How do you create characters for your stories?

This question is for the writers who read my blog. What do you do when you create your characters? At the end of this blog post you’ll find a character chart that I use to help me to create my people. I have no idea where this chart originated. I believe I gleaned some of it from a Writers’ Digest book about creating characters. It’s also possible that I got some of the questions from another author. I’m creating a novel now, and I had to pull this out to create the people that go along with my story.

What method do you use for creating characters? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Questions that should be answered when creating characters for novels:

Character Name:

 

Age:

 

Physical Characteristics:

 

Best Feature:

 

Feelings about their own looks:

 

Clothes:

 

Ethnic Background:

 

Siblings/Relatives:

 

Neighborhood of Youth:

 

Education:

 

Church affiliation:

 

What they believe about God:

 

Parent’s Attitudes about:

 

Money/Getting Ahead:

 

Discipline received:

 

Friends:

 

Spouse/Children:

 

Job:

 

Neighborhood:

 

Attitude about:

 

Money/Getting Ahead:

 

Sex:

 

Hobbies:

 

Favorite Foods:

 

Favorite Music:

 

Favorite Movie/Book:
Friends:

 

Fears/Inhibitions:

 

Guilt:

 

Longings/Goals:

 

Weaknesses:

 

Strong Points:

 

Habits:

 

Pet Peeves:

 

RULING TRAIT:

 

A character question: Does your character MAKE things happen or REACT to what happens?

 

What is the most significant/emotional things that have happened in your character’s life?