Character Creation

Yeah, I know. Boring title today. But I didn't want this post to get lost in the shuffle because I think it will be very useful to you.

This week (after I finish critting a buddy of mine's manuscript) I'll set sail on a new manuscript sea. Translation: I need to get to know my new main characters. How exactly does a writer do that? It's not like I can pop over to an imaginary house and visit with the imaginary people. Well, I suppose I could, but it's sure tough to write in a strait jacket. 

So...what's a writer to do? Get to know those character with pen and ink, of course, or via keyboard as the case may be. Here is a sample of a worksheet that I'll fill out for each of my main characters. Feel free to use it next time you create new characters.

Character’s Name

Physical

Age:

Eye Color:                               Hair/Style: 

Basic Body type: 

Scent:

Distinguishing marks: 

Daily Life

Relationships (family, friends, enemies, past or present):

Who was his/her first love?

Job (is he/she good at it? Does he/she like it?):

Dress Style:

Religion/Spiritual Beliefs:

Favorite Pastime:

Favorite Foods:

Habits:

GOAL

Overall Story Goal (What he/she wants):

MOTIVATION

What does she stand to lose? (Why he/she wants it)

CONFLICT

What stands in her way? (This is the big but)

General Temperament:

How Others View This Character:

Opinion of Him/Herself (what kind of character does he/she think he is/what kind of character does he want to be? What keeps him from it, in his opinion):

Flaw (strongest negative personality trait):

By the end of the story, how does this change?

Strength (strongest positive personality trait):

Hates

Loves

Fears (what is your character afraid of? What keeps him/her up at night?)

Dream (if you asked about his/her greatest dream, what would your character tell you?)

Secret from the past

Why will readers like or dislike this character?

Ticking time bomb for this character

Climax/Big Black Moment

	INTERNAL Emotional	EXTERNAL Physical	SPIRITUAL
GOAL What they Want
MOTIVATION Why they Want it
CONFLICT What stands in their Way

You'll notice I spent a fair amount on GMC. Why? Because that's the backbone of your story. Make those items strong and believable, and your tale will ring true in your reader's mind and heart...not to mention a publisher's!