Getting to Know your Characters

The most memorial books I’ve read had characters that were real, complex. They responded to life situations in ways that were consistent their pasts. 

Below are lists of things to consider about your characters before you begin to write.

               Physical:

               * Height & weight

               * Stature/Build

               * Skin tone

               * Hair – color, length, style, straight, curly, or wavy

               * Eyes – color, size, glasses

               * Remarkable physical characteristics – hunched back, pock marks, handicaps, glasses

               * Age – most times this isn’t necessary if you’ve described them using the above

              
               Personality:

               * Quiet and shy

               * Out going

               * Bossy

               * Lazy

               * A leader

               * Compassionate

               * Defender/Warrior

               * Student or occupation

 
               Character’s Past:

               * Childhood – happy, loved, spoiled, abusive, neglected, adopted, foster care, raised by other family members

               * What did the character learn from his/her upbringing? Distrust? Hope? Anger? Low self-confidence?

              
               Current Outlook on life:

               * How does the character’s past affect his/her life today? Everyone owes him?

                  That life is painful? She has to fight for what she wants?

               * What is most important to the character? Acceptance? Love? Money? Power?

 
               Others see the character as:

               * Physically – nice looking, sloppy, lacking respect for self

               * Temperament – angry, fearful, happy, easy to get along with, work-a-holic, emotional

               * Core values – trustworthy, thief, stingy, prejudice

 
               Character Arc:

               * Positive – What does the character learn that make’s life easier/more fulfilling?

               * Unchanged – What is the character holding on to that will not allow him/her to get through the past?

               * Negative – What happened that causes the character to become/follow evil more than before? 

              
               Habits/Ticks:

               * Running fingers through hair, clearing throat, standing on one foot

 
               Favorite Sayings:

               * “You know.”

               * “Bummer.”

   
These are a few ideas to think about. I’m sure you have or will discover others as you develop your characters.

Please share ideas you use to make your characters real, deep, and human in the comment box below.