Choosing a species...

[ws29]

[ProfessorPig]

you don't need a character or have to pick an animal to be a furry.

if you are set on finding a fursona you might want to try checking out a big book of animals and thinking about various animals personalities. going through the book you might find something that clicks with you. if you do find a fursona you like you don't have to stick with it forever. i have found different animals to represent me over the years. i am a different person now than i was 5 years ago so to some extent it makes sense for my fursona to change as well. when you find something thats right you will know it.

[MdeSiberieux]

Keep in mind, if you find yourself not able to choose one, you can also combine a few. Its not unusual to see creature hybrids, and having all of the characteristics of all the animals you enjoy can be fun too.

[ws29]

Thank you for the advice so far! As I said, I'm rather new to all of this. If I hit on several species I enjoy, I could definitely try to combine characteristics... problem is finding those in the first place. I've always had a soft spot for sharks, even if that stretches the term "furry" a little... I think I'll start checking on animals, and seeing if anything 'clicks'.

I'm mostly worried about starting down the road to visualization, possibly having gotten some visual aids, and then, once I start to get it working, finding out the species I picked doesn't sit right with me after all. That'd be unpleasant. Not sure how realistic that particular worry is...

[MdeSiberieux]

Nowadays furry is a more general term. It also includes scalies (reptiles), avians, and many other species. I've seen a number of people who have shark fursonas too! Theres even a species out there that is kind of like a furry dog/shark cross (called a Sergal). People can get quite creative with their choices.

Also, your idea to use visual aids is a good one. Those will help you get a sense of what its like to visualize things with your minds eye, and raise your skills regardless of the animal you choose.

If you're worried about choosing a species, use a file called a "Trigger". These normally come with an "on/off" switch that is a phrase you say, as stated in the file. There is even a file that lets you choose whatever you want in the trigger. Just don't listen to anything with permanent effects if thats not what you want.

And if the species you want doesn't have a file, you can always commission one. For example, I had a file made a while ago, because I wanted to try out an Asian Dragon Taur form.

Hope that helps!