So a lot of people I know ask me how I end up making a character the way they are, well I figured I'd share that with everyone and use the main character of my novel as an example. I do it in steps, kinda like making a chart of how the character will end up. Also if you save that "chart" you make on your comp/paper it often helps when you're stuck wondering how the character should react. Now onto the chart. First things first, a name. Some think the name should come last, but I think it should be first, it usually helps with how you think the character will end up. Name: Seth Dracovitch Next you want to do all the physical aspects of your character, height, weight, look, etc. If your character changes through out the writing then put that on the chart too. This is also the area you'd want to put any special apendages such as tails, wings, etc. Physical Aspects Before Transformation Height: 6'0 Weight: 160 ilbs Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Body Type: Fit Physical Aspects after Transformation Height: 6'0" (not including wing height) Weight: 200 ilbs (Added weight of wings, tail, and spikes) Eye color: Gold w/slits Hair Color: Silver Body Type: Muscular Wing Type: White Dragon wings, Wing length: 14 ft from tip to tip Tail type: Skeletal w/curved bone blade at end Tail Length: 6ft Extra: Thorn like arm spikes, wolf ears, the Zero Eye Now you should have a basic idea of how your character looks, so next we're gonna go to equipment (if any). Here you would put any special outfits, weapons, important jewely, items, etc. Once again if your character transforms, make sure to seperate the items in before or after if anything changes. Before Transformation Primary Weapon: Heartseeker (knife) Secondary Weapon: Fists Jewelry: Anniversary Ring After Transformation Pirmary Weapon: Tail, Spells Secondary Weapons: Heartseeker (Sword), fists, arm spikes Jewelry: Anniversary Ring My character really has no "Special Outfits" So hence Why I didn't add it in. So now we have a name, a look, and a feel. Now we put those together for a personality. Now this can be done any way you like. Some prefer to base it off themselves, or off other people, others make it up themselves. Personality I'd put something about my character here, but lets keep some secrets for those that want to read the novel as I produce chapters. Now you need relations, friends, family, lovers, etc. This also includes villians, or side characters. Relationship Status: Taken Significant Other: Renai Arch enemy(ies): Relic, etc, etc (I have quite a few in my novel) Ok so now we have how they act and who they interact with. Time for the backstory. Get creative, a bad backstory can ruin the future plot of a story/novel and even ruin a character. Sometimes letting the backstory be the prolouge is good, and other times the backstory is best left secret and revealed at points through out the novel. Backstory Mine is the kinda you find out a you go, you'll have to read to find out. At last we have a description of the character as a whole. This is where my examples end, over all the character chart page for Seth was 2 and a half pages because I added a lot side notes and descriptions to each weapon and transformation. Now let's see what we have all together. Name: Seth Dracovitch Physical Aspects Before Transformation Height: 6'0 Weight: 160 ilbs Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Body Type: Fit Physical Aspects after Transformation Height: 6'0" (not including wing height) Weight: 200 ilbs (Added weight of wings, tail, and spikes) Eye color: Gold w/slits Hair Color: Silver Body Type: Muscular Wing Type: White Dragon wings, Wing length: 14 ft from tip to tip Tail type: Skeletal w/curved bone blade at end Tail Length: 6ft Extra: Thorn like arm spikes, wolf ears, the Zero Eye Before Transformation Primary Weapon: Heartseeker (knife) Secondary Weapon: Fists Jewelry: Anniversary Ring After Transformation Pirmary Weapon: Tail, Spells Secondary Weapons: Heartseeker (Sword), fists, arm spikes Jewelry: Anniversary Ring Relationship Status: Taken Significant Other: Renai Arch enemy(ies): Relic, etc, etc (I have quite a few in my novel) Personality I'd put something about my character here, but lets keep some secrets for those that want to read the novel as I produce chapters. Backstory Mine is the kinda you find out a you go, you'll have to read to find out. Description >>>>Surprisingly enough I've helped quite afew people get their stories good with this way of creation. Feel free to comment away, I hope this helps some people.<<<<
It's interesting, but it sounds like something you'd make for an online RPG. As character charts go, of course, this is definitely one of the better models out there. But as an individual, unless I'm- as I mentioned- playing an RPG, when writing I like to keep my characters' lives open for change. You mentioned that your character's background is the kind you find out along the way. For me, my characters' backgrounds are things I make up along the way. However, I know this is the kind of writing that would drive many people mad, and it can get inconsistent. So, your chart is very good for someone who wants a definite starting point. Something I hadn't thought of until now: Your chart would also be good for someone who wants to organize their thoughts and facts about their character.
It also seems rather specific. My character's not going to have wings, because he's not a dragon. Also, I think you posted it twice, but that could be fatigue talking
Character worksheets can be a huge help, at least for me, and I have never played an RPG in all my thirty-something years. Mine runs to 12 pages before any of the answers are on them. If it is a main character, I have had 75-100 pages of character work, before I do even a scrap of plot outline. I have to know my character to know how they will react to the nefarious situations I am going to throw them into. (All my characters are human, since I don't write fantasy.)
This method actually started out as how I made my rp characters, turns out it works for stories, novels, etc too.
What kind of a question is that to ask someone about their WIP? I don't use character charts, though as I find myself sometimes forgetting things that happened ten chapters earlier perhaps I ought to start. Hmm.
It depends on the writer to use a character sheet or not. I personally don't use them, but I do tend to write down some data on my characters sometimes just to keep them in mind, so I don't know if that counts as character sheet or not.
An important part of writing is knowing your character very well, other wise you could end up with an unruly character and leave your reading unamused. Sketches are used widely by authors its the same for story outlines. Now i can't recall the author and I can't find my copy of the book, but it is very useful. It's called building believable characters. Not only does it have one of these character sketches it also contains a Dictionary of things that are useful when creating and writing your character
Yeah, you want to make a sketch before you write your characters, but don't be confined by it. You can always change it.
