Wednesday, July 21, 2010

What's your sign?

This may seem a little random (although by now I know you're probably used to it), but I promise, I have a point.

What is your zodiac sign?

I'm a Capricorn, and according to most sites, I'm pretty on point, with a hint of Sagittarius thrown in.

Now the whole reason I started thinking in depth about this is because I was trying to decide my MC's birthday. I wanted to make her birthday in June, but (of course) I got slightly distracted, and ended up doing some research, and I found out that her characteristics don't fit a Gemini or Cancer. Maybe a Taurus...

Truthfully, it doesn't make a difference--in the end I am going to make her what I want to make her, even if she does have all of the attributes of a bull in August, but I thought it was interesting. I'm not big on this stuff now, even though I was very into it when I was younger. I used to borrow books and books on Astrology and horoscopes from the library.

Do you believe in the Zodiac? Does it have any effect on your characters? Do you base them off of these signs?

22 comments:

JE said...

I'm a Leo--Roar!!!!

I'd never thought about this. My MC's actual B-days never come up n the story, but it's something to consider. You could use this angle to better characterize, or better yet, make your MC feel like s/he isn't "normal".

~JD

Aubrie said...

I'm a lot like my sign, actually. It's pretty scary and neat at the same time. I'm a scorpio.

Anne Gallagher said...

I'm a Taurus. I don't think I've ever had an MC's birthday come up in one of my books. Interesting idea though.

Joanne said...

Aries here. I don't think I've ever had an MC's birthday either. But the Zodiac does seem like an interesting tool to use in giving character traits. I hadn't thought of using it before.

Touch of Ink said...

I studied astrology for a while, and I'm really not into it. (Yes, I recognize the weirdness of that statement.)

One thing I learned is that you have a sun and moon sign. The sun sign is what everyone talks about. It's your outer personality and what everyone else sees or describes you as. The moon sign is how you feel on the inside.

So, I don't use astrology with my characters, but I try to always remember that how they feel on the inside and how they appear on the outside are very different. (Gives some nice internal conflict.)

Touch of Ink said...

Oops, I forgot to mention that I'm a Sag (both sun and moon) but everything else is in Capricorn.

Christina Lee said...

I'm a Taurus and I admit to reading my horoscope on-line every day. Sometimes it's right on, other times, not so much. I have never considered that for my MC though..hmmm.

Lindsay said...

Ooh I never thought about that with my MC. Now I'm gonna look. lol.

I'm a Taurus, and I do have all the typical traits...apart from my lack of stability when I fall over. hehee.

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm a Leo - but I'm born near the cusp of Leo/Cancer and I have as many Cancer characteristics as Leo - maybe more :)

Stephanie Lorée said...

I'm a very much a Leo. While I don't believe in the Zodiac, I do think it's funny how many Leo characteristics I have.

For my work, I mostly ignore Zodiac signs, unless it's important to my setting. I'm writing speculative fiction, so proper Zodiac signs could be necessary based upon the fantasy elements of the world I'm dealing with. In my current WIP, I list Zodiac signs on my character synopsis just for fun and inspiration.

Anonymous said...

Last year some time, I did actually get this urge to construct ALL my character's birthdays around their personality traits according to the Zodiac. So if one of them acted THIS way, I'd make their birthday in October, and so on.

I don't necessarily believe in the Zodiac, but I'm an Aries and the description does match me quite well... At least, I like to think it does. :]

Tamara Narayan said...

I'm a virgo and looking up the traits I see they all fit me to a tee. Then again, I remember a math professor of mine would run a seminar for high school students where he would hand out 'personality' sheets for each high schooler (much like a horoscope) and ask them how close the description fit them. Many of the students were amazed at the accuracy, but the joke was that every student got the same sheet. How many times do we look at horoscopes other than ours to see if the other signs fit?

Jennifer Shirk said...

I'm a Libra--but I don't pay attention to horoscopes or anything like that.
That's a good idea to use it for characters. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't follow horoscopes. Think I'm a Sagittarius, but not sure.

Sarah Callejo said...

I'm Scorpio and I've found similarities with other Scorpios which I find difficult to define as coincidences.
In any case, it's a great way to think about a character's traits. Thanks for the idea.

Wendy Lu said...

I'm a Crab for Cancer since my birthday is June 22, and for the most part the characteristics for Crabs describe me almost perfectly. :)

Hmm, honestly I've never thought about my characters' astrology signs, but that's a really good idea! Great way to create their personalities and guide how they would think and how they'd react to things.

~TRA

http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com

Wendy Lu said...

I'm a Crab for Cancer since my birthday is June 22, and for the most part the characteristics for Crabs describe me almost perfectly. :)

Hmm, honestly I've never thought about my characters' astrology signs, but that's a really good idea! Great way to create their personalities and guide how they would think and how they'd react to things.

~TRA

http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm an Aries. Headstrong.

I've never thought of the sign when deciding my characters' birthdays. It has more to do with where it fits in with plot. Hmm... interesting idea.

Unknown said...

I'm a textbook Libra. Everything I've ever read about Libra has mirrored my personality, to the point of being spooky! I absolutely consider the Zodiac when deciding my characters' birthdays, ages and personalities. I also rely on the Myers & Briggs Personality Types for inspiration in character development.

I don't really think it matters whether you believe in the Zodiac, or anything like it, as long as it jump starts your creativity! :D

notesfromnadir said...

You're a Capricorn which means you're getting younger. You're also steadfast & will do well w/ your writing.

I'm an Aries but have other planetary influences which I won't go into here. Suffice it to say once you know your moon & rising signs you can get a better picture of yourself.

For my characters I most definitely know their signs which helps me understand them & how they react. My main character for 1 of my novels is clearly a communicative Gemini & this character's birthday is also on a special day which I was so delighted to do when I realized that I could do it!

Yes, astrology is fun, & if you delve into it can also be very accurate.

Lydia Kang said...

I'm a Libra. And thought I don't really believe in the zodiac (I mean, how can everybody born within a month of me have perfectly identical traits? Not possible!) I do find it odd that I have classic Libran traits anyway.

I don't use them in my characters. Never thought about it, but I think it's a great idea for helping to generate characters!

Anonymous said...

Hey, Writing Nut!

I'm a lot like my sign, which is a Pieces, but as for stories go I don't really care what day my character is born on unless it's important for the storyline. If it did, I would have done some extensive research on it.

I love though looking at my horoscope of the day or week from time to time, because it's interesting to know what the future might hold.

Write on!