MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
NAME:
Character’s Full Name: ______
Character’s Nickname: ______
Reason or meaning of name: ______
Protagonist: Antagonist: Secondary:
TRAITS:
Defining Quality:______
Opposite of that:______
Secondary Quality:______
Opposite of that:______
Most Wants:______
Opposite of that:______
How can they want both at the same time?______
______
What trait do they have that they wantto keep secret from the world?_
______
What reaction do you want readers to have to them?______
______
Why should the reader care about them?______
______
Good Characteristics:______
Flaws:______
Drives & Motivations:______
______
INNER CONFLICT:
1 thing they would NEVER SAY:______
______
1 thing they would NEVER DO:______
______
1 thing they would NEVER THINK:______
______
Find a way for them to say, think, and/or do those things.
What do they like most about their life?______
______
What do they dislike most about their life?______
______
What would they die to defend?______
______
PERSONALITY:
Greatest Strength:______
Greatest Weakness:______
Soft Spot:______
Is Soft Spot obvious to others?______
If not, how do they hide it?______
______
Biggest Vulnerability:______
Optimist or Pessimist?______
Introvert or Extrovert?______
Talents:______
______
Skills:______
Mannerisms:______
Peculiarities:______
Biggest Regret: ______
Minor regret: ______
Biggest Accomplishment: ______
Minor Accomplishment: ______
Darkest Secret: ______
Does anyone know: ______
If yes, did they tell them? ______
If no, how did they find out: ______
APPEARANCE:
Predominant Feature:______
Age: ______How old do they appear?______
Eye Color: ______Glasses or contacts: ______
Hair Color:______Style:______
Weight:______Height:______
Type of Build/Body: ______
Skin Tone:______Skin Type:______
Shape of Face: ______
Dist. Marks:______
Freckles: ______Moles:______Scars:______
Looks like (celeb):______
Healthy?______
If not, why?______
ATTITUDE:
Most at ease when:______
Ill at ease when:______
Priorities:______
How do they feel about themselves?______
Past failure they would be embarrassed for people to know: ______
______
Why?______
One wish?______
Why?______
PLOT:
As the story begins, what is their main problem?______
______
What does they do that makes this problem worse?______
______
RELATIONSHIPS:
How do they feel about the opposite sex?______
______
What is their relationship status? Single? Divorced?______
Do they have children?______
Who is their best friend? ______
Why?______
Who is their worst enemy? ______
Why?______
How would a former date describe them?______
Who is this person's love interest?______
What qualities in the main character are most attractive to this person?
What is their ideal happy ending?______
FAVORITES*:
Color:______Least Fav. Color:______
Why?______
Music:______
Least Fav. Music:______
Why?______
Food:______
Literature:______
Expressions:______
______
Transportation:______
HABITS*:
Drinks: ______What?______
When?______How Much?______
Hobbies:______
Expletives:______
Daredevil or Cautious:______
BACKGROUND*:
Hometown, State:______
Type of Childhood:______
First memory:______
Most important childhood event that still affects them: ______
Why?______
Education:______
Finances:______
Religion:______
What one event has made their who they are today?______
______
How does that turning point in the character’s life relate to the main character in the story?
______
______
FAMILY*:
Mother:______
Relationship?______
Father:______
Relationship?______
Siblings:______
How many? ______Birth Order:______
Relationship?______
Relationship?______
Extended family:______
Close:______
Why or Why Not?______
______
LIFESTYLE*:
Where do they live? (Urban? Small town? Rural?)______
Why did they choose to live there?______
______
Do they live in an apartment? House? What type or style? Did they choose the residence, and why?
______
Do they live by themselves? With others?______
What are their important material possessions?______
______
What are their hobbies?______
What is their education?______
What is their job? ______
How do they feel about their work?______
Is this a long-term career or just a job?______
What do they want to be doing in 20 years?______
If they have unexpected free time, what do they do?______
* Optional