...and realize you know next to nothing about the hobby/job/etc. that you've chosen for them? My Zevo, I've made him a raver/DJ, something I've wanted to do for a while with a pet because I'm interested in the whole lifestyle? hobby? But I've realized I basically know nothing about it, at least not enough to write a decent little story blurb for him. All I really know is that he works at night, but I don't go clubbing, lmao, so I don't know what the hours are like. I listen to some electronica/dance music, but that's about the extent of my knowledge. I'm considering asking someone to write the story for me, because I don't really want to do research, nor do I really have the time to do it proper, but is getting someone else to do your story a copout? Should I just putter through it and write it myself? But then I'd have someone doing the overlay, someone doing a profile, someone doing the story...what part of it would be mine? It's just...ugh, frustrating lol.

Anyone else in a similar way?

Maybe I should just go to a club...YEAH RIGHT, THE SOCIOPHOBIC GIRL AT A CLUB. HA. No.

ALL THE TIME MAN but i also do a lot of research in general while writing so it's not a big deal for me i guess haha right now i have davide who is a beekeeper and i knew literally nothing about beekeeping before i started writing about him |DD and turin who is a teacher but at least for him i can just ask my grandma since she was a teacher~

if you don't want to do research you could always watch a movie or two about it? c:

i'm not a dj and never went to a rave but i love clubbing (tho i don't go as often as i used to because it's bloody expensive here orz) so feel free to ask me anything if you want! :' D

I don’t know a lot about DJ-ing myself, but I do know that not all DJs work solely at night. There are different types and some that do multiple genres. Like, you can have a DJ that works the club scene but will also do weddings for extra cash. Some of the really popular ones could also get invited to festivals or other large party events that require music during the day. Some DJs will travel all over the country throughout the month to play at venues while others only hit up a few places.

It may be easiest to pick a known DJ and model your character off that.

I don't know too much about the subject, either, but the club scene tends to be a rather dark place from what I understand. Which, really, can set grounds for some interesting stories and be a great way to bring awareness to various subjects.

By "dark place," I mean these places tend to be... Mmm, "ragers," so to speak. Origins of plenty of horror stories from victims of sexual assault. In some darker places, I imagine drug ODs and more to go along with it. When visiting raves, you'll notice most of the social scene is centered around ecstasy, alcohol, probably speed. It's not just a bunch of bodies rubbing together. I've heard people go into raves and see the equivalent to an orgy. I mean... They're pretty rank places if it's not a controlled environment.

On the lighter end, you have the controlled clubs... Which still involves dancing, but they're typically smaller in scale and you'll be less likely to encounter those high on some sort of drug. Assault is also less likely, but, well, that can happen anywhere. I think the closest thing to a "club" I have been is the local gay bar on a drag night, haha. They're so much fun, though. The "real" night clubs around here all get shut down for... Well, them being some pretty scary places.

So, with that little bit of knowledge, here's some ideas:

Pet is a new DJ at a club. They notice it's a very wild environment and influenced by various previous life events, desires and aims to improve it.

Pet is a party animal and desires to start up and make the biggest, best party club in the city. [Optional: It gets out of hand, they must control it! Or, it gets out of hand! Goal achieved!]

Pet is an aspiring DJ but discovers their idol is a horrible person, causing mayhem amongst the club goers (ie, spiked drinks, selling drugs, allowing minors in through the back, etc.) and must make a decision on to follow in their footsteps or not.

Pet has been grasped by the rave scene way too much, partaking in the more dangerous and illegal acts of the community. He meets someone (make it a two-part/pet story!) and they help them turn Pet's life around.

Pet isn't a DJ, but a bouncer and must be the final decision-maker before participants enter into the new world that lay beyond the doors behind them. They find themselves tasked with a difficult decision...

It isn't a copout to have someone else write a story, it's feeding the economy. ^^ I've paid for some great stories to be wrote for me. Vicinity even won the spotlight with a story One wrote. Startalon's (before the profile demo) was edited and worked on by Sitar. There are some great artists/writers/profilers on Subeta for hire, and some are free too.^^

Yes! Or I have a big story idea and then realize I need to do a lot of research into the occupation, or location, or other relevant topics. It's kinda fun when you think about it though because it gives an opportunity to learn something new! And when those pets are finally complete it's very rewarding! :)

It's not a copout to have someone else write your story.

Like said, there are people on Subeta who want to write pet stories for a fee.

is the most well-known I think.

^_^" Oh goodness! I've wanted to do a raver pet too, and pretty much Everything you said there would be me.
:) I also think it would be fine to have someone else write the story if you're okay with that. I'm not sure how that Works, but you could probably give them a few starting points and where you want it to end up.

Always do research. If you don't know about what kind of job/lifestyle/culture/etc that you want your pet to be about or from.. the only real way to pad your knowledge is to do research!

I dunno, it just seems.. lazy to not want to do research if you want to write a story. :I

Or, yeah, you could buy a story, but that gives you less control over the story you're trying to put forward. (I'd personally never do it.)

I think it's a good thing to make up characters whose stories revolve around things you know next to nothing about. It stretches you because you have to put yourself in someone else's shoes.

Me, I feel like I infuse a part of myself into every character I create. But I try to do a different part, otherwise they'd all be the same character, and that'd get boring fast. And I try to couple it with things I may not be so familiar with. For instance, my pet Fiddle loves bugs because on her world they make music that she can hear. Here on Earth, I have a mutal understanding with bugs: they stay out of my way, and I do not squish them to death. But if they come near me, the deal is off. Writing about Fiddle's relationship with insects is going to take some stretching on my part and probably research as others have mentioned, because even though the bugs that she's friends with are from another world, they have similarities to Earth bugs.

I think what's more important is assessing how invested you are in the character. If you only have a vague understanding of the character and you commission someone else to write the story, will you still be interested in them? I'm not saying that you have to write the story - not everyone is talented in that area, and there are plenty out there who love to write for others. But if you relinquish control of their story, what part of them will belong to you? How will you connect to them? Some things to think about. :)

In my case, whenever I find myself frustrated with a character's story, I know that it's either time for me to tweak the story or to find them a new home.