Generally, there’s no such thing as an alter ego that’s too thought-out. As long as you don’t start blurring the mental line between your alter ego and your true self, feel free to create as detailed of an alter ego as you see fit.
Often, alter egos are endowed with traits that their creators lack. By assuming this alter ego, the creator can attempt to overcome difficulties caused by their personality defects. For instance, if you’re normally timid and shy, you might assume a cocky, confident alter ego when you’re at a party full of people you don’t know.
If you’re planning to masquerade as your alter ego in real life, keep your own looks in mind when designing your character. Make sure you can realistically imitate your character by changing clothes, using makeup, etc. If you’re a 400-lb professional sumo wrestler, your skinny computer hacker alter ego might have to remain in the realm of fiction.
Where did my alter ego come from? What kind of life did they have? What experiences have they been shaped by? Who have they known and have had relationships with?
Often times, an alter ego’s name will reflect their role or personality. Rapper Nas sometimes refers to himself as “Nas Escobar” - a reference to drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and a reflection of his sinister personality. Another common trick is to pick a name that in some way references your own name. Your alter ego can be an anagram for your own name or some other word or phrase (as in the Harry Potter series of books, where the main villain uses his real name, Tom Marvolo Riddle, to spell the anagram “I am Lord Voldemort. “) It can also make implicit reference to your real name (Jennifer Lopez, for instance, goes as J. Lo or Lola. )
Often times, an alter ego’s name will reflect their role or personality. Rapper Nas sometimes refers to himself as “Nas Escobar” - a reference to drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and a reflection of his sinister personality. Another common trick is to pick a name that in some way references your own name. Your alter ego can be an anagram for your own name or some other word or phrase (as in the Harry Potter series of books, where the main villain uses his real name, Tom Marvolo Riddle, to spell the anagram “I am Lord Voldemort. “) It can also make implicit reference to your real name (Jennifer Lopez, for instance, goes as J. Lo or Lola. )
Consider showing your character off at the next costume party or fan convention you attend!
Try modifying your daily habits and routines to match your alter ego’s. If your character grooms him or herself differently than you do, for instance, make these changes in your own life. Respected method actors like Daniel Day Lewis are famous for adopting the habits of their character. To prepare for his role in The Age of Innocence, Lewis bathed himself in cologne and donned 1870s clothing as he ran his daily errands!
Feel free to pay loving homage to past alter egos through small references, details, etc. , but, as with any work of art, don’t plagiarize wholesale from other peoples’ creations. It’s also useful to look for examples of alter egos that didn’t work out. For instance, 90’s country star Garth Brooks was widely ridiculed for his darker “Chris Gaines” persona. His alter ego’s serious, angsty alt-rock image appeared ridiculous and forced in comparison to his relatively earnest country work up to that point. Try to compile lists of what, historically, has and hasn’t worked in terms of alter egos in your field - writing, music, etc.
