One of the most important elements in a novel or short story is characterization: making the characters seem vivid, real,

alive. One technique that many writers use with success is to create a character profile for the main characters in the novel. The purpose of a character profile is twofold: to assist the writer in creating a character that is as lifelike as possible and to help with continuity issues in the story. In interviews many famous authors have stated that they came up with the basics of a character's personality and then they found that the character just "came alive" for them and ended up driving the story all on his own. But for the beginning writer, sometimes a more concrete approach is helpful. That is where the character profile comes in -- it is simply a tool for organizing your thoughts about a certain character and keeping track of a particular character's idiosyncrasies and relationships. It can help flesh out a cardboard character and even make you think about facets of his or her personality that you had not considered before. Character profiles are especially helpful for novels which involve several main characters and for stories which use multiple points of view.

Character profiles are useful when writing in any genres. Depending on the genre in which you write, you will create additional sections on the Character Profile Worksheet. For example, fantasy writers can use the character profiles to keep track of factors such as magical abilities, family lineage, spells the character is under, and limitations on the character's power to ensure continuity in the action. For literary and mainstream novels, profiles are especially useful for keeping in mind motivations of the character -- hurts and disappointments in the past which may not be alluded to directly in the dialogue, but which nevertheless color everything the character thinks and feels. For example, someone who was abused as a child will most likely react differently in certain situations than someone who had a happy, loving childhood. A Character Profile is also of great help during the rewrite stage of your novel. You can use the profile to ensure continuity in the character's actions. For example, if in draft 1 your heroine is just recovering from a nasty divorce and in draft 2 you've decided to make her a happily married mother of three, you will know to check every scene with dialogue about her marital status as well as scenes where the (now non-existent) dastardly ex-husband is mentioned. If you change an attribute of your character, be sure to update your Character Profile Worksheet right away. Obviously, a character can develop over the course of the novel. The Worksheet provides a place for you to note that fact so that when you read over your final draft you can see if you achieved your particular character development goal for that character. A Character Profile is just meant to be a guide where you can list facts and details to help you get to know your characters, especially if you get stuck on one character who doesn't quite seem real. Maybe he needs a new characteristic -- a hidden trauma, a fabulous skill or a deadly secret -- something that will make the character come alive for you. How detailed you want your character worksheets to be just depends on what works best for you. So, next time you're stuck on characterization, pull out the Character Profile Worksheet and get to know someone new.

Character Profile Worksheet

Basic Statistics Name: Age: Nationality: Socioeconomic Level as a child: Socioeconomic Level as an adult: Hometown: Current Residence: Occupation: Income: Talents/Skills: Salary: Birth order: Siblings (describe relationship): Spouse (describe relationship): Children (describe relationship): Grandparents (describe relationship): Grandchildren (describe relationship): Significant Others (describe relationship): Relationship skills:

Physical Characteristics: Height: Weight: Race: Eye Color: Hair Color: Glasses or contact lenses? Skin color: Shape of Face: Distinguishing features: How does he/she dress? Mannerisms: Habits: (smoking, drinking etc.) Health: Hobbies: Favorite Sayings: Speech patterns:

Disabilities: Style (Elegant, shabby etc.): Greatest flaw: Best quality:

Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes Educational Background: Intelligence Level: Any Mental Illnesses? Learning Experiences: Character's short-term goals in life: Character's long-term goals in life: How does Character see himself/herself? How does Character believe he/she is perceived by others? How self-confident is the character? Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof? What would most embarass this character?

Emotional Characteristics

Strengths/Weaknesses: Introvert or Extrovert? How does the character deal with anger? With sadness? With conflict? With change? With loss? What does the character want out of life? What would the character like to change in his/her life? What motivates this character? What frightens this character? What makes this character happy? Is the character judgmental of others? Is the character generous or stingy? Is the character generally polite or rude?

Spiritual Characteristics

Does the character believe in God? What are the character's spiritual beliefs? Is religion or spirituality a part of this character's life? If so, what role does it play?

How the Character is Involved in the Story Character's role in the novel (main character? hero? heroine? Romantic interest? etc.): Scene where character first appears: Relationships with other characters: 1. Character's Name: -- (Describe relationship with this character and changes to relationship over the course of the novel). 2. Character's Name: -- (Describe relationship with this character and changes to relationship over the course of the novel). 3. Character's Name: -- (Describe relationship with this character and changes to relationship over the course of the novel). 4. Character's Name: -- (Describe relationship with this character and changes to relationship over the course of the novel). How character is different at the end of the novel from when the novel began: Additional Notes on This Character:

Character Questionnaire 1

This questionnaire is found in Gotham Writers Workshops Writing Fiction.

You might start with questions that address the basics about a character:

What is your characters name? Does the character have a nickname?

What is your characters hair color? Eye color?

 What kind of distinguishing facial features does your character have?

Does your character have a birthmark? Where is it? What about scars? How did he get them?

Who are your characters friends and family? Who does she surround herself with? Who are the people your character is closest to? Who does he wish he were closest to?

Where was your character born? Where has she lived since then? Where does she call home?

Where does your character go when hes angry?

What is her biggest fear? Who has she told this to? Who would she never tell this to? Why?

Does she have a secret?

What makes your character laugh out loud?

When has your character been in love? Had a broken heart?

Then dig deeper by asking more unconventional questions:

What is in your characters refrigerator right now? On her bedroom floor? On her nightstand? In her garbage can?

Look at your characters feet. Describe what you see there. Does he wear dress shoes, gym shoes, or none at all? Is he in socks that are ratty and full of holes? Or is he wearing a pair of blue and gold slippers knitted by his grandmother?

 When your character thinks of her childhood kitchen, what smell does she associate with it? Sauerkraut? Oatmeal cookies? Paint? Why is that smell so resonant for her?

Your character is doing intense spring cleaning. What is easy for her to throw out? What is difficult for her to part with? Why?

Its Saturday at noon. What is your character doing? Give details. If hes eating breakfast, what exactly does he eat? If shes stretching out in her backyard to sun, what kind of blanket or towel does she lie on?

What is one strong memory that has stuck with your character from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?

Your character is getting ready for a night out. Where is she going? What does she wear? Who will she be with?

Download Character Questionnaire 1 in Word .doc format.

Character Questionnaire 2

This questionnaire was invented by the noted French author Marcel Proust. These questions are frequently used in interviews so you may want to pretend youre interviewing your characters.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

What is your current state of mind?

 What is your favorite occupation?

What is your most treasured possession?

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

What is your favorite journey?

What is your most marked characteristic?

When and where were you the happiest?

What is it that you most dislike?

What is your greatest fear?

What is your greatest extravagance?

Which living person do you most despise?

What is your greatest regret?

Which talent would you most like to have?

Where would you like to live?

 What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

What is the quality you most like in a man?

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

What do you most value in your friends?

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Whose are your heroes in real life?

Which living person do you most admire?

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

On what occasions do you lie?

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

 What are your favorite names?

How would you like to die?

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

What is your motto?