By picking an animal you like :3… or trying out a bunch and seeing what you like/dislike about it

I went through like 7 different sonas before settling onto my current one

It’s a combination of trial and error, finding something that feels “right”, and not being afraid to just go for it with one. Choosing a fursona doesn’t have to be permanent. Maybe you’ll find the species that feels right, but the character and personality of the fursona feels off, so you need to reinvent them. Maybe you get it perfect with the feel of the character and personality, but you need to change the species. There’s no right or wrong way to find the best fit for you.

I had considered myself a furry for many, many years without ever having a set fursona. I vaguely had a sense of what species I/it would be; hybrid fox-mountain lion, domestic cat, and now raccoon. But I never had a set character or fursona. Within the last year I finally said what do I have to lose? I started thinking of specifics of the character. Who is he, and what is he like? How similar is he to the real life me? Is he simply me, but in an anthropomorphic body? Is he an idealized version of who I want to be? Then I got a reference sheet made, and it all felt more real.

I think having a piece of media for your fursona really helps. It doesn’t have to be professional, it doesn’t have to be artwork, but something. A short story, a biography, a sketch, a reference sheet, a 3d model, a poem, something that describes who they are. And then you can feel if you like that for yourself, or if they are an OC but not your fursona, or if you need to rework them entirely.

It might be a good starting point to decide if you want to create a character with their own personality, interests, etc., or if you want it to simply be a representation of you. In either case, consider what traits you want them to have. What’s their personality like? Are they an introvert or an extrovert? Are they shy or outgoing? Are they athletic? Do they work out? What are their hobbies?

Then consider what animal(s) might best represent those traits, or what you mentally associate with those traits.

For some folks, a fursona is ‘them’ as they are, and for others, it’s an idealized representation of who they wish they were.

It’s okay to just… try something out and see how you feel about it, then switch it up if it doesn’t feel right. There’s no rules you have to follow… your fursona can be whatever or whoever you want it to be, and you aren’t limited to just one.

Pick an animal you like, or pick an animal that most people have never heard of to help raise awareness of them

Like how I went with the canid species cuon alpinus, but since they’re called “dholes” I have had to put up with endless “dickhole” jokes, so hopefully you have better luck