Writing Your Dolls story.

For me, the stories come before the dolls and not all my stories require shells for the characters (thank god!). Some of the stories are free reads and are posted to my author LJ. Others are posted to a paid subscription website (yaoifix.com) and still others are published through Torquere Press and available for purchase in a variety of places. I'd like to do more photostories but doing the written stories ends up taking up quite a bit of time and is where the bulk of my story telling energies go.

 

I haven't seen written backstories or stories in general about dolls gatheres in one place. It would be nice to know, if there was such place.

 

some of my stories where already in process when i started on the hobby. in fact it was because i wanted to shell some of my characters that i decided to get into it in the first place. some others i fell in love with and as i looked at them their story unfolded on it's own. but all my dolls are characters of some sort of story, none of them come home without a name or a part to play, for me that's what makes them special...otherwise they would just be a simple doll...and that tome would be very boring indeed.

 

Half of the stories for my dolls actually come after they arrive. I have an unmeasureable amount of characters to choose from but I like to make new ones as I get dolls. My Kid Delf I just put into one of the role plays I'd been doing with my girlfriend for years.

I think that everyone will have different methods but as for stories and writing them, it's up to the owner. c :
I like to write with two people because it's more fun to me that way. c :

 

I do have fairly detailed backstories for at least most of my dolls at this point (eventually the remaining ones will likely fill themselves in a bit more). For the answer of whether I have them written anywhere, however, I have to answer in two parts...

For the first part, my original doll family, all the members are shells of my original characters. I've written bits and pieces of their stories over the years, and a few people know at least some amount of it, but there's nowhere the whole thing is written out online (or even offline). I hope to someday craft the full story, but it's still something on my "to be done" list. Since I've been working on it for years, however, the backstories have become quite detailed for each of the characters.

With the new family (or families, but they're the same characters in each), on the other hand, the dolls are shells of characters from an online RP I played in a couple of years ago. All the characters in that game started out as characters from existing properties, where they had to have sufficient backstory existing already to be played, so each of those characters does have a written (or animated) backstory available. The characters that weren't in the game likewise have a good amount of backstory, being from the same story as the one I played. And on top of that, the interactions of the three characters who were in the game still exist in the logs of that game. (Not to mention I wrote a bit of what came after the game for last year's NaNoWriMo, but that's not available to read anywhere.) All that came before I started buying the dolls, however; they stepped into existing roles, much like the originals, with the difference being that their stories can actually be found.

There's a couple of extras tossed in amongst my dolls, too, but for the most part they're fae who are sort of timeless and not overly forthcoming with their backstories, but they seem to have fit in well enough anyway.

 

I wouldn't even know where to start with back stories. I'm not the greatest rp'er and if someone walked up to me and said "what's the story behind your doll" I'll probably have a panic attack.

 

I came up with a story, created characters and am currently working on fleshing them out as dolls, just one more character to go before the cast is complete and I can start the photo story shoot.

I love to do creative writing, and maybe I can give you a starting point or a few options for one.

1oll's name - If it comes from a specific language such as Irish or Italian, they could have a history in such regions with cultural ties. Perhaps they are an exchange student or traveling abroad.

2: Doll's clothing or props - Perhaps they have an item from their childhood that they do not know where it came from, and are searching for answers about a past they don't remember. Perhaps it is the only thing they have left, or maybe it is what they have always dreamed of having. They could loose the item and be on a quest to find it and have adventures along the way.

3: Doll's Eye/hair color or scars - An old scar can indicate a troubled past or an interesting history. Eye color can indicate linage, one off color eye might indicate a mixed heritage, angle/ demon/ human ect... on this note an actual crack in the doll can be incorporated into the story, say your pet knocked him or her off the table. Well, that just turned into a visit to the park gone wrong, when they where suddenly come upon by a wild beast and were injured trying to escape. There is a recovery process, maybe that isnt going well for them, or they found out how lucky they are to have friends (other dolls or you) who care for them.


Think of your doll as a person, figure out where he orshe came from and it usually falls into place. Just like growing up for people, as they age their story grows.

 

I have a lot of story notes about my characters and the unifying plot that ties them all together, but I'm keeping them largely private until I've finished the entire novel. I mostly post snippets about my characters here on DoA (especially when I'm waiting for a new doll and solidifying its character). All my other writing I keep privately on my laptop, since I don't feel it's ready to be published yet (even just on a blog or anything like that).

 

I already have some story parts in my mind and I started a few days ago to write things down because somehow it is actually too much to keep everything in my head till the Doll arrives. I even have some Story Parts in my mind of the Doll I still didn't ordered XD my head actually sometimes explore of all the ideas that suddenly comes up to my mind but I'm glad I think about it, so I actually can imagine how well my dolls will fits together. I don't know where to post the story I think I decided this when I start to make the pictures for the Story and I finally know, I can make my thoughts into pictures.

 

I love to write story for my dolls because my another hobby is writing novel. So...I will make a short background and profile for my future dolls first. After they arrived or are sent back from doing face up by an artist, I will begin to observe my dolls, give them a style, a permanent name and correcting the background story which I wrote it before, just to suit them. After they got their profile and background, I'll create a connection to other dolls (put in the same story). Just like my now story is about a cursed family which my first doll, Ren acts as a main character who is the clan head and tries to break the curse. Other dolls act as relative or retainer or friends or friends of friends. Now, I have their basic background, just correcting and write the story up together left...Ohhh...But to write in different languages is somehow...difficult! Hahaha!

 

If someone came up to me and asked that, I'd probably say, "Oh, I saw this doll on such-a-such-a site, her wig is from xyz company--I really love the color, don't you?--etc." or "I like dolls. I saw this one on [website] back in 20-- and knew that one day she would be mine, and here she is." Backstories wouldn't be the first things to come to mind.

 

Yup I write story for two of my girls. I didn't post them because the story has not finished, and the image/style of my girls have somehow change with time.:P

 

The story for my first dolls was written long before I knew they even existed! As a less than artistic person, I (eventually) found that they were a great way to create the characters I love, as I see them...then it just kind of carried on. Quite a bit.

I think some dolls can just really inspire a person, but the story is always growing and changing when they're with you, so its best just to be patient.

Also, I think you'll find a lot of backstories in the databases and what-not, as well as the owner's blogs, of course!

 

Even though I don't have a doll yet, I already have her story. I write mine on my Ipod. Her name is Charlie (Charlotte) and she builds things in glass bottles as a hobby and for her job.

 

Similarly to AlaskanPhoenix I don't have my dolls yet, but I bought them both with a backstory in mind. I'm a fiction writer first and a doll collector second so I suppose in my case it's hardly surprising that I'm writing the story for my dolls.

 

I've always had some sort of back-story for my dolls when I was a little girl. I have an army guy I bought as an adult, just because I was inspired by a film. When I decided to indulge my long interest in bjds, I had only a vague idea of who my doll is. Until I started talking with doll owners, I had no idea it was a thing for the dolls to have their own back-stories! My doll isn't here yet, but I decided he should have a roommate/friend. The roommate is just a head for now, but his story is much easier to imagine. He's a dollshe saint, and I suppose since I have seen soooo many photos of that doll, it's easier to imagine his character. He's a young guy from Appalachia (eastern Kentucky) and now lives in my city working at a Wal Mart changing oil. My popo doll isn't here yet, but he's a smart and thoughtful guy so he will write his own journal entries on my deviant art page so I can get to know him.

I suppose that counts as writing the story some place, right? I'm not sure they will be interesting stories or not. Fantasy universes are something I appreciate, but they say write about what you know. That's what I plan on doing with my dolls.

 

I didn't have a story when I first got my doll. I have been a story writer and a table-top role-player for years before I even encountered the dolls. I decide to get a doll because I love how they looked and I was completely fascinated by the possibility of customizing them over and over again. It wasn't until the doll had arrived that I realised I needed a name for him. It was through the process of looking for a name (and the nickname that came soon after) that I decided there must be something more to just a figure with a name. And that's where the story ideas are starting to build up.

At the present moment I still don't have a full story fleshed out, but I have some ideas. (Un-)fortunately, it also means I am starting to plan to fill out the story with the inclusion of another doll in the future. At the present moment if people ask me, I call my doll "my child" and leave it at that. There's no specific back story (or story in general) yet.

But I do echo she_flame's point: Is there a place -anywhere- that we can read through people's back story on their dolls that's gathered in one place?

 

I only thought of a story after my second doll arrived. Then, slowly, I would slightly change it when new dolls, aka new characters arrived. New relationships would form, sometimes changing a bit of story in the past and also changing the characters themselves a little bit every time.
It's good, that I don't have a set story, it's more like a background story only and stops in the 'now'.
That way I can fit in all my dolls as characters and don't accidentally think up new characters.

 

I love writing and as a long time table top RPG gamer, too, I have plenty of characters and character's stories, but my first BJD didn't have one. I got him just because he was so darn cute. Then, I find a doll that looked so much as a RP character of mine that I had to get her. She inherited the character and her (fairly detailed) backstory, and I decided to shell other character of the story or at least try including in her story all the dolls that I will get in the future.
For now I have only some pieces of backgrounds written down, but I plan to write the entire story... maybe also in English. I think there isn't a place on DoA to post our written stories, A lot of people posts their dolls stories in a blog or a website made by themselves and link it in their signatures.

 

@Mitis Feles:

Thank you for your reply! I was starting to think I was the only one who had a doll arrive without a story! (And continues to not have a story...)
And thanks for letting me know that there are ways to hunt down these stories. When I have the time, I think I'll try to dig them up. But here's a question, since back stories are such an integral part of the doll-owners' experience, why don't we have a section here for them? Is it because the forum is going to be spammed by walls of text?

 

Mitis Feles & SPhosphate you're not alone with your dolls not having (had [sry grammar, English isn't my first language]) a background story. This, as an artistic hobby, lures mostly artistic people who'll often also draw, write etc. besides collecting dolls (and possibly shelling their pre-existing characters in doll form) so it is like somewhat of a status quo in this hobby.

But because most do it doesn't mean all do it, of course. Some people just like pretty dolls, no strings attached. Which is also good, to each their own.

Personally I'm on the fence. I do have stories and characters but I don't act them out with dolls but rather get the dolls I want because of "yay, pretty, must have!". Once I get them and customize them I think up something of a back story but more to keep the doll in a specific theme/setting/mood then to create an actual story. For me each doll embodies a very specific idea or mental image, which I want to preserve. So when I'm handling a doll in any way I think up stories or variations thereof about how it became the way it is.

 

@Rillja: No worries. English isn't my first language, either. I guess by your definition I am kinda on the fence, too. I want to be able to have a doll and dress him up in as many ways as possible. (The endless customization possibilities is what attracted me to BJDs.) So now I suddenly feel like I stand out like a sore thumb with a doll but no story and not even a set "look" to him. I am trying to get around that at the moment. Now I have the doll and I know what I want to do with it, I am planning some kind of a story where he can have different looks and different wigs, etc. For a long while, I thought I'd be in the minor, minor minority to tackle this "back story" idea this way!

 

My stories started after I bought dolls. I bought a notebook so I can write information about them and their story. I haven't actually started writing yet but I would love to do a comic type thing. I have a few ideas. I will probably start drawing them out soon.

 

I am a writer long before I started with BJDs and to be able to give a physical form to some of my characters was one of the things that captured my attention.
All my dolls have stories and even the dolls in my wishlist have stories already XD I keep them on my computer alongside their profiles. I do not write them as a novel but as single chapters of their lives, as they are likely to be made as photoshoots.

 

I do make stories about them although I never really share them with the world, they are like my personal little diary! maybe someday I will make a public story about my dolls so that other people get to know them better too!

 

I am currently writing a story including all of the dolls I own so far. Maybe someday I'll share it with the general public. However, currently the only people who know the story are one of my doll friends and my younger sister. I've noticed that I'm much better at writing character backstories than an overarching story with multiple characters. The dolls are helping me get over that hurdle and I love it.

 

One of my dolls is a representation of a character I've had for years, so of course there are things written about him. The other has no story whatsoever yet, or even a name. XD; I'll think about it. I also have three more coming - two are going to be characters, and the third is starting to take shape in my mind. He'll probably be somebody by the time he gets here.

 

My dolls are based on characters from a story that, until this year, has been in my head. My first book should be published to Kindle this fall, and the second one will be officially started in November. I have plans for an entire series of books based on my characters and the world they live in. I do write short stories for them as well and have a wordpress site that I post them to.

 

My dolls stories are fairly simple. I leave them that way for roleplay purposes so that every roleplay partner gets something different. Different situations, different outcomes and such. The only one that's not simple is my precious Erik, whom is my opera ghost. He follows the book's history.

 

I share short monologues and stories, usually on my tumblr or in the writing prompt game, which I'm 100% shamelessly promoting because I can't post in it again until someone else writes a thing for it, and it updates really sporadically. Also a great way to flesh out characters by putting them in new situations. I also have a manuscript started about one of my doll universes. That isn't posted to the Internet because I intend to get it published.

 

People have been asking me what the backstories are on my dolls, and I've just been honest with them. I don't have them fully developed yet. I'm not going to do so until I get my third doll to finish the trio of characters for the start of their story. I have snippets of their personalities finished, but their lives aren't even close to being developed. However, once I do officially start making them backstories, they will be written down in a novel format.

 

As a writer... I'm a damned good editor.
(In other words, I have absolutely zero talent for that particular part of the hobby. )

What I am instead is a long-time old-school, books-and-funky-dice tabletop RPG player and GM. Most of the members of my crew who have ended up with extensive back-stories and complex characterization are resin avatars for favorite tabletop characters or roleplayed MMO toons. They grew out of playing games. Mender and Oracle, the Machine City androids, are the only ones here who have an origin purely in text. A few others (the Turtle House characters, primarily, but also Arjuna and his supporting cast-) were created specifically as doll characters with no "outside" reference at all.

 

Yes, I have fun writing stories about my dolls.

 

I have all my doll's stories written down. Their back story, small stories of their lives, interaction between my dolls and so on and so on. I happen to be an author and I use the dolls as a kind of relief when I am stuck. If I suddenly don't feel like writing my books and my editor is yelling at me for finishing the next chapter so he can go through it, then I sit down and write a small story about my dolls. about their lives or just a random situation they encounter. It is a great help for me to get through my every day life but I don't share my stories with anyone, I just keep them for myself and read them from time to time. I guess I could share them but I don't know where I should do that or how to do it. It is so different from the books I write so I highly doubt that my audience would be interested.

 

Oh man, I write all the time. I like to write about my dolls because it's a nice set of characters that I am very familiar with. I carry around a notebook and pens in my purse or tote bag because I never quite know when inspiration is going to strike. A lot of it is stuff that isn't going to be shared, but it's stuff that I needed to get on paper for the sake of being able to reference for other stories, and I don't want to contradict my own timeline or events. I'm also slowly putting together a "bible" (a reference to the master book from television shows, of this character does this and likes these things, this is the timeline, these things would never happen, backstory, etc.) for my own reference.

 

I tend to write a lot, and most of the dolls on my wishlist are characters I've written about... that said, I don't write down any stories for Vince! I wrote a fairly lengthy saga about my other dolls, I've written about various off-topics, I've written so much about my floating head that he has, like... three alternate universes. And yet Vince, my first doll, just sort of... is.

 

I haven't written anything down yet - just a basic family tree - but I would like to. I buy dolls first then think of "who" they are in correlation to my other dolls.