Props

[shadowgod]

Ok this is a wierd question, but...

 

Do any of the writers here purchase "props" or what not that help them write a story or get into character. Say a baseball cap that a character wears, or a certin brand of snack food or food product in general?

 

I'm just curious... Is there anyone as nuerotic as I am?

 

Steve

[Graeme]

Er.... no. I've never even considered it. I know I've done a lot of research on places mentioned in my stories, but to use a prop to help me get into character... definitely not. That's just not the way I think or work.

 

It does have some fun possibilities, though....

[Trebs]

I know of a stalker that used some props to get an author though...

[shadowgod]

I know of a stalker that used some props to get an author though...

 

.....EEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[C James]

Ok this is a wierd question, but...

 

Do any of the writers here purchase "props" or what not that help them write a story or get into character. Say a baseball cap that a character wears, or a certin brand of snack food or food product in general?

 

I'm just curious... Is there anyone as nuerotic as I am?

 

Steve

 

No, but I have looked things up online to make sure of minor details plenty of times, and I've also used maps when describing a road journey on roads I'd personally driven many times before.

[dkstories]

I've created maps, drawing layouts, and all sorts of stuff to keep undistorted in my head, but rarely have I ever used props. (note the rarely...)

[DomLuka]

If I'm going to use props, they're already around me and end up giving me an idea while I'm writing. Other than that, the closest I've come to actually purchasing anything for a story was when I bought a CD online because the music put me in the mood to write a particular story.

 

Fun topic. I'm curious to know if you have, and if so, what were they?

[shadowgod]

If I'm going to use props, they're already around me and end up giving me an idea while I'm writing. Other than that, the closest I've come to actually purchasing anything for a story was when I bought a CD online because the music put me in the mood to write a particular story.

 

Fun topic. I'm curious to know if you have, and if so, what were they?

 

usualy I include things that are around me anyhow when I'm writing, I guess you could call that hitchcock-esque. For the most part I dont use them however in an upcomming chapter of Living in Surreality Jacob is wearing a Nittany Lions cap (penn state) it first appeared as little play on my Mom's home state. Then I got the urge to purchase one.

 

That was an adventure, walked all around the local mall and its various hat stores would you believe no one had the hat?!

 

gah I had to order it online... so much for instant gratification.

[AFriendlyFace]

I've never used a prop either. I wrote a fairly elaborate "character encyclopedia" to help me keep everything straight though, and once I slipped an "inside joke" into one of my chapters.

[C James]

I've never used a prop either. I wrote a fairly elaborate "character encyclopedia" to help me keep everything straight though, and once I slipped an "inside joke" into one of my chapters.

 

Hmmm, I've got to try that (a character encyclopedia). That does sound like a great idea!

 

So, when will you tell us what the inside joke is?

[shadowgod]

The character encyclopedia does sound interesting. I used to draw out character sheets a few years ago. That however gets tedious after awhile. For me at any rate. But im guessing a quick paragraph or two describing characters would suffice

[C James]

The character encyclopedia does sound interesting. I used to draw out character sheets a few years ago. That however gets tedious after awhile. For me at any rate. But im guessing a quick paragraph or two describing characters would suffice

 

I use one to two paragraphs, listing everything from physical description, personality traits, to favorite foods, plus of course quirks. I need to learn to keep them updated as a story progresses.

 

How would a character sheet work? I have no idea what one would look like?

[AFriendlyFace]

So, when will you tell us what the inside joke is?

LOL, in the flashback in chapter two two of the characters are playing scrabble and one of them uses the word "Semen", the other says "I can't believe you got semen on the board, Don". Vance and I play scrabble online and that was actually something that had just happened when I wrote that chapter

[Graeme]

LOL, in the flashback in chapter two two of the characters are playing scrabble and one of them uses the word "Semen", the other says "I can't believe you got semen on the board, Don". Vance and I play scrabble online and that was actually something that had just happened when I wrote that chapter

It is vaguely possible that that constitutes TMI... Very funny, Kevin!

 

Sometimes, real life can throw us some great events to put into stories. Most of the wet-jock competition in Falls Creek Lessons actually happened, though I was in the audience, not on the stage. Similarly for the Virgin's Delight cocktail....

[Krista]

Let's see,

 

I've bought the music that I based a story on. I've also went shopping after writing a chapter where the characters went shopping. It wasn't for a story here, but one of my Novels that I have on hold. It was during the summer and the main character wanted a new swim suit.. so eh, I went "swim gear" shopping afterwards. Recently though I found a horse painting that I liked so I bought it.

 

It was embarassing though because I rode on one of those little scooters and I kept ramming into shelves and such..

 

So maybe my stories are feeding my insatiable urge to shop?

 

Krista

[C James]

LOL, in the flashback in chapter two two of the characters are playing scrabble and one of them uses the word "Semen", the other says "I can't believe you got semen on the board, Don". Vance and I play scrabble online and that was actually something that had just happened when I wrote that chapter

It is vaguely possible that that constitutes TMI... Very funny, Kevin!

 

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, that could be read more than one way.

 

Sometimes, real life can throw us some great events to put into stories. Most of the wet-jock competition in Falls Creek Lessons actually happened, though I was in the audience, not on the stage. Similarly for the Virgin's Delight cocktail....

 

Those were real?!?!!?!? Wow.

I have a confession to make: When I was reading "Falls Creek Lessons", that drink was the ONE thing that struck me as too hard to believe!

So maybe my stories are feeding my insatiable urge to shop?

 

Oh no, not shopping!!

 

You are more than welcome to my share. If there is one thing I hate, it's shopping malls. But, put me in a hardware store and I am happy to spend hours looking around and shopping, so I have my shopping moments too.

[shadowgod]

Butch shopping trip?!

 

I'm with you there CJ ok maybe not the hours and hours shooping around in hardware stores... But I'm definately a get in get out guy. only when it comes to shopping though

[Graeme]

Those were real?!?!!?!? Wow.

I have a confession to make: When I was reading "Falls Creek Lessons", that drink was the ONE thing that struck me as too hard to believe!

I'm sorry, but I don't have enough imagination to come up with something like that drink. All I could do was to try to accurately describe what I saw. I was especially amused when the barman dribbled a very small amount of cream on the top of the banana....

 

The main things I remember from the wet-jock competition are: the guys having to step outside (in the cold) to get changed into the jocks (supplied by the bar); the guy (drunk) who stuck a can of beer in his jocks to make himself look better; the guy who thought rippling his stomach muscles would make him look attractive (I thought it was gross); and the two female judges running forward with a tape-measure... I think I used all of those things in the story.

[C James]

Butch shopping trip?!

 

I'm with you there CJ ok maybe not the hours and hours shooping around in hardware stores... But I'm definately a get in get out guy. only when it comes to shopping though

 

ROFL!!

What? Hardware stores not your thing?

My other two "recreational shopping" destinations are automotive stores, and electronics stores.

 

Hmmmm, come to think of it, I need to go to Napa (an auto parts and gadgets chain) to check out some gadgets for one of my stories, so this fits into your "props" theme.

 

Um, has anyone here ever fitted a supercharger (not a turbo) and a nitrous plate to a 357 short block? If so, I'd really like to talk to you!

 

I'm sorry, but I don't have enough imagination to come up with something like that drink. All I could do was to try to accurately describe what I saw. I was especially amused when the barman dribbled a very small amount of cream on the top of the banana....

 

The main things I remember from the wet-jock competition are: the guys having to step outside (in the cold) to get changed into the jocks (supplied by the bar); the guy (drunk) who stuck a can of beer in his jocks to make himself look better; the guy who thought rippling his stomach muscles would make him look attractive (I thought it was gross); and the two female judges running forward with a tape-measure... I think I used all of those things in the story.

 

ROFL!!! Wow.

Was the wet-jock competition at the same place as the drinks?

[Graeme]

Was the wet-jock competition at the same place as the drinks?

No. As per the story, the wet-jock competition was at The Man, and the drinks were at a cocktail bar, which I THINK was called Christies.

[jalaki]

Damn, the mentions of this drink have me curious, I'm gonna have to do me some reading now I have, however, been privy to a wet-jock type contest myself, and they can definitely be a trip, haha. Too bad most of the guys in the one I saw were kinda ugly

 

 

As for the original question....no, can't say that I ever bought a prop. I may have had a character using something I already owned, but I don't see myself buying something I 'created' for a character

[Brayon]

*Casts Thread Ressurection*

 

As an avid Role-Player of several table-top RPGs, like D&D and Pathfinder, I have bought props that helped me get into character. Specific sets of dice for each character as well. As some of my writing characters, are my old RPG characters, I would have to yes to having props for them.