creative

Choosing a hairstyle for your OCs!

Bad hair days. We’ve all had them…But your OC doesn’t have to! Choosing a hairstyle for your OC can be difficult, and it can be easy to stick to something basic when you don’t know what else to do. But fret not! We’re gonna look

creative

How to make an OC!

After spending a lot of time on Unvale, there are two big questions I see asked. The first and most common is “how do I name my OC?”, of course, but the second is “how do I make an OC?”. It’s a great question and it’s hard to

events

Community Powered Events: May Spotlight

Welcome back to your biweekly dose of community collaboration! We have a fine selection of open worlds and events to fill your free time as summer enters the chat and your characters start banging at the door for your attention. From collab works to roleplaying and more; we have the

oc

Choosing an outfit for your OCs!

Outfits might be one of the most important parts of character design! The outfit your OC wears is often one of the first things people will notice about your character. Their fit can give clues about your OC’s personality, occupation, and more! So what kind of clothes should you

writing

How to Name Your Characters with Meaning

You have a new cool original character that is a surefire hit. She’s got skill, an insanely complex backstory, and a sword the size of a front door. You know, everything you need to write a dozen bestselling novels. The only problem is that you don’t have a name.

writing

Filling Plotholes in OC Stories

“A guide to filling… potholes?” Nope! Plotholes. A pothole is a hole in the road or pavement that can cause bumps while driving, and even damage a car’s wheels. Think of a plothole as something similar. A plothole is a noticeable ‘bump’ in your reader’s journey through your

staffupdate

May 2025 Staff Update

Hello, beloved Unvale community! I’m back again with another update from our team with what we’re working on and thinking about behind-the-scenes at Unvale.

events

Glitch in the Multiverse Wrap-Up!

Unvale's anniversary has come to an end as we welcome in the month of May! The glitch has officially subsided and all the OCs of Unvale have (hopefully) returned home to their original universes. Thank you to everyone who celebrated April with us! Be sure to check out

writing

10 Things to Do Before Writing a Story

There’s no perfect guide to writing a story, which means there aren’t universal steps to preparing to write a story either. Every writer is different and the goal should be to find the structure that works for you.

oc

Choosing a color palette for your OCs!

If you know me, you know I love a good colour palette; and so does the rest of the Unvale team! In this article, we’ll be covering some suggestions for picking the perfect partner palette for your pocket pals - er, your OCs! There are lots of different methods,

tips

Ways to come up with names for your OC!

Some consider naming characters the boss fight of character creation, but don’t worry! It can be easier than it seems. Whether it’s picking a name carefully based on culture and the time your OC was born, using a theme for your character’s name, or picking based on

creative

Backstory Building Questions for Your OCs

Questions to help develop your OC’s backstory Backstory isn’t always a crucial part of an OC, but it’s part of what makes your OC interesting and exciting for others. Sure, cool art is one thing, but learning that your OC has a cool scar because of a

storytelling

5 Examples of Effective Story Twists

Twists can elevate or wreck your story. Twists are trying to surprise the audience, and the audience likes to feel smart. Readers like to feel a step ahead, so if you are you to try to pull one over on them, it has to be clever and fun.

storytelling

How to Write a Compelling Monster

I probably watch more monster movies and read more monster fiction than most people, which is exactly why I also feel confident making this grandiose statement… the majority of this genre is bad. So how do you write a great monster story and not discount schlock?

changelog

Chagelog: OC Name Generator

Have you ever wanted to create a new OC, but you lacked the inspiration? Have you had an amazing design for an OC, but you couldn't think of a name? This release is for you!

staffupdate

April 2025 Staff Update

Hello, Unvale community! In response to some really helpful feedback, we’re going to be trying these new updates to keep y’all informed on what’s happening with our platform and team. If you enjoy these posts, let us know so we’ll know to keep doing them!

storytelling

Ways to End a Story

Concocting a good ending can seem like a daunting task. It’s the final beat, image, or idea a reader will get from your story. An ending is so important that many, including me in our article on things to do before writing a story, would suggest having it in mind before you even begin writing.

events

Unvale Anniversary Event: Glitch in the Multiverse

Our last event was Monster Tag, which was a spectacular glance into the world of roleplaying! But now, we're back with an even bigger opportunity for RP (and design) fun as we celebrate Unvale's Official Anniversary 🎉🎊 Come check it out. Unvale’s Glitch in the Multiverse

roleplay

Roleplaying Etiquette

Maybe you’re new to roleplay or you just want to brush up on your skills. Either way, give this a read if you want to know the do's and don’ts of roleplay! (Roleplay is often shortened to ‘RP’, which you’ll see in this article.) 1.

creative

World Building Using Genres

“Okay, I know what world building is, but what do genres have to do with anything?” Well, let’s start by defining what a genre is! If you listen to music or read a lot of novels, you’ll probably already know that songs and books are categorized by genre.

storytelling

Ways to Start a Story

When starting your next story, consider experimenting with one or multiple of these to see if they can help you create a hook so good that anyone who gives your first page a glance has to keep reading.

changelog

Changelog: Unvale clickable links and markdown support

I am super excited to share this release with you, because it's a fun one with a lot of new functionality, including markdown support!

storytelling

8 Goals to Assign to Your Scenes

When you craft a scene for your story, you can create a simple list of goals that will guarantee you don’t technically “waste” a single scene.

events

CharoLyn's Design Challenge - Unvale Partnership Event

A new event has hit Unvale and it's hosted by our awesome partner, Charo Lyn! Design an OC through their challenge and you may be spotlighted in a Charo Lyn short on YouTube. Take a look at what's in store, find out how to join, and

art

Top 9 YouTube Channels for Digital Artists

Whether you’re looking for someone to help you get started, help you solve that impossible issue, or just want someone chatting and drawing alongside you, these 9 YouTube channels have you covered.