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tips for getting people to like your ocs

*disclaimer: this is based on what’s worked for me, aka an artist that likes to make comics/storyboards. so this advice is directed at people who do that

you can do things like this:

Which is fun! Character sheets like this are great, especially for personal reference! But frankly, I don’t think most people engage with this (at least I personally don’t). You could have the coolest character in the world, but it will be harder for most people to feel invested when they’re presented so neutrally like this.

My main piece of advice is: get better at writing.

That might sound harsh when said like that, but let me explain what I mean! (Not trying to imply you’re bad at writing either!)

What I tend to do is just throw characters into situations with as little handholding as I can. Give enough context that readers can follow along, but don’t feel like they’re being explained to.

what can you learn about the characters through their designs alone? (age, personality, economic status, occupation, etc)

what can you learn about the characters’ relationship though their interactions alone? (are they close? familial? romantic? is there hostility? are they tense/relaxed?)

what are the characters currently doing? what were they doing previously (how long have they been talking)? what are they going to do next? can you convey this without dialogue?

how do they feel about what they are doing? are they content? focused? over/understimulated? would they rather be doing something else?

where are they? does it matter? would establishing a setting in at least one panel clarify the scene? is there anything in the enviroment that could tell some of the story?

what time of day is it? what time of year is it? what is the weather like?

Now, with all this in mind, I'm going to give you another example. I'm going to use completely brand new characters for the sake of the experiment, so you won't have any bias (aka I can’t use Protagonist from above, since you already know all about him).

Did this get more of an emotional response from you than the first example? Why do you think so? Who are these characters? How do they know each other? What else can you infer about them? What happened? Who is "she"?

Now, you don't have to actually answer all those questions. But think about them! You can tell people a whole lot about your characters without ever showing them a list of their likes and dislikes.

Obviously, comics aren't the only way to get people invested in your original characters! But regardless, easily digestible formats will grab people's attention faster than huge blocks of text, and comics are a lot less work than doing wholeass storyboards.

Now go and share your ocs with the world!!!

short & impactful

"Stay."

"Just go."

"I hate you."

"Because I love you."

"Don't leave me."

"Leave me alone."

"I need space."

"Don't go."

"Talk to me."

"I want only you."

"You need to move on."

"Please, speak to me."

"This will end now."

"I want to forget you."

"Hate me."

"Why?"

"Lie to me."

"I can't do this."

"Tell me."

"I'm just afraid."

"Please, leave."

"You can't leave me."

"I need you."

"Don't do this."

"Just stop."

"It's over."

"Tell me the truth."

"I can't lose you."

"We're done."

"Please."

Angry Confessions

"I love you! I have always loved you. It's not fair to deny my love for you now."

"You make me so angry I want to scream, and I love you so much it almost tears me apart."

"I cannot change my feelings for you, believe me I fucking tried."

"How can you not understand how much I love you?"

"I am so angry right now, I could almost forget my love for you."

"I can't do this anymore. I love you. But it's not enough."

"Don't mock me by acting so surprised. You had to know about my feelings for you."

"You make me so angry sometimes. And you make me love you all the time."

"I need to know that you're safe. Because I care about you. I love you."

"You knew how I feel about you. You have to have known."

"Can you not see that I love you? That I've always loved you?"

"I love you! Is that what you wanted to hear? Are you happy now?"

"It's not a secret that I love you. Don't act like it is."

"My love for you will truly become my downfall, I just know it."

"I fucking love you, okay?! I don't want to, but I do."

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you have to CUT the tomatoes beforehand and let them SOAK in the olive oil + salt + herbs of choice if you’re going to make BRUSCHETTA. and then you POUR some of the liquid on the bread AS SOON AS you get it off the pan. then you PUT the tomatoes on top. so fucking tired of saying this❗️

I work at a restaurant and nothing will ever beat the time this woman threw an absolute hissy fit at brunch because we ran out of home fries and all we had were french fries, she yelled at me, she demanded to speak to my manager, and when she’s in the middle of complaining, my manager just stopped her and went “hey do you want a hug?” and this woman went “what?” and my manager was like “you just seem super upset about the shape of these potatoes and I thought maybe you needed a hug” fucking hysterical, I got to watch a human blue screen in real life, absolutely the best way to shame someone for their nonsense I’ve ever seen

taking my melatonin gummies “early” tonight (it’s nearly 4am) cause i’m sleepy but not quite go to bed sleepy yet.

but i think this would be much easier if someone were to wrap themselves around me and and whisper in my ear about how much they love me like this.

how sweet and soft and warm and pliant i am when i’m only half conscious, and how they know they should wait, they should ask, but they simply couldn’t help themselves because don’t i know?

don’t i know how innocent i look in my sleep, how i make the best noises when i’m not awake enough to bite my lips and muffle myself, how cute it is when my little hands involuntarily clench and twist in the sheets?

“this is what it’s like when you make me need to touch you like this, sweet girl, isn’t this what you wanted? yeah, i know it is, so you just close your eyes for me, angel, and i promise, you’re gonna dream so fucking good tonight.”

cute gender neutral things to call your partner:

chosen undead

bearer of the curse

ashen one

foul tarnished, emboldened by the flame of ambition

gravelord servant

bloody finger

mound maker

hmmmmmm

Aepper: I just ended a four year relationship. Trey: Oh, I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Aepper: Hm? Oh yeah, I’m fine. It wasn’t my relationship. *Ace and Deuce fighting from across the room*

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Aepper: Trey and I are having a baby. Ace: That’s gre- Aepper, slamming adoption papers on the table: It’s you, sign here.

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Aepper: Trey and I don’t use pet names. Ace: I see. Hey, what do bees make? Aepper: Honey? Trey: Yes, dear? Aepper: Ace: Don’t ever lie to my face again.

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Aepper: How’s the sexiest person here~? Trey: I don’t know, how are they~? Aepper, flustered: I- Ace, from across the room: I’m doing great, thanks!

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Aepper: Come on, I wasn’t that drunk last night. Ace: You were flirting with Trey. Aepper: So what? They’re my partner. Ace: You asked them if they were single. Aepper: Ace: And then you cried when they said they weren’t.

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Trey: Do you ever want to talk about your emotions, Aepper? Aepper: … No. Ace: I do! Trey: I know, Ace. Ace: I’m sad! Trey: I know, Ace.

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*The squad is having dinner together* Aepper: Trey, can you pass the salt? Trey: *Throws Ace across the table*

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Aepper: Ace, can I talk to you for a second? Ace: Yeah, what’s up? Lemme guess. You and Trey are having problems and you want me to teach you how to kiss? Aepper: What? No, stop that. I know how to kiss. I’ve read books.

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Aepper: I love you guys, you’re the best thing that’s happened to me. Trey: We’re the best thing that’s ever happened to you? Aepper: Yes! Yuu: I’m starting to feel a little sorry for you.

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Aepper: There is no future. there is no past. do you see? Time is simultaneous, an intricately structured jewel that humans insist on viewing one edge at a time, when the whole design is visible in every facet. Trey: Ace: Riddle: Everyone Else At Aepper’s Surprise Birthday Party: Trey: All I asked was if you wanted to cut your birthday cake first.