Character profiles help writers create real characters. Here's how I do mine:Name
Age
Biography (Family, friends, what brought the character where they are now, etc.)
Height
Weight/Body type (Are they skinny or heavy, lean or just slender)
Face Type (heart, oval, round, square)
Complexion
Eyes (color and shape)
Hair
Clothing style
Speaking style (fast, quiet, loud, careful, etc.)
General demeanor
Career
Prejudices
Best Qualities
Worst Qualities
Hobbies
Talents
What they see (when they look at the world do they see violence or hope, etc.)
Perceives the world as something... (change, save, end, etc.)
Setting
How do they react to a new environment?
Introspection (what they need to realize, whether they do or not)
Confidence (high, low, too high)
What do they hear? (rumors, gossip, compliments, etc.)
What they really think/say when alone?
Pet phrases and slang
Liar? (yes, no, about what)
Silence (do they like it, how do they deal with it)
Reaching for what in life
Goal
Heart's desire
It'd be nice to have...
They need...
Where they're going through story
Wants...
Action willing to take to get what they want
Obstacles
Overcomes obstacles by...
Stands with/for...
Believes...
Fights for...
Will die for...
3 Wishes
3 Fears
Flaws
3 Heroic qualities (even the bad guy has some!)
This template may seem like overkill but the more you know about a character the better. They become real to you and to your readers!!! Feel free to use!
How do you show all of these in a character?
ReplyDeleteIt isn't easy. And I still don't think every character shows all these traits I make in them. But the writer always knows the character better than the reader. :)
ReplyDelete