Character Sketches

Here's a tried and true method for creating memorable characters.

TIP: Write the character sketch in first person, as if you're inside the character's skin.

Some questions to stimulate ideas about what to include:

• What do you look like?
• Where are you coming from? (ethnicity, educational background, religion, geography)
• Talk about the quality of your relationships with family, friends, romantic partners, co-workers.
• What's your talent? Handicap?
• What do you want? What will you do to get it?
• What do you need to learn?
• What do you fear most?
• How do you respond emotionally when things don't go your way?

TIP: Remember that physical attributes are only a tiny fraction of what makes up a three-D character.

Now rewrite the character sketch in third person, as if it is a set of notes by the character's psychological counselor or priest. The author can compare how the character perceives himself to how the outside observer sees him.