When starting a new work, I take the time to develop my character, sometimes spending an entire day working up the character, his or her background, habits, preferences, etc. By doing so, once I pitch into the story, I have a firm idea how the characters in the story will respond to certain situations as well as having a touchstone I can go back to. There is nothing worse than having a character’s eye color go from brown in Chapter One to blue in Chapter Twelve.
Using this is critical when working with another writer, for it keeps both of you on track and in the same ballpark.
Not every character needs a full workup. The degree of detail depends on the character’s importance to the story and his or her frequency. There is no need to go into great detail for Crewman Number Six if he or she is going to meet an untimely end at the end of Chapter Two.
Hopefully this will be of help to someone here.
HW Coyle, Author of Tips and others
a.k.a. Nancy Cole the Heretic
___________________
(Full name of Character)
Physical Description:
Height:
Weight:
Physique:
Hair color:
Skin tone:
Eye color and shape:
Handicap or permanent markings, if any:
Shape of face:
Any notable characteristic such as gait or posture:
Where does he or she live?
What does his/her flat look like? Neat as a pin or Early American pigsty?
Where did he or she grow up?
Where did he or she go to school?
Does he or she have an annoying relative? A nice relative?
What’s his/her favorite pastime?
Where does he or she go or do when he or she wants to think?
Friends, family, and associates;
Who are his/her friends?
What do they do?
What are his/her relationship to these friends?
Is one of them his/her confident?
Who is his/her favorite relative and why?
Who is his/her least favorite relative and why?
Is there any internal conflict within the family? If so, what is it?
Does he or she have a mate or a romantic love interest? If so, what does he or she do? Is this love interest mutual or unrequited?
Does he or she date? What is his or her taste in the perfect male/female? Is he or she a sucker for gingers or some other hair color?
What is his favorite food? Does he or she always order chicken parmesan when he or she is in an Italian restaurant and sweat and sour chicken when ordering Chinese? Is he or she afraid to try new foods, adventurous, addicted to bland foods, or a fanatic for hot and spicy dishes?)
What does he or she wear when he or she’s slumming about the flat?
What is his/her favorite;
Movies?
Sport?
Author?
Type of books?
Newspaper?
Drink?
Music?
What is the first thing he or she does when he or she gets home at night?
Who are his/her go-to people? Where do they work and what are their areas of expertise?
Who is a recurring nemesis that is his bugaboo, the one who got away and haunts his/her dreams?
What is his/her personal motto or philosophy?
Does he or she drive a car? What kind?
What kind of computer does he or she use?
Does he or she have a favorite vacation spot?
Does he or she have one he or she’s never been to but always talks about going to?
What is more endearing personal quality?
What is his/her most annoying one?
Does he or she have a subconscious habit?
Is he or she a tea in first or milk in first and does he or she always make a point of correcting someone when they don’t do it the way he or she thinks it should be done?
Comments
This feels way excessive to me.
I tend to go a lot more organic. I treat my writing like the character is telling me their own story, so I let their voice guide who they are as much as they guide their voice. Once I've established their opening shots, and how they speak, move, think, everything else evolves from there.
I didn't know Beck's dad was a drag queen until s/he was getting ready to call him.
Sarah didn't have an older brother until I was writing the Christmas break.
That's just the way it works in my head. I'll have moments in mind, perhaps, or emotional elements, but I'd rather be surprised by the details of the character when they're revealed than know it all ahead of time. That just spoils the journey for me.
Melanie E.
Great!
Every author has their own way of doing things. I just threw this out as a suggestion. And there is no need to fill in everything. Just whatever is needed to keep the character in, ah-hm, character.
HW Coyle
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
Date of birth?
As a newcomer to fiction writing I found it necessary to go back and check relationships and actions were not impossible because of the characters ages.
Rhona McCloud
You forgot one ...
Name:
I have seen this happen in more than a couple of stories. A character is introduced by one name and a few chapters later all of a sudden the name has changed, sometimes it even changes back. It normally isn't the main character, but I have even seen THAT, on at least one occasion. I personally want to dive into the story and make corrections, but, usually I don't have that level of access.
with love,
Hope
Once in a while I bare my soul, more often my soles bear me.
Yes.... I can relate to that.... (blush)
....sometimes 'find and replace' is less thorough than expected when rethinking a character name. Of course typos don't help either. ;-)
K@
Another important element
Another important element is a firm grasp on where the story is going. I'm a firm believer that a story, as it is being written, is a living thing, capable of making decisions on the fly. Some times the author is akin to someone herding cats. The most important thing I like to have in mind is how the story ends. Is it a fairytale ending... happily ever-after? (My favorite) Is it set up for the reader to complete in their own mind. Is it a tragic ending that warns the reader to avoid situations, or perhaps a bitter sweet ending. These should be firmly embedded in the authors mind and at every opportunity the author should nudge the story in the direction that gets it there.
Then of course there are the never ending stories that play out like a soap opera going from one crisis to another and not ever resolving all all issues.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
Are we there yet?
I agree, 101%. You have to know where the story is going. Often times I have the final scene in mind before I get much beyond the first chapter or two.
HW Coyle
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
I certainly admire your thoroughness
I wish I had that much dedication, but for me I know I have to keep the momentum going or I give up. I have dozens of unfinished stories.
As a matter of interest, how long, both in terms of elapsed time and hours work, does it typically take you to write a story?
Ladies, the rule of the 7 P's applies...
There is no such thing as being too prepared.
In the military we refer to "The rule of the 7 P's"
Prior preparation and planning prevent p*** poor performance.
Nancy introduced me to this methodology a couple of years ago… we are now about to sign a book deal.
Take what she offers.
Leave what you don't need from it.
Enjoy writing always.
Persephone
Non sum qualis eram
Persephone?
Precisely!
Love, Andrea Lena
Each author has their process, much as they have their own voice
I think this is a great template for authors who are organized enough to 'profile' their characters. It's an incredibly useful continuity tool.
For the more ....right-brained... authors, I hope we all know who our characters are - at least subconsciously - to keep the 'continuity' intact throughout the story.
That said - there's no law against going back and re-reading our own work to make sure the details stay consistent.
Thanks for posting this very useful tool!
K@