Answer the questions in order, and take your time. Allow yourself as much space as you need to answer each one -- some only require one-word answers, but some require a fair amount of page space to be answered completely. A word of warning -- this isn't a complete character checklist; it's a workshop designed to break through stubborn preconceptions you might have had about characters you write and character design. Because of that, you will not have a complete character if you only answer the questions I've given you. And some of the questions are a little odd. Answer them anyway . . . at least the first time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Choose a gender. Choose a place of birth. Choose a hobby. Choose a past job. Choose a present job. Choose a past love interest. Choose an enemy. Choose a pet. Why is your character not working at the old job? Why is your character not with the old love interest? Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? How did your character make the enemy? How did the pet once save the character's life? What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Write everything else you know about your character, right now.
I'll write this about one of my roleplaying characters that I have become fond of. Choose a gender. Male Choose a place of birth. Moscow, Russia. Choose a hobby. Travelling. Choose a past job. He has never had an actual job that didn't involve killing or maiming someone. Choose a present job. Unemployeed Choose a past love interest. A young vampire by the name of Elizabeth that he met at a ball when he was 18. They ran away together and eventually she sired him. Within a few years she got Cholera and died. =( Choose an enemy. Most people. Specifically Slayers. There is one vampire (nameless for now) that managed to keep him prisoner. He doesn't like him much either. Choose a pet. Any human that he decides are stronger than most. He will hang around with them evenif they hate him and will delight in playing mind games with said 'pet'. Why is your character not working at the old job? It's not really a full time job. Why is your character not with the old love interest? She died! D= Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? He can't see travelling really raking in much money. How did your character make the enemy? The enemy captured him and put him into slavery, tricking this character into drinking from him so he became addicted and dependent. How did the pet once save the character's life? None of the humans has ever really saved this characters life, although he was particularly fond of one of them. They had a love/hate relationship throughout their time together but they'd always protect each other. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? He will avoid at all costs siring anyone. He doesn't want the responsibility and has seen bad things happen because of it. Once he fed from a child (nine year old girl), bringing her to the brink of death. He turned her and as a result of this she went mad and commited suicide. He has vowed never to bestow his 'gift' on anyone ever again. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? He is constantly searching for some sort of meaning to his existance. A life as long as a vampires can be boring otherwise. He fills his time with travelling and meeting new people and creatures. He has no idea where this will lead him to in the future. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Vlad Dracul (Corny, yes. But I'm quite fond of him now so I refuse to change it!). He is about 183 (I forget the actual number). Vlad stands at about 6 foot 3 and has a thin yet athletic build. His hair is black and straight (Even though he is half russian... >.< Go figure...) and reaches to his middle back. Being a vampire, he has a pale complextion and red irises. When in a blood lust his eyes turn completely black. He usually wears black, leather trousers and a white dress shirt that is rarely done up or tucked in. He has a scar on his hip in the shape of a cross that has never gone away since a priest had branded it there. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. > He can withstand a lot of wounding until he passes out. > He can't venture into the sun for more than a minute or it starts sizzling his skin. > He has two personalities. His regular self and his demonic side that usually makes an appearance when he is under a lot of stress or completely free of care. > Most who get to know him class him as a nut case. Who wouldn't be mad if they had lived so long and seen what he had seen? > He smokes like a chimney and his very, VERY addicted to nicotine. He gets grouchy when he hasn't had a cigarette for a while. I tried to answer the quesions as best I could... >.< I might have missed something out. xD
You know, I've actually created my own character creation fill-in form. I made it to fit the standards of a Halo character, but you can change it form the outfit of your character if you'd like. (Fill-in sheet created by Gunner) Species/Race: Name: Middle Name: Last Name: Nickname: Gender: Born: Place of Birth: Died: Place of Death: Age: Height: Weight: Home Planet: Current Residence: Blood Type: Accent: Hair Color/Style: Facial Appearance: Eye Color: Body Appearance: Ethnicity: Spartan Number: (if applicable) Spartan Company: (if applicable; not necessary) Spartan Squad: (if applicable; not necessary) Allegiance: Rank: Armor: Primary Weapon(s): Secondary Weapon(s): Specialty: Emblem/Avatar: Primary Armor Color: Secondary Armor Color: Biography:
Gender- Male PLace of birth- Perth, Australia Hobby- Martial arts Past job- IT technician Current Job- Fiend and devil hunter Past love interest- Sheree Enemy- Fiends and devils Pet- tarantula Why he left the old job- his family was attacked Why is not with the old flame- she was abducted Why is the hobby not a profession- it is in a way Make the enemy- he's a fighter, and the evil in the world doesn't like mortals stopping them. Pet save his life- didnt, can't. One thing to avoid- dying before he has children, which is why he trains so hard. One thing he wants over all things- Sheree back in his life. Doesn't know what to do as she in Hell, or so he thinks. Character Name: Leon Height, around 180 cm, lean muscular build. Hazel eyes, very dark auburn/black hair. Age, around 24 or 25 Other bits and pieces -Wants daughters more than sons -Has a very loose sense of humour, if he can try for a laugh he will. -Taciturn person, if he has nothing to say, he will not speak, at all, but if he has something to say, he can talk your ear off. -Has a bit of a temper, while he is slow to anger, when he is angry, he makes a loose cannon look tame. -Cursed with both sides of magic, Light and Dark, means he has to heal some one each time he casts a Dark spell, and each time he Heals someone, he has to destroy something, otherwise he feels very sick. -Has recurring nightmares of Sheree being taken, even after three and a half years.
Cassandra Gender - Female Place of birth - Brunei Hobby - Daydreaming Past job - none Present job - CSR Past love interest - none Enemy - Ivan, Sylvia and Danielle Pet - o_0 Hmm...parrot? Why is your character not working at the old job? N/A Why is your character not with the old love interest? N/A Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? She really won't earn bucks off that How did your character make the enemy? Ivan is manipulating her blindness. Sylvia's son is her good friend but she doesn't want him to be hanging out with social outcasts. Danielle doesn't liek the importance she sometimes recieves from the company. How did the pet once save the character's life? Not even once What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? Meet up with her parents, because if that happens they would force her back into a life of retirement. She has escaped her country, to come a whole ocean across, into new people where no one knows her. In future, she may become financially stronger and physically as well to prevent them from forcing her. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? Eyes...since she feels she is deprived of love and value because of the deficiency of this trait. She is working heedlessly under Ivan Charles, who is actually baiting her with false dreams of gaining her eyes back. She relies on a job to build the finances required for an eye transplant. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Cassandra, 21, silky black hair with misty, greyish-black eyes. She has a thin crooky nose with balanced, glossy lips. She has a tan complexion towards the fairer side. She has a so-so height (5'3") and an ok figure. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. -Rebellious -Imaginative -Loving -Innocent -Self-centered -She is a blind child since birth and has been brought up well by her amorous mother -Her mother always taught her to feel colors, the base of her life story -When she was 21 her father decided to get her married against her wishes -She steals her father's money and elopes to UAE
This is my newest character. I know that the last post was done a while ago, but I need this. So here it is Choose a gender. Male Choose a place of birth. Somewhere near where San Francisco is in present day Choose a hobby. (Before escaping)Escape attempts (After escaping) helping around the house Choose a past job. Slave/Soldier Choose a present job. Firefighter Choose a past love interest. None Choose an enemy. The Queen (Have yet to find a name for her) Choose a pet. He is a pet Why is your character not working at the old job? Because he escaped for that Why is your character not with the old love interest? Never had one, never was given a chance Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? First because he only wanted to be free and second because it’s only to help out those who’ve helped him How did your character make the enemy? He finally realized that there was life beyond what she had created How did the pet once save the character's life? N/A What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? The Queen, because all she wants is her pet back. He escaped to the present to get away from her. Still don’t know what he could do to continue, since she always seems to find him… haven’t gotten that far I guess What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? All he wants is to create a normal life for himself because all he ever knew was slavery. With out trying he came across it by losing his memory. In the future he plans to find his own home and start a life all his own. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Valor, twenty-three years old. He's rather odd looking, with one blue eye and one black and his hair is oddly colored like a black and white cat, with his bangs white and a white stripe down the middle with the rest black. He has many strange tattoo's all over his body, almost like some sort of writing. He has very lean muscle, which makes it so easy to move in and out of places. He also has a lot of scars and bruises that have never quite healed. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. He is a very quite, but very easily upset man, at least once he joined the army, which is required for all people (four years mandatory). Before that he simply took what he had too, never knowing any better. After his four years, Valor decides that he wants to stay in the military… anything’s better than living as a pet, but after only a few more years the Queen wants him back. He wont give up with out a fight however…
Choose a gender: Female Choose a place of birth: Canada Choose a hobby: Cooking Choose a past job: Bar tending Choose a present job: B&B owner Choose a past love interest: Galan Choose an enemy: Maeve Choose a pet: No pet Why is your character not working at the old job: Maeve and Galan Why is your character not with the old love interest? The betrayal and lies of another woman and lack of trust Galan had in her and the love they shared Why does your character not make the hobby a profession: Cooking is part of her profession since she opened her B&B How did your character make the enemy: Loving the same man and by fighting back for what she believed in at the time How did the pet once save the character's life? No pet. Caring for her unborn child was the only thing that kept going after Galan walked out What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? She wants to avoid ever crossing paths with Galan or Maeve Why? She never told him she was pregnant when he left so he doesn’t know about their 5 year old daughter and Maeve will stop at nothing to keep Galan by her side. What has she already done to avoid this? She returned to Canada for a while but it was no longer home to her. After her grandfather passed away she returned to Ireland established herself on a small island where no one knows her past What do you see her doing in the future to avoid it? Remain on this remote Island and keep up the mystery about who she is and more importantly who the father of her child is. Islanders believe she is a Canadian widow the child is not Irish What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Keep her child safe Why? Maeve is a dangerous and devious woman. What has she already done to try to obtain it? She moved away where no one knows about her past. She runs a small B&B, lives a quiet life and helps out in the community where is accepted if anyone would ask questions about her or her daughter she would be warned in time to take actions. What does she hope to try in the future? To no longer fear the past, to embrace the present and plan a grand future for her daughter. What is your character's name? Evie LaRose What is your character's age: 28 physical description: Creamy complexion, deep blue eyes (all shades of the ocean can be mirrored in her eyes), curvy, voluptuous figure. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. She traveled to Ireland when she was 21 she fell in love with the beauty of the land, the generosity of its people. She lost two pillars in her life – her grand father who raised her and the only man she ever loved Galan. Her greatest fear is too loose her daughter. She will fight too her last breath to keep her baby safe. The guests at her B&B temporally fill a gap in her life. Something is missing but she won’t admit to herself what she deeply yearns for.
Moss Finnit Choose a gender. Female Choose a place of birth. Isendriba healers ward Choose a hobby. Puzzle Solving, Writing Poetry Choose a past job. Part time healer Choose a present job. No present job Choose a past love interest. Ajed, boy in the city Choose an enemy. All her enemies are dead. Except for one she dosnt know the identity of. Choose a pet. Brysla, her soul cage construct Why is your character not working at the old job? Had to leave the city because of her 'bad practices' Why is your character not with the old love interest? Had to leave him behind in the city/didn't care about him anymore Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? She wrote it all on her bedroom wall. Its her private space (or was) How did your character make the enemy? She dosnt know. How did the pet once save the character's life? Saved her from the dragons lair 'a tower in the southern swamps What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? Dogs. She cant avoid it anymore, her soul connection/soul cage brysla, looks like a nasty giant dog, she has no choice but to get over her fears What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? Lars, someone who saves her life, but was the one who shot her in the first place. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Moss Finnit, 20 years old. Fair tinged/tainted face, dark grey hair, grey eyes. thin lips, big eyes. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. She is an animanceer. that is, she has the ability to summon souls from a place called the anima and meld them with things to bind them to her will (such as creating things called hurricane snakes out of nothing but rocks) She has two other personalities, one can use the animanceer powers with devastating effect (hair turns black, entire eye turns black like a shark, black veins stretch across her face), the other heals all life around her (white hair, all white eyes, pure white face). called the destroyer and the healer. the destroyer is one of anger, the healer is formed out of love, but Moss has no idea when or where she got them. In fact she remembers bsolutely sod all about what happens before she enters the forest where she meets Lars, and eventually her memories will come back in flashes. She loves Lars dearly, but Lars cant show the same affection because of what she is- she has power that is despised by most around Isendraer (the country) She is being pursued by the kings personal animanceer hunters, but so far she has managed to avoid through luck and assistance. There is more to her but that can wait for now. Oh, and her family are all dead, although she hasnt remembered that yet- most died just before she left the city.
Lia Garner A profile I have, created by a dear friend of mine. Is four pages long. It goes into detail about the characters likes and dislikes. Anything you might need to know about them on the spur of the moment is practically there. Ophelia (lia) Garner Choose a gender. Female Choose a place of birth. Pheonix, Arizona Choose a hobby. Calligraphy Choose a past job. telemarketer Choose a present job. Office assistant to a lawyer. Choose a past love interest. Kris Hoffrey Choose an enemy. Roomates sister, Christi Choose a pet. Ferret, Loki Why is your character not working at the old job? Walked out. Why is your character not with the old love interest? Stolen by a stripper Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? Doesnt see it having any real market How did your character make the enemy? Lia kicked her out of the apartment for doing drugs.. How did the pet once save the character's life? Woke her up when a fire started when her roomates sister (enemy) started a fire in the house by smoking drugs. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Going swiming. Why? Almost drown when she was five. What has he already done to avoid this? Never goes swimming for one. What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? Not going swimming or on boats. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Her father back. Why? He jumped off a boat to save her when she was five. However it was storming and he was lost. What has he already done to try to obtain it? She tried to preform a spell when she was younger. What does he hope to try in the future? No, She is to old to believe in spells to bring back the dead. What is your character's name? Ophelia (Lia) Garner What is your character's age, and physical description. 27, She has naturally blonde hair that she absolutly loaths. She tends to cut and style it often and likes to dye streaks into it. She is rather excentric with her clothing. She dislikes the norm and prefers asian style to american slut wear as she calls it. she stands at an average five four and has pale green eyes that always seem dreamy or lazy. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. She is perfectly happy with never leaving her house. She is fine livng day to day and scavaging for her rent. Thankfully she has found a job where that is not nessisary. She isnt in search of a new relationship and doesnt think a man is needed to make her happy. She is very open about all aspects of life. She tends to dwell on the past only because she feels she can not escape her terror of water. She cant even take a bath because the shallow pool of water terrifies her. She takes quick showers but always has the phone nearby even though she knows its nearly impossible to DROWN in the shower. She shows her ferret loki on accasion and he even wins ribbons sometimes. All in all she is typically a cheerful and happy girl with no real goal in life. Living day to day with a smile on her face.
Choose a gender. Female Choose a place of birth. A small villiage in Ireland Choose a hobby. Playing the Violin/ Martial arts Choose a past job. Mainly hunting Demons/Vampires. She has been a stripper once purely for tracking a lust demon Choose a present job. Hunting, being a personal Assassin for Visscott Enterprises Choose a past love interest. Andrew Malcovich Choose a present love intrest. Zeek Harris Choose an enemy. Vincent Grey Choose a pet. She has had several. Why is your character not working at the old job? Sort of is. Except the stripping. She doesn't need the money as she owns and has investments in several businesses Why is your character not with the old love interest? He was murdered by her enemy. And because she would of out-lived him anyways Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? Because she doesn't like being in the spotlight to play violin and the Martial arts: She teaches those that need to learn if they are to be around her. How did your character make the enemy? He wanted her and her power as a Guardian. And also because he was a sick pedophile rapist barstard and wanted to breed with her. How did the pet once save the character's life? One or two have. A wolf from when she was in 1800's in America was a wolf. He attacked the demon that held my character down. Giving her enough distraction to kill the demon What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? The end of the world and the death of innocents. Because she is at heart a Guardian and that is their job, protecting the world from evil. She has avoided this a few times, well hundreds of times, due to training, studying and kicking the bad guys ass What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? Death or Mortality. She was turned into a vampire and the constant plight of saving the world and rescuing innocents is wearing her down. She searches continuously for the spell to turn her back into a human Guardian. She would have her strength but she would also be able to die a human death. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. My Character was born as Alixandra Morgan. She married Andrew Malcovich, taking his last name. Eventually she took the name Street Malcovich. She was born in 1543 making her roughly 464 years old. She has the appearance of a twenty to twenty five year old. She has dark brown eyes that turn black with her gathered power, Dark brown hair, a slight wave to it and it comes to just below her shoulders. Full lips, strong nose and jawline, slender yet atheletic build with slightly muscular arms, toned body, C-cup breasts, broad shoulders, 5"5.5. Tends to wear black supple leather pants, belt and a dark shirt along with a black leather jacket. (Cliche`much?) She wears a silver cross on a silver chain along with her wedding ring. Black boots completes the outfit. Mostly. That'll do for now!
Aiden Samara. Though, perhaps Conlaed Samara. Not sure which name sounds better Choose a gender. Male Choose a place of birth. Pomme, Vanaheim. Well, actually Citron, Vanaheim. Choose a hobby. Alchemy. More specifically Runeography Choose a past job. Did odd jobs around Pomme Choose a present job. Adventurer Choose a past love interest. Lian Anders Choose an enemy. Ash Firstborn Choose a pet. none. Once there was a cat. Why is your character not working at the old job? There's a world to save. Why is your character not with the old love interest? because they were both kids, and she moved away to go to Academy Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? After he's taught more about it, he does How did your character make the enemy? Ash killed his sister. Admittedly, there is room for forgiveness and repentance though. How did the pet once save the character's life? no pet What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? Kether getting Embla. because a) most of the world would go away, and b) he loves Embla. He's left his home and convinced a former soldier to be their body guard. In the future he'll forgive the man who killed his sister and perhaps give up his life. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? He'd do anything for Embla's happiness. Because after a bit of traveling with her he's fallen in love. He's already let her stab him in the stomach (Mind control. It makes more sense in the actual story). And in the future he's going to try bringing down a group of ex-soldiers. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Aiden Samara, though I'm kicking around whether Conlaed would be better. He's nineteen years old, has hair the colour of oak, and amber eyes. About five ten. Lightly muscled and has a scar on his side, from the stabbing. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. His mother, Elwynne, was a soldier in the war and after having an affair with her commanding officer she ran away. Being the young, unwed mother she was she was looked down on most places she went. Aiden was born in the town of Citron, and from then afterwards Elwynne claimed that Aiden was her younger brother and that they had been orphaned during the war. The two of them finally settled down in Pomme when Aiden was about four. When he was fifteen his sister started getting sick, and he started doing odd jobs around the town to support them both. When he was nineteen and the story proper starts, an ejection pod containing Embla falls into the forest and Aiden and Elwynne take care of her. Ash comes to get Embla back, and kills Elwynne when she gets in his way, her last words are that Aiden should protect Embla. Aiden and Embla flee the town and eventually meet up with mercenary and former soldier Siegfried Dalandau, who goes by the nom de nonguerre Tyr. Despite at first blaming her partially for Elwynne's death, Aiden falls in love with Embla and steels his resolve to protect her from the people who want to use her to bring about a new world. Along the way there are things like: Her stabbing him, him finding out his mother is the person he thought was his sister, learning that the girl he's fallen in love with is a homunculus and was created about three weeks before he met her, and stopping the New World Order of a group of people who've become disillusioned with the world and happen to have what could be considered superpowers. Also he might die. Not sure yet, but if he does, he'll have left Embla pregnant with twins. Nothing like a melancholic, Pyrrhic ending.
Wow--these are so interesting. There are a few I read that I'm dying to know the ending of! (Does Maeve find Evie? How does Lia Garner eventually have to face her fear of water? Does Moss learn to control the destroyer and healer inside, and which one does she choose? ) I know that's not the point of this thread though, so I won't ask any more questions. I began this exercise with my main character: twenty minutes later, I can't believe how much better I know him! These few simple questions, especially the ones about "what would he do anything to avoid?/what does he want more than anything in the world?" really helped me flesh him out. Now, I have a much clearer idea about where my plot is going. I'm going to skip off and run all my major characters through this mill. What a great exercise!
I like the things about hobbies, old jobs, and old loves. Stuff that might not come up in the actual story, but help you get into your character's head.
heres one i got from a book Name: Nickname, if any: Kind of being: Age: Sex: Appearance: Occupation, if applicable: Family members: Best friend: Describe his/her room: Way of speaking: Physical characteristics: Items in his/her pockets or backpack or purse: Favorite sports: Talents, abilities, or powers: Relationships: Fears: Faults: Good points: What he/she wants more than anything else:
Choose a gender. Male Choose a place of birth. (Fictional) Regniz, New Hampshire Choose a hobby. Drawing Choose a past job. pizza delivery Choose a present job. Saving the World Choose a past love interest. Sasha Regis Choose an enemy. Daniel Zuckerson, aka The Priority Choose a pet. Yamis the Phoenix Why is your character not working at the old job? He got fired Why is your character not with the old love interest? To protect Sasha- you know the superhero fear of enemies exploiting close ones as a weakness? Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? because he can never truly focus on drawing extensively. How did your character make the enemy? Other way around, Will stopped Daniel from killing [Zukerson]'s son How did the pet once save the character's life? Catching him from a fifty-foot jump off a cliff in pursuit of SludgeBomb. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? Let himself get involved with Sasha- he went into exile for 5 years to learn to control his impulses. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? Peace. He tried to join all 'gifted' people in the world to help them control/ rid themselves of their powers. Some accepted, but a good chunk opposed this. Will wants peace because he knows that, without going unchecked, violence between nations will lead to nuclear war. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Will Greenwood is 17-24 in the main storyline. He's lanky, w/ blue hair, yellow-red eyes, with a zipped-down gray sweatshirt with a red shirt and blue jeans. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. In a superhero-type leadership, Will runs the organization 'The Society', to train and hone other people's powers, and to use them for good while a cure for them is being searched. Will can engulf his entire body in fire at will- his left hand, however, perpetually burns when awake/conscious. Will led a nation-wide campaign against those who exploited their powers. The tale he tells isn't happy- His universe sees both friends and foes and innocents killed, whether accidental or deliberate. Will's personality is quiet, but powerful. He has extreme control over his power, and uses this power to inspire his students and high officials.
Don't you think this a bit formulary? Characters differ between short stories and novels. Main characters and supporting characters don't need the same amount of description. How much to include depends on what you want to convey. You don't need all of these traits presented. You only need those that are important to the story. Why is this pinned topic concerned with details instead of true character development? This is way too formulated.
Well, it just helps to know as much about a character as possible. I find it helps you to get inside their head, even if it's never mentioned in the story. Meanwhile, I've got some folks in mind - I'll post one of them later.
I'm inclined to agree. I believe in knowing what you need to know about your character from the start, but not taking it very far beyond that. Not only will you waste a great deal of time pinning down details you have no need for, You also run the risk of constraining your character to the point that he or she resists development. Instead of letting backstory and present influences flow in and shape your character, you may end up having to change information you had previously set in stone for no good reason. When you meet new people in real life, you don't know their entire life stories, all their hopes, dreams, and fears, their favorite colors, and the names of their first pets. You know what your first impressions of them are, and usually revise your opinions as you interact with them. Why not get to know your characters the same way? Sure, there may be some traits you need to put in place well before your readers learn them, but don't overdo it.
That's true. Don't force yourself to make it all up on the spot, but keep in mind that a well-developed character can make all the difference. I once had a character named Mark who I never related to. Once I thought up his past, he became incredibly real to me and turned out to be one of my favorites.
Everhart Choose a gender. Male Choose a place of birth. Veldrine Forest Choose a hobby. drawing Choose a past job. carpenter Choose a present job. still a carpenter - has been all his life Choose a past love interest. Aela Vell Choose an enemy. Hinder Vell Choose a pet. Hausyndi, his mule Why is your character not working at the old job? he is Why is your character not with the old love interest? Because of Hinder - her father, and an all around horrible person Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? because it isn't practical How did your character make the enemy? Hinder forced his own daughter to stay with him and work, along with being abused, instead of allowing her to marry my character. How did the pet once save the character's life? She kind of doesn't - she simply keeps his life going by pulling his cart and such. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? "Meeting" Lockhart again, though he's never even met him in the first place. He saw him once and grew very uneasy and for this reason avoids him - or speaking/arguing with Hinder. He's had some comical silences, and comical dashings away, as well as quite serious measures against these things. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? Aela's hand in marriage - peace in the town. He's been in a battle or two, and he's asked for and fought for Aela plenty of times. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Everhart is his name. He's twenty four, and has long blonde hair (about high back lenth) and dark brown eyes. He's rather tall and slender, but also fit. He has a scar on the left cheekbone and right side from being struck by Hinder. Various scars on his hands, arms, fingers, from being a carpenter. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. He's outgoing, light-hearted, and enjoys the simple things. He and Lockhart live almost parallel lives, but are opposites in almost every way. His best friends are Antje, and his sister, Galerine. He is a forgiving person, and doesn't take things too seriously. He tries to avoid combat for the most part, but is very strong from every day work. He's a narcoleptic (!while Lockhart is an insomniac) and so he very often nods off, and sometimes hallucinates, while not always sleeping well at night.
Choose a gender. Male Choose a place of birth. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Choose a hobby. Providing professional referee services to inter-city basketball leagues. Choose a past job. He once offered bouncing services across Las Vegas until an unfortunate run-in with a basket of fruit, two bricks of Cocaine and a talking monkey named Jeff. Choose a present job. He goes to X-Men conventions nationwide and dresses up as the popular character Juggernaut. He also provides entertainment the whole family can enjoy at birthday parties for only $59.99. Choose a past love interest. Janet Reno Choose an enemy. Liv Tyler Choose a pet. A pet monkey named Benjy who can provide zany zingers and witty anecdotes at a moments notice. Why is your character not working at the old job? Cocaine and power tools don't mix well. Why is your character not with the old love interest? Again, cocaine and power tools don't mix well. Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? Because, what he does is for the greater good. How did your character make the enemy? You can't just got into someone's kitchen, and make stir-fry in their wok without expecting consequences. It was just icing on the cake when he didn't even bother to wash it. How did the pet once save the character's life? It was three in the morning in Santa Fe, and the night was as long as eternity. If Benjy hadn't come to his rescue when he did, the character may have entered permanent psychosis. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? Missing the release of Dawson's Creek, season seven on DVD. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? His power tools. His old set is in a police evidence locker. He tried to break in, but that didn't turn out so well. He's going to break-in again. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Tyrannosaurus McShatner, age 57, short, significantly overweight with a receding hairline. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. He refuses to acknowledge the existence of the number 976.
Choose a gender. Male Choose a place of birth. Heinausede Mountains Choose a hobby. he plays the flute Choose a past job. silversmith, then traveller Choose a present job. silversmith Choose a past love interest. Twilight Fauelsythe Choose an enemy. Gaulesi Choose a pet. (none) Why is your character not working at the old job? because being a traveller isn't much of a real job - plus there was better use in smithing Why is your character not with the old love interest? She died. Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? because there isn't much life for musicians in this town How did your character make the enemy? He mistook Lockhart for Antonio Caeldemarde and because Antonio killed his father in battle, he killed Twilight as revenge. Meanwhile, he was too prideful to admit a mistake, and simply pretended he had meant to kill her, seeing as how Antonio and Lockhart do not even look much alike. Lockhart at the time does not know this, he only knows this person (who's name he also doesn't know) killed her. How did the pet once save the character's life? never. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? He doesn't really try to avoid much. He'd rather not meet Antonio, but he doesn't know why. He simply felt very uneasy when they "met" (quotations because they still do not really know one another) But he doesn't go out of his way to avoid it. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? He'd like to have success, but not too much. He's not very zealous about much of anything, making him differ even more from Everhart. Oh yeah, sleep. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Lockhart. 26. Dark, short (but not modern short, olde short, as in, above chin.) hair, light blue eyes. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. Living his life almost parallel with Everhart's. He, however, pursues Everhart to try to find things out, rather than avoiding him, even though he knows that Everhart's presence causes him pain. (part of the plot) He's incredibly serious, almost the opposite of Everhart - and neither are a main character. He is good friends with Roswitha, an apothecary who has been acused many times of being an enchantress. He suffers from insomnia, while Everhart suffers from narcolepsy. ;-)
To try out something different, I'll be answering the questions through my character. I think this technique helps lot since you'll be able to fill the character's disposition, vernacular, and talking habits. This hopefully, will give your character depth. NAME: Yuren Choose a gender. Uh, guy Choose a place of birth. >I'm not really sure. I'm an orphan, you see, and I've walking ever since I can walk. I swear I have calf muscles the size of Grolle City. Choose a hobby. Hobby? Wuh.. I don't have hobbies... Hm. Well, I can annoy a person to a boiling point. I'm pretty good at it. I swear, I can make an giant pop off his head in fury, which is some sort of a challenge because you have to shout the insults out, cause they're tall. Choose a past job. I was a thief. Shucks... not very nice to say it now, you see. But I swear I'm over it. I only took stuff like food and blankets, I swear cold side roads can be killers... People also paid me to get some stuff for them. Choose a present job. I am the Dagger of Yuren Ourath. Is that a job? No? Uh well. I'm not sure, but that's what I do. Or maybe that's what I am. My best friend told me I'm sort of an ambassador. Yeah, I'm not sure what it means either. Choose a past love interest. *blushes* Uhm... well, she didnt know me. Hell if she ever even knew my name. She was this woman back when I was a thief. I met her in a cavern and I got into a scrape trying to steal from a merchant. She saved my life that day, damn. She was really pretty too. I swear she had the blackest eyes I've ever seen. She'll stare at you and you'll think she was reading your mind. I'm not sure where she is now, though. Choose an enemy. I don't like enemies... But I guess with my work, there are a lot of them around. I try to deal with them. Choose a pet. I had a wolf cub once who I called Gigi. (My best friend Tresh thought it was a stupid name, but it's not! It's a good name). But one night she just sort of got away. I think she wanted her mom. Why is your character not working at the old job? I swear, I was good at it. I was the grandest thief in the Petuli market. I can jingle coins from a man's pockets and talk to him at the same time. But as I said, it all changed when the Dagger elected me its host. I swear it changed everything Why is your character not with the old love interest? She's not with me now. *blushes* I'd like to see her again but... uh... she's probably around 70 years old now. She'll be uh, you know... A bit saggy... But hey, it'll be nice to see her again. Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? Are you kidding? Hahaha. Set up this booth with "I'll annoy you for 5 gil". Wahhah! How did your character make the enemy? What can I say... Everybody wants the Dagger. They like it cause you get eternal youth when you're its bearer. So yeah, I make enemies everywhere. I swear it can really get to you, you see? Especially if it was a friend, or a typically good guy who just wants power. Why does everybody want power anyway? I'm the bearer and everything's complicated. I can't even get decent sleep because of it. Power's not that great. How did the pet once save the character's life? Gigi? She was only a cub when I took her. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? I don't like Snakes. I swear, I hate them. I'll stamp on their foot if I have to. But I I'd rather just run. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? I want chicken roast more than anything. I swear, Gilliard's tavern cooks the best chicken roast. I haven't eaten it for so long I think I'm going to pay Gilliard a visit later. I can eat a whole chicken roast by myself. Future will come by himself. He doesn't need my help. Also because he owes me a beer. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. People call me Yuren, but that's really the dagger they're calling. Me? I have no name. My parents died before they could name me. Which is fine, after all, I am Yuren. Just as long as I'm the bearer. I am lean, with sandy blonde hair. My eyes are green. My age? Hum... I don't know. Write everything else you know about your character, right now. I think people already have a good idea about me. Uh... Well, I'm an okay guy. Sometimes I wish I was as smart as Tresh (that's my best friend), but he's always so paranoid, I swear. He also always says 'Seriously' a lot. And I think, 'is that because he's smart?' But I think, nah... He's just Tresh. So I think I should stop ranting now, cause I'm talking about Tresh and that's not always a good thing. **Characters mentioned above are part of a short story I recently wrote. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.
Not nearly as interesting as the rest of your characters, but... Choose a gender. Female Choose a place of birth. Arizona Choose a hobby. looking for ladybugs Choose a past job. Seventh-grader Choose a present job. Eigth-grader (middle school's hard. leave me alone.) Choose a past love interest. None Choose an enemy. the Clones (AKA Abercrombie Zombies) Choose a pet. a rat named Mango Why is your character not working at the old job? She managed to bring her grades up to C's and B's by the end of the year Why is your character not with the old love interest? What love interest? Why does your character not make the hobby a profession? Ladybug-chasers don't make a lotta money... How did your character make the enemy? It's like they're all one big, happy mass of friends, and she's the only one they don't want. And the ones who don't ignore her look down on her because they think she has a "problem". How did the pet once save the character's life? He kept her from being lonely before Spooky came along - does that count? What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it? She doesn't want to deal with sadness or anger or anything "ugly" because she wants the world to be pretty and happy. She never complains and always smiles, and tries to look on the sunny side of everything. She'll probably be doing the same thing in the future. What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future? Probably a forest, just for herself, Spooky, and Mango. It'd probably have tons of flowers and butterflies and ladybugs and cute little woodland creatures, because then everything would be nice and happy and there wouldn't be any Clones or mean people to mess it up. There's no way she could ever actually get something like this, so she just tries to keep to herself and stay near trees and flowers. What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description. Her name is Elain Gallagher, but she likes to be called "Elsie". She's 14 years old - about five feet tall and really scrawny. She's got brown eyes and brown hair in a really short bob-cut. She has braces and a little acne problem, and usually wears overalls and sundresses. Sometimes she'll wear one or two tiny pigtail-things in her hair, or a clip shaped like a flower or butterfly or something. Basically, she looks like a big toddler. Write everything else you know about your character, right now Elsie's really quiet, and daydreams kind of a lot. Her parents think she might have autism or something, and she's in the school's "special needs" class, but there's actually nothing wrong with her. She always tries to be polite, even to Clones, and will try to make friends with total strangers (if they don't look like Clones, anyway). Elsie's best friends are Mango and Spooky, a gargoyle her mama (accidentally) bought her for her fourteenth birthday. Elsie likes sweets and stuffed animals a lot, and her parents kind of spoil her, since she's their only kid and all. I should've used a more interesting character... I never realized how 2-D Elsie was. Damn.
