Monday, October 15, 2012

Define Your Character




Each character needs unique identifiers to be easily recognized by the reader. Following are some characterization tips with ideas to get you started. Happy creating!














·         Physical description, height, hair color, unique details
o   Obvious things like height, hair color, eye color
o   Hair type or style
o   Bulky frame, lanky frame
o   Limp or physical defect, healthy or ill?        
·         Special abilities/talents
o   Intelligence
o   Physical strength
o   Supernatural power
o   Special talents
§  Musical
§  Ability to sense things or to judge
§  Wisdom
·         Things they often carry with them or that are associated with them
o   A football
o   Reed pipes
o   Backpack full of books
o   Lipstick
o   Magical items
o   Specific jewelry
·         Certain types of clothes associated with them
o   Comfy sweats, exercise clothes
o   Glittery eye makeup
o   Fitted suits
o   Very plain
o   girlish
o   sophisticated
o   dance club wear
o   rasta cap
o   heels
·         Turns of phrase or ways of speaking
o   Babbled
o   Bleated (ie: if satyr)
o   Demanded
o   “awww man…”
o   “are you mental?” (gratuitious harry potter reference. I can’t help myself.)
·         Things or people associated with them, that would commonly indicate their presence
o   Shifting mud
o   other mages
o   Earthquake
o   Cold room
·         Beliefs and attitudes
o   Religious
o   Ethical/moral
o   Opinions about issues in their world
o   Superstitions
o   Grudges
o   Irrational ideas
o   Generally positive or negative
o   How do they behave when no one is looking?
·         Any unique behaviors
o   Nervous fidgeting (be specific!)
o   What do they do when they concentrate
o   Or when bored
o   Compulsively pick fluff off people’s clothes
o   Are they huggy or standoffish?
o   Wander off when nervous or bored?
o   Rambling speech

What characters are you writing about?

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