CREATING LIVING/BREATHING CHARACTERS

 

There are several ways to use this format.  First, you can just go down the list and create a brand new character – either in a group with each person taking a characteristic or alone.  Or, if you already have a character in mind, you can use this step-by-step guide to creating a character is to fill in the blanks quickly with what you already KNOW about your character – what you have seen in your mind.  After you’ve filled in what you already imagined, then turn to the rest of the characteristics that you left blank and choose a few items that you have to think about until your character feels solid.  You can start at the end and work backwards.  There are a lot of choices.  You do not have to fill in every blank every time. 

 

STEP 1 – THE PHYSICAL BEING

  • SEX
  • AGE
  • RACE/ETHNIC ORIGIN (family history)
  • HEIGHT & WEIGHT
  • BODY POSTURE
  • HAIR (color/texture/style/location)
  • FACIAL HAIR
  • EYES (color/shape/size)
  • SKIN (face & body/color/texture/blemishes)/tattoos/piercings/scars/growths
  • PHYSICAL WEAKNESS (under stress, how does the characters’ body break down)
  • SIGNS OF AGE (how old does the person look and why)
  • TEETH (crooked/straight/coloring/size/dental work)
  • SMELL (anything unique personally/colognes)
  • GENERAL CLEANLINESS & GROOMING BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE
  • WORST PHYSICAL FEATURE
  • IDIOSYNCRASIES OF BODY LANGUAGE?
  • HOW DOES THE CHARACTER SOUND?  WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF VOICE/ACCENT? 
 

STEP 2 – THE PSYCHOLOGICAL/EMOTIONAL BEING

  • IQ
  • ECONOMIC CLASS: CHARACTER’S PARENT’S/GRANDPARENT’S
  • RELIGION (upbringing and current)
  • EDUCATION (level/field of study)
  • MARITAL STATUS
  • INTROVERT/EXTRAVERT
  • STYLE OF DRESS (cost/colors/accessories/jewelry)
  • EATING HABITS (type of food/amount/where/when)
  • OCCUPATION (employment history)
  • AMBITION/GOALS
  • HOBBIES/AMUSEMENTS (books/movies/music)
  • IDIOSYNCRASIES/NEUROSES/COMPULSIONS
  • GREATEST SUCCESS
  • WORST FAILURE/ DISAPPOINTMENT
 

HAS THIS CHARACTER EVER BEEN IN LOVE?  IF NOT, WHY NOT?  IF SO, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

 

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER’S FAVORITE SENSE—SIGHT, TOUCH, HEARING, TASTE, SMELL?  WHY?

 

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER’S ROUTINE FOR GOING TO BED?  GETTING UP IN THE MORNNG?

 

STEP 3—THE SOCIAL BEING

FAMILY:
DESCRIBE EACH FAMILY MEMBER AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THE CHARACTER HAS WITH THEM.  THE CHARACTER DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS AS LISTED BELOW.

 
  • MOTHER
  • FATHER
  • SIBLINGS
  • WIFE/HUSBAND
  • INLAWS
  • CHILDREN
  • GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND
  • EXTENDED FAMILY
   

HOME ENVIRONMENT:
WHERE DOES THE CHARACTER LIVE (CITY/COUNTY/STATE/COUNTRY)

 
  • DESCRIBE THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR COUNTRYSIDE
  • DESCRIPTION OF RESIDENTIAL DWELLING
  • FURNITURE STYLE/DÉCOR
  • FAVORITE ROOM AND WHY
  • HOUSECLEANING HABITS
  • PETS
  • OTHER PEOPLE IN HOME ENVIRONMENT
  • INTERACTION WITH NEIGHBORS
  • WORK/SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
  • LOCATION/DISTANCE FROM HOME
  • OFFICE/SCHOOL/WORK DÉCOR
  • RELATIONSHIP TO OTHERS AT WORK/SCHOOL
  • PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT WORK/SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
 

NAME OF THIS CHARACTER

 

STEP 4—  CHARACTER’S HISTORY

 

DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER’S CHILDHOOD (earliest memories, traumas, favorite memories, best friends, school or lack of, etc.)

 

DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER’S ADOLESCENCE (emotional and physical experiences, embarrassing moments, ways the character tried to be different from or same as peer group, etc.)

 

DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER’S FIRST JOB INTERVIEW (what questions were asked, did the character want the job, did the character get the job, how did the character prepare for the interview, etc.)

 

WHAT ARE THIS CHARACTER’S MANNERS?  (when eating out, when meeting people, when giving or receiving gifts, when waiting in line, when in the movies or at library, etc.)

 

WHAT ENVIRONMENT HAS THIS CHARACTER FAILED TO CREATE AT HOME OR AT WORK?