Here is a comprehensive chart to use when creating a character's profile.
CHARACTER CHART: based on Colleen Reece, Writer’s Digest 11/81
Followed by a list by Randy Ingermanson
1. Name –
2. Age and time period –
3. Birthdate, birthplace –
4. Height and build –
5. Color of hair–
6. Of eyes
7. Places lived and reasons –
8. Scars or handicaps (physical, mental, emotional)
9. Educational background
10. Work experience
11. Basic nature, sense of humor –
12. Best friend –
13. Men/women friends
14. Enemies/antagonists and why –
15. Social class –
16. Parents –
17. Siblings –
18. Children –
19. Ambitions & goals –
20. Religious beliefs, philosophy of life, values
21. Attitude toward death –
22. Hobbies –
23. Music, art, reading preferred –
24. Dress, favorite colors –
25. Description of home (physical, emotional, atmosphere) –
26. What does she have in purse; what does he have in pocket or glove compartment
27. Present problem–
28. How will it get worse?
29. How will he/she change, learn, or grow?
30. Strongest character trait –
31. Weakest character trait –
32. Sees self as
33. What do they like/dislike about themselves?
34. As seen by others –
35. One-line characterization
36. Props
addendum from Randy Ingermanson’s snowflake fractal
For each major character, take an hour and write a one-page summary sheet:
a) name
b) 1-sentence summary of character’s storyline
c) character’s motivation (what does he/she want abstractly?)
d) character’s goal (what does he/she want concretely?)
e) character’s conflict (what prevents him/her from reaching the goal?)
f) character’s epiphany (what will he/she learn, how will he/she change?)
g) 1-paragraph summary of character’s story line
Labels: character, character chart, fiction
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