We’ve got the looks part down, but what’s a pretty face without a name and a story? We need to get to know our Horse With No Name.

Sometimes a name just pops up in your head and sticks, and sometimes you get an idea of what you want but aren’t sure, so you have to work to figure out a name. One of the pictures I used for this pony’s colors is of a mountain and lake at sunset, and the first thing that popped in my head upon looking at the character was “Cielo”, the Spanish word for sky. Possible names might include Valley Sky, Sundown Lake, Twilit Vista, Cielo Nublado (Cloudy Sky), Dusk Horizon. Having trouble because you like multiple names? Make it a nickname, combine names, or save it for a different character. I like Dusk Horizon, so I think I’ll go with that and save Cielo for another character—the name might fit a pegasus better.

Color and species are only two things to consider when picking a name. If you have an idea of the character’s personality, you may also want to implement that. Things like Sunny Smiles, Gloomy Grey, or Valor Heart would be examples. For a fun twist, maybe make the character’s personality a complete 180 from their appearance and/or name. It keeps them interesting, and makes it less easy to judge a pony by looks alone.

Backstory and personality are essential in adding depth to a character, and we’ve already been working towards creating these things a little. This character is really only going to be a mascot for the blog, but it’s a good idea to give her some background info so that it’s easier to be attached to her. Backstories don’t have to be overly complex or convoluted, they can be simple and sweet. It depends on the context the character is going to be placed in (A dark horror story? A lighthearted adventure? Gripping action scenes? Intense romance?).

For Dusk, I get an adventurous and playful but also tenderhearted vibe from her. Perhaps she’s also the kind of pony who likes to sit down with a warm drink and enjoy a day inside during bad weather. Her hobbies are painting landscapes and taking photographs, and she loves succulent plants, string lights, and rock salt lamps. As for her background, she’ll be a young unicorn who just started living on her own, maybe she rented an apartment at the outskirts of a city where she can do her artistic work. She went with her parents on trips to the countryside and to art museums, which influenced her tastes. Her father is a pegasus and her mother is a unicorn; I might expand on Dusk’s parents and her relationship with them later, but this is good for now.