grab one or more of the approved 30 Characters Challenge Banners, and post on your website. Or better yet, create your own!
Have questions about the challenge? Be sure to read our FAQ, for everything you could possibly want to know about #30Characters.
Get inspired. Liberate some great characters from up there in the cobwebs. Assemble your troops for even bigger things in the weeks and months to follow. But above all, get started.
Registration ends on Sunday, so get moving!
Too much on your plate to participate this month, but curious about the legions of heroes and villains being birthed into the world? Keep an eye on the 30Characters website for creator updates. You can also browse the digital gallery, featuring previous works from the participants available for download on Graphicly. The list includes great titles like Tyler James and Koko Amboro’s epic fantasy Tears of the Dragon, the capes and tights drama Extraordinary, and the shambling horrors of the Grim Crew’s Dead Future anthology.
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Seems interesting. I may actually do this. Although last time I was triple dog dared, the firemen had to remove my tongue from the pole…….
ok, I got the reference… but some people might take that the wrong way… just sayin’
Ali has registered. I have registered. Join us!
Challenge accepted!
Oh interesting
I’m in! I have yet to finish NaNoWriMo; this seems much more my speed.
I failed miserably at nanowrimo last year, but I’ll give this a try. Sounds fun!
I just signed up for nanawrimo and now this shows up? (screams incomprehensably and throws chair at computer).
Signed up, despite the fact I am getting a puppy AND having a birthday in November. Wish me luck!
This seems fun. I’ve got a load of ideas. I’ve seen art from trained chimps though that is better than what I can do.
I can’t draw either, but I use http://fabricadeherois.blogspot.com/ and there’s always Hero Machine too.
I had LOADS of cool characters that I made in City of Heroes. Used to have a ton of screenshots of them, but not sure where they are now. I wonder if that could work. Now that it’s free to play, I can access them again. I had a team of blaxploitation/kung fu movie characters. Thanks for the links and the reminder!
I was more or less registered since the beginning of the year. I’ve been doing a 100 Character Challenge where I create 100 new characters combining last year’s 35 (yeah, I went over) and then I started at the beginning of this year with one a week. I’m at 77 now, so, I’m actually on pace to go over 100.
How is it none of you know this about me?
Oh, and I also made a bunch of them public domain characters.
I accept your challenge, Mr. Montgomery!
So does this mean you’re not doing NaNoWriMo this year?
No NaNo, no.
I’m working on other things in addition to this though.
Im gonna try this. most of my characters will be “slice of life” type of characters from screenplays I’ve written or thought of writing, but I’m still going for it.
Registered. I’m going to regret this aren’t I?
Hmm, would it be cheating to use characters I’ve been sitting on for a while? I cold easily knock out 30 just from stories I’ve had brewing for a while. Some slice of life comics, some fantasy RP, a vampire faux documentary I was working on, some superhero fare. Yikes…
I’m sorry if this has been explained but I’m kind of confused, can I just design them or should I have to write a detailed bio also.
I think it’s open to interpretation. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it, that sort of thing.
Ah i didnt realise this was hero and design based. I simply thought it was to write a new character in a prose format and didn’t realise it was meant to be hero/comic based. None the less I may try to do it as a prose thing.
Between the characters I’ve made in City of Heroes and the vast quantity of characters I’ve created and written over the years in various short story and roleplaying formats, I imagine I could actually do this.
…Oh…its a arty thing. I can’t draw to save my life. Aw well.
I think you can just write about them. At least, that’s what I’m doing.
I did it, I don’t know if I am gonna like it, but I did it.
Sounds lovely~