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CHARACTER CHART
(From Chapter 11: Characterization)
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One useful way to “learn” more about your characters is to fill out a character chart for each of them—at least for the more important ones. It’s a great deal more information than you will actually use in your novel, but it will help you as a writer to understand your characters more fully as people. With experience, you will be able to selectively fill out only those portions of the chart you feel will be pertinent to your character. |
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Name |
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| Full name? | Nickname? |
| Reason for nickname? | |
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Physical Appearance |
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| Age? | How old does look? |
| Height? | Weight? |
| Type of body build? | Eye Color? |
| Glasses or contact lens? | Hair Color? |
| Wears hair how? | Balding? |
| Shape of face? | Distinguishing Marks? |
| Predominant features? | Right or left handed? |
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Favorites |
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| Favorite color? | Favorite food? |
| Favorite music? | Favorite book? |
| Favorite clothes (work, leisure, formal)? | Favorite movies? |
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Habits |
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| Smokes? | What brand? |
| When smokes? | How much he smokes? |
| Drinks? | What brand? |
| When drinks? | How much he drinks? |
| Other vices (sweets, chocolate, swearing, over spending, gambling)? | |
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Hobbies/leisure activities |
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| What are his hobbies? | Recreation? |
| How often participates? | With whom? |
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Background |
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| Hometown? | Type of childhood? |
| Race/Ethnic background? | Education? |
| Most important childhood events that still affect character? | Past relationships? How did they end? |
| Financial status growing up? | Degree of activity in his religion? |
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Family |
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| Married/divorced/ children? | If divorced does he pay child support? |
| Mother’s name? | Relationship with mother? |
| Type of work mother did/does? | Father’s name? |
| Relationship with father? | Type of work father did/does? |
| Siblings? | Relationships with siblings? |
| Aunts/Uncles/grandparents/nieces/ nephews? | Relationship with them? |
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Attitude |
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| When most at ease? | When most ill at ease? |
| Priorities? | Philosophy of life? |
| Desires? | Thankful for? |
| How he feels about himself? | How he feels about others in his life? |
| Past failure he would be most embarrassed to have people know? | Manners/social graces? |
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Personality |
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Greatest source of strength in
character's personality (whether he recognizes it as such or not)? |
Greatest source of weakness in
character's personality (whether he recognizes it as such or not)? |
| Soft spot? | How does he react to adversity? |
| How does he act when angry? | What regrets does he have? |
| Sense of humor (dry, weird, earthy)? | |
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Traits |
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| Optimist/pessimist? | Introvert/extravert? |
| Drives and motivation? | Talents? |
| Positive characteristics? | Flaws? |
| Mannerisms? | Peculiarities? |
| Biggest regrets? | Biggest accomplishments? |
| Darkest secret? | |
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Self-perception |
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| How he would describe himself? | What does he consider his best physical characteristic? |
| What does he consider his worst physical characteristic? | Is his assessment of these physical characteristics realistic? |
| How does he think others perceive him? | What would he change about himself (physical or mental)? |
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Relationship with Others |
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| How does he relate to others? | How is he perceived by strangers, friends, family members, fellow workers, lover? |
| What do friends/family like most about him? | What do friends/family like least about him? |
| Most important person in his life before books starts? | Most important person in his life after book starts? |
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Goals |
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| Immediate personal and professional goals? | Long-range personal and professional goals? |
| How does he plan to accomplish these goals? | |
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Problems/Crises |
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| How does he face problems? | How does he react in a crisis? |
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What kind of problems does he usually have? |
How does he handle change? |
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Personal |
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| Favorite kind of clothes? | Least favorite clothes? |
| Does he wear jewelry? What? | Where he would like to live. Why? |
| Spending habits (frugal, spendthrift)? | Religion? Degree of participation? |
| Who does he secretly admire? Why? | Person is/was most influenced by. Why? |
| Most prized possession? | How did he spend the week before the book starts? |
| Have pet(s)? What? Names? | Method of transportation? If car or motorcycle, what make and model? |
| Home (house, apartment, own, rent)? | Profession/Income? |
| Talents (piano player, juggler, poetry writer)? | Special skills (Carpentry, race car driving, marksman)? |
| Medical problems? | Hangs out where? |
| Nervous habits? | Sexual orientation? |
| Typical daily schedule? | |
References
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