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Discover Eclectics Authors! ~ Click For Details on this Book!
Once filled out, this chart helps writers get a firm grasp on characters.
Happy writing!
~ Reb
Date this chart was completed:
Character's Full Name:
Reason or meaning of name:
Nickname:
Reason for nickname:
Birthdate:
Astrological Sign:
FAVORITES
- Color:
- Music:
- Food:
- Literature:
- Expressions:
- Book:
- Quote:
- Expletive(s) (swears):
- Mode of transportation:
HABITS
- Smokes:
What?
How often?
- Drinks:
What?
How often?
- Worst bad habit?
- Quirks:
BACKGROUND
- Hometown:
- Type of childhood:
- First memory:
- Most important childhood event that still affects him/her:
Why?
- Lower education:
- Higher education:
- Booksmart or streetsmart?
- Religion and/or religious views and/or tendencies?
Firsts:
- Job?
- Kiss?
- Sexual experience?
FAMILY
- Mother (name):
Relationship with her:
- Father (name):
Relationship with him:
- Siblings:
Birth order:
Relationship with each:- Children of Siblings:
- Extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.):
- Close to family? Yes/No
CHILDREN
- Does character have child(ren)?
How many?
- Are all children with the same partner?
If no, why not? If no, what is the custody arrangement?
- How does character relate to his/her child(ren)?
- Which child is character's favorite?
Why?
- Character's most favorite memory of his/her child(ren)?
- Character's least favorite memory of his/her child(ren)?
- Is relationship with children good?
- Is relatioinship with children important to character?
OCCUPATION
- Where does character work?
How many years?
- Relationship with co-workers?
- Like his/her job?
Why or why not?
- Dream job:
ATTITUDE
- Greatest fear:
- Worst thing that could happen to him/her?
- What single event would most throw character's life in complete turmoil?
- Character is most at ease when:
- Most ill at ease when:
- Priorities:
- Philosophy:
- How s/he feels about self:
- Past failure s/he would be embarrassed to have people know about:
- If granted one wish, what would it be?
Why?
- Daredevil or cautious?
Same when alone?
- Biggest regret?
- Biggest accomplishment:
- Minor accomplishments:
- Character's darkest secret:
Does anyone else know?
If yes, did character tell them?
If no, how did they find out?
PERSONALITY
Greatest source of strength in character's personality (whether s/he sees it as such or not):
- Greatest source of weakness in character's personality (whether s/he sees it as such or not):
- Character's soft spot:
Is this soft spot obvious to others?
If not, how does character hide it?
- Biggest vulnerability:
- Which of the 7 deadly sins does character fight (or give into, willingly or not)?
(lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride)
- Which of the 7 virtues does your character have (or fight against)?
(chastity, abstinence, leberality, diligence, patience, kindness, humility)
TRAITS
- Optimist or pessimist?
- Introvert or extrovert?
- Drives and motivations?
- Talents (hidden or not)?
- Extremely skilled at:
- Extremely unskilled at:
- Good characteristics:
- Character flaws:
- Mannerisms:
- Peculiarities:
SELF-PERCEPTION
- One word character would use to describe self:
- One paragraph description of how character would describe self:
- What does character consider best physical characteristic?
- What does character consider worst physical characteristic?
Are these realistic assessments?
If not, why not?
- How CHARACTER thinks others perceive him/her?
- What four things would CHARACTER most like to change about self? (#1 most important, #2 second most important, etc.)
- If change #1 was made, would character be as happy as s/he thinks?
If not, why not?
INTERRELATION WITH OTHERS
- Is character divorced? Why?
If yes, how many times?
- Has character ever cheated on any signficant other?
- How does character relate to others?
- How is s/he perceived by...
- Strangers?
- Friends?
- Wife/Husband/Lover?
- Children
- Co-workers?
- Protagonist?
- Antagonist?
- First impression character makes is:
What happens to change this perception?
- What do family/friends like most about character?
- What do family/friends like least about character?
GOALS
- Immediate goal(s):
- Long range goal(s):
- How does character plan to accomplish goal(s)?
- How will other people around character be affected?
PROBLEMS/CRISIS
- How character react in a crisis (calm/panic/etc.)?
- How does character face problems?
Kinds of problems character usually runs into:
- How does character react to NEW problems?
- How does character react to change?
GENERAL
- Jewelry?
- Other accessories?
- Drives a ... :
- Where does character live?
With anyone? Yes/No
- Where does character want to live?
- Spending habits (frugal, spendthrift, etc)?
- What does s/he do too much of?
- Too little of?
- Most prized possession: Why?
- Play musical instrument?
Which one(s)?
How did s/he learn?
- Does character like animals?
- Any pets?
- Likes music?
What kind?
TECHNICAL
- Owns a computer? Yes/No
If not, why not?
- Email address(es):
If more than one, each used for...?
- "Handle":
Meaning to character:
- Uses computer for business, pleasure, both?
- Play computer games?
If yes, which game(s)? If yes, how many hours per day?
If so, are they/it multiplayere game/s?
- Name used on each game & meaning to character?
- List 4 online site(s) (URLs) visited daily?
1.
2.
3.
4.
UNCATEGORIZED
- Person character secretly admires:
- Person character was most influenced by:
- Most important person in character's life before story starts:
Why?
EXTRA:
© (c ) copyright 1990-2011 Rebecca Sinclair
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Authors Note: I worked hard on this. Read the disclaimer below.~ Permission is granted to LINK TO the Fiction Writers Character Chart.
~ Permission is granted to print out a copy of the Fiction Writers Character Chart FOR PERSONAL USE
~ Permission is NOT granted to copy and/or use the Character Chart in print and/or electronic form (including the
internet) without express written permission).
~ Permission is NOT granted to copy/print in any form/use The Fiction Writers Character Chart in a group setting,
electronically or otherwise, without express written permission.
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URL: http://www.eclectics.com/articles/character.html
Email: reb@rebeccasinclair.com
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