Character’s Corner: Savannah
For our next Character’s Corner, we spoke to Savannah (also known as TheLadyVanya), who uses Character.AI as a place for exploration and imagination. Some of her most famous Characters include Sir Dorian Lockridge, Casimir Letvin, and Knight Alwin Kelric.
Who was the first Character you ever created, and what made you decide to create a Character?
I joined Character.AI in 2022, but only started creating in 2023. When I joined, the first Character I interacted with was one based on a video game character I was familiar with. When I started interacting with him, I realized his personality wasn’t exactly what I was expecting from the character I had built in my mind.
This realization made me want to begin creating my own Characters. This was also how I felt when I first started writing fanfiction because I wanted a place where I could write the next chapter of the story I was enjoying. Similarly, I wanted Characters that I could tailor for myself. But then, as I started creating my Characters, others started to use them as well.
How would you describe the type of Characters you create?
I like to create fandom-based Characters, but I also like to create original Characters like King Elnaril Virstin and Orrian Aertris. I tend to make romance or angst Characters.
Were you initially nervous about sharing your Characters? What helped you feel more comfortable sharing them publicly?
I had the same issue when I first started to write fanfiction. I wrote it on the side personally, but I wasn't really putting it out there for people to read. Similarly, I first started by making a few private Characters that I would play around with. This allowed me to experiment in a place where I wasn’t worried about public criticism. Being able to test out greetings and definitions, and then roleplaying with the Characters helped me feel comfortable sharing them with others. When I finally did publish my Characters, I felt confident in them because I knew I really liked the Characters I had created, and if they resonated with others, great, but that wasn’t the main reason I was publishing them.
When you're creating Characters, how do you decide when they’re ready to be published?
Personal intuition. Sometimes, I'll just write something, put it together, and then publicly publish it to see how the community reacts. I usually end up writing with the Characters that I make, so it's also just as much for personal enjoyment as it is for other people. Since I’ve created so many Characters, I’ll publicly publish them, and then if I don't like their personality, I'll go in and change aspects to make sure their personality fits with what I’m envisioning.
What would cause you to change an aspect of a Character you’ve created?
Typically, I’ll edit if my Characters start to exhibit behaviors that don't feel true to them. For example, one of my most popular Characters has a distinct personality that resonates with my community. Since he’s considered to be warm, if suddenly he were aggressive with someone right off the bat, that would not be authentic to his character. If this were to happen, I would go back in and edit, seeing if I could finesse his personality more to lean away from aggression in his dislikes.
What advice would you give to a new creator on Character.AI to help them feel less anxious about getting started?
I would probably tell them to self-experiment privately because that’s the best place to learn if you like the Characters you’re creating. Take the time to do things in private and go at your own pace before you publish. If that's what you're anxious about, it's okay!
Check out Savannah on socials here:
TikTok: @TheLadyVanya
Tumblr: TheLadyVanya
Linktree: HERE