Character Study

There are a lot of ways that a writer can get to know a character, these post-Myspace-style surveys being one.  I find it a fitting addition to all this, since it's a nice, vague way for you to gain a lot of unnecessary information about me very quickly... and naturally, I'm probably just a character to you :)


    Part 1: The Basics

  1. What is your full name?  Awyn _____ Boyd
  2. Where and when were you born?  Plainville, KS...at 10:21PM on October 7, 1981.
  3. Who are/were your parents? mom is Linda, and she was and always has been the responsible one who took care of shit...most of my early memories of her include books.  Dad was Larry...the intellectual artist who drifted along.
  4. Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?  I'm an only... at least I was until my early 20s, when I met and participated in a mutual adoption with my brother, Joe.
  5. Where do you live now, and with whom? I live with my mother and my son.  My mom's an English teacher and a junk dealer... my son is a preschool student and a bit wild - but in a good way.
  6. What is your occupation?  Writer...perpetual student.
  7. Write a full physical description of yourself. Really?  I should have read through this before starting... I'm average-sized with longish blonde hair and eyes that are usually blue, but sometimes green and other times gray.  I wear glasses... sometimes hats... sometimes braids.  I dislike excessive makeup, and I don't even own lipstick.  Style-wise, I lack a definitive style.  I wear whatever is clean and comfortable with little concern for anything else.
  8. To which social class do you belong? middle
  9. Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?  I'm allergic to everything: most plants, lots of medicines, and perfume/cologne (yeah, you think you smell great... I think you smell like you need a shower).  I have no diseases, and I think I'm about as strong and/or weak as most people...physically.  I'm a bit anxious, and a total hypochondriac.
  10. Are you right- or left-handed?  Mostly right, but used to draw with both hands at the same time.
  11. What does your voice sound like? Not terribly annoying, but I have a sarcastic accent - yep, accent.
  12. What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?  Fuck, though I try not to...
  13. What do you have in your pockets?  Usually nothing... I don't like having stuff in my pockets.
  14. Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?  I had a lot of these prior to becoming a mom... I alphabetized everything, color-coded things, named everything, had issues with how I set my alarm clock (even and odd numbers), counting things, obsessive cleaning (q-tips and rubbing alcohol on keyboards weekly), general superstitions... now that I'm a mom, I don't really have the time to obsess over anything...so I don't.  The closets are loosely color-coded, but I won't lose sleep over a misplaced tank top anymore.  I can't remember the last time I cleaned anything with a q-tip.

    Part 2: Growing Up

  15. How would you describe your childhood in general?  Average.  Grew up with just my mom... lived in a small town... had friends... did the usual things.
  16. What is your earliest memory?  Being outside in the morning in dewy grass that was too long.  It's mostly a memory of the way the light caught the orbs of dew on everything, and the slight chill in the air.
  17. How much schooling have you had?  Lots.
  18. Did you enjoy school?  Yes and no... I'm getting tired of it, but I'm not done learning.
  19. Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?  Trial and error... mostly error.
  20. While growing up, did you have any role models? Only my mom...
  21. While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?  The only one I had regular contact with was my mom, and we got along fine until I was about 12, and then again after I turned 17.  Between those years I'm really surprised she didn't sell me to a passing circus...or ship me off to a convent.
  22. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  An architect and a writer.
  23. As a child, what were your favorite activities?  Playing outside...preferably in dirt.
  24. As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display? I was wild and smart...and difficult.
  25. As a child, were you popular? No... I had my friends and was generally aware of other people, but often indifferent.  As I got older I found myself at a bunch of parties, though not really all that interested in talking to people - not because I disliked them or because I felt that they disliked me, but because I was an introvert...and I didn't know it.  
  26. When and with whom was your first kiss?  The answer I generally give to this question is I don't remember...which is half true.  I don't actually remember the boy's name.  It was early middle school and I was at some sporting event in a gym, and some boy randomly kissed me.  Not a great start to dating, right?  I recall being mad at him for it.
  27. Are you a virgin? I have a kid, so we can be fairly certain that I've had sex at least one time.
  28. If you are a supernatural being (i.e. mage, werewolf, vampire), tell the story of how you became what you are or first learned of your own abilities. If you are just a normal human, describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today.  I really should have read through this first... this is way too complex a question to answer, even considering the fact that I'm just a normal human.

    Part 3: Past Influences

  29. What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?  Having my son.
  30. Who has had the most influence on you?  My son.
  31. What do you consider your greatest achievement?  My son.  (point made, right?)
  32. What is your greatest regret?  I shouldn't have said the meanest thing I ever said... I still feel guilt and it's been almost 20 years.
  33. What is the most evil thing you have ever done?  I'm not evil...don't think anything I've done qualifies as evil.
  34. Do you have a criminal record of any kind?  A juvenile record that isn't particularly exciting.
  35. When was the time you were the most frightened?  I don't know...
  36. What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you?  Another I don't know...
  37. If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?  I wouldn't change a thing... except not saying that thing I said.  And even that...I worry that if I didn't say it, I wouldn't be who I am, and I like me.
  38. What is your best memory?  All of days and nights with my son...
  39. What is your worst memory?  The few memories I have from my father's funeral.

    Part 4: Beliefs And Opinions

  40. Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic?  I think I fall somewhere in the middle...
  41. What is your greatest fear?  Spiders, failure, and to some extent attachment.
  42. What are your religious views? Atheist/anti-theist.
  43. What are your political views? Pretty liberal.
  44. What are your views on sex?  Also pretty liberal.
  45. Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable? I'm sure that I could... to protect my kid, or if someone had harmed my kid.  And in the event of a zombie apocalypse (or any, really), I would set humanity and guilt aside and do whatever had to be done.
  46. In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any human being could do?  hurt a kid.
  47. Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?  I don't believe in soul mates...because I don't believe in souls.  No one is destined for any other one, but occasionally we bump into someone who meets some need or causes some chemical to flood our brains...maybe it leads to real love, maybe not.  I'll let you know if I ever have a less cynical answer for this.
  48. What do you believe makes a successful life?  Happiness and simplicity.
  49. How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings (i.e. do you hide your true self from others, and in what way)?  People know about me...but almost no one actually knows me.  I'm very honest with myself, and when directly asked, I'm honest with others.  
  50. Do you have any biases or prejudices?  I'm intolerant of stupidity...and willful ignorance.  More the latter than the former.
  51. Is there anything you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances? Why do you refuse to do it?  Umm... anything involving spiders, because they just shouldn't exist...they're all wrong.
  52. Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to extremes for)?  My son.

    Part 5: Relationships With Others

  53. In general, how do you treat others (politely, rudely, by keeping them at a distance, etc.)? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them, and if so, how?  Indifferently... or with a considerable amount of distance.  I'm nice to people I like...and generally curious about everyone...and VERY excited when I meet people who are different.  I tend to study people, to treat them as either psychological projects or character studies.  I don't always mean to.  Sometimes I ask questions that are entirely inappropriate.
  54. Who is the most important person in your life, and why?  My son...because he's him... because he is love... because he teaches me something new every day.
  55. Who is the person you respect the most, and why?  My mom, because she's strong.
  56. Who are your friends? Do you have a best friend? Describe these people.  I have my college friends and my friends from home...they're all interesting and awesome in their own ways.  Since becoming a mother I've made friends with a lot of people that I never expected to know at all... and I'm glad.
  57. Do you have a spouse or significant other? I do not... I'm not sure I'm marriage material.  I require a lot of space...like an amount that tends to make others uncomfortable.  Sometimes I think dating would be nice, but it's difficult for me to consider bringing some man around my kid.
  58. Have you ever been in love? If so, describe what happened.  Which time?  On a good day, I can fall in love a few times.  Generally, relationships just...end...and over time we become friends.
  59. What do you look for in a potential lover?  Brains.  He has to be smart...impressively smart.  And interesting.  Mr. Darcy, though being millionaire is not necessary.
  60. How close are you to your family?  Close to my mom and son... otherwise, not so much.
  61. Have you started your own family? If so, describe them. If not, do you want to? Why or why not?  I have a kid...Kinda think that's both starting and completing a family.
  62. Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help?  My mom.
  63. Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why?  Very few people... I go on instinct.
  64. If you died or went missing, who would miss you?  My kid, mom...a select few others.
  65. Who is the person you despise the most, and why?  I don't despise anyone... I don't even really dislike anyone.
  66. Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict?  I argue playfully...but genuine conflict is uncomfortable.
  67. Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations?  Only when I have to...
  68. Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not?  Sometimes... I am an introvert...but every once in a while, I want to be around lots of people.
  69. Do you care what others think of you?  Depends on who the others are... there are few whose opinions of me REALLY matter to me.

    Part 6: Likes And Dislikes

  70. What is/are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?  Writing and reading.
  71. What is your most treasured possession?  Laptops I guess...since they have all the writings and pictures on them...
  72. What is your favorite color? Green...grass green.
  73. What is your favorite food?  I don't know...coffee?
  74. What, if anything, do you like to read?  I read mostly YA speculative fiction...but also enjoy a good nonfiction (science/anti-religion/how-to) every once in a while.
  75. What is your idea of good entertainment (consider music, movies, art, etc.)?  Movies...sometimes music...sometimes I find yard work really entertaining... having conversations with my son is always entertaining.
  76. Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? If so, why? Do you want to quit?  I smoked forever, and quit...  did a socially acceptable amount of experimentation as a teen, but haven't touched a thing since... and I've never been much of a drinker... in the last couple years I've had maybe 2 glasses of wine.
  77. How do you spend a typical Saturday night?  Hanging out at home with my kid.
  78. What makes you laugh?  Pretty much anything...I'm easily amused.
  79. What, if anything, shocks or offends you?  Not much... I don't like cruelty, and I'm often offended by how stupid people are...but I'm rarely surprised by either.
  80. What would you do if you had insomnia and had to find something to do to amuse yourself?  Play games on my phone... this happens a lot.
  81. How do you deal with stress?  Escapism...bring on the books!
  82. Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?  Generally I like to have a plan...even if it's not a very good one.
  83. What are your pet peeves?  People who think "alot" is a word.

    Part 7: Self Images And Etc.

  84. Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted?  I read/surf the internet whenever the kid is occupied...do random things around the house...cook things...play aliens with the kid.  When the kid is gone, I try to write.  Since I don't have much of a routine, there's nothing to disrupt.
  85. What is your greatest strength as a person?  Creativity.
  86. What is your greatest weakness?  I'm very easily distracted...makes completing things difficult.
  87. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?  I'd be able to focus on a task until it's done.
  88. Are you generally introverted or extroverted?  Introverted.
  89. Are you generally organized or messy?  Organized mess... I can usually find things in under an hour.
  90. Name three things you consider yourself to be very good at, and three things you consider yourself to be very bad at.  I'm good at mommying, writing, baking.  I'm bad at cooking meat, dancing, and managing my time.
  91. Do you like yourself?  Most of the time.
  92. What are your reasons for being an adventurer (or doing the strange and heroic things that RPG characters do)? Are your real reasons for doing this different than the ones you tell people in public? (If so, detail both sets of reasons...)  I'm not an adventurer... I'm just a regular person living a regular life.
  93. What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime?  I want my son to do well in his life... and I want to write.
  94. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?  Writing.
  95. If you could choose, how would you want to die?  Peacefully, in my sleep...when I'm old.
  96. If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you had left.  I'd just hang out with my son and mom...nothing else.
  97. What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered after your death?  Being my son's mom... and writing.
  98. What three words best describe your personality? Eccentric.  That's it.
  99. What three words would others probably use to describe you?  Probably weird...distant...intimidating.
  100. If you could, what advice would you, the player, give to your character? Finish something.