Young Adult/Middle Grade Fantasy Character Chart:
Full name ___________________________________ Nickname ___________________
Physical Appearance
Age Height Weight Eye Color Glasses?
Hair color and description
Looks more like: Mom Dad Grandparent Other
Most distinctive physical trait
Any deformities or handicaps?
General health?
Circle all that apply for appearance only: Strong Weak Imposing Squatty Ugly
Memorable Forgettable Striking Bright-eyed Sloppy Neat
Fashionable Dated Rebellious Trendy Skinny Fat
Bookish Attractive Strange Sickly Arrogant Shy
Add any other descriptions
Family
Parents’ names
Living? Are they involved in character’s life?
Does character live with parents? Why/not?
Parenting/discipline style?
Circle all that apply for this character’s parents: Passive Involved Patient
Understanding Impatient Cruel Strict Loving
Helpful Selfish Worried Tolerant Judgmental
Sentimental Traditional Dictatorial Weak Overwhelmed
Add any other descriptions
Siblings and ages
What is the character’s relationship with each sibling?
Does the character fit in with his family or stand out?
Which family member has the best chance of succeeding in life?
Which family member has the least chance?
Is this a functional or dysfunctional family?
Circle any description that fits the family in general, regardless of whether your character
is like them or not: Ambitious Humorous Spoiled Hard Working
Lazy Kind Intelligent Wealthy
Powerful Strange Cruel
If your character is an orphan, complete the following:
At what age was your character orphaned? Did he know his parents?
Who has taken on the parent role, if anyone?
Did the parent role person want the care of your character?
Does your character feel connected to a family?
How would your character have been different if he had not been orphaned?
Emotional/Mental Health
What makes your character saddest?
What would make/makes your character happiest at the start of the story?
What is the greatest threat to your character’s happiness?
What makes him angry?
To your character, what is unjust?
Is your character prepared for what will happen in the story?
What will be the hardest thing for him to overcome internally to make it through the
story?
What is his greatest strength? Weakness?
Does your character understand his own strengths and weaknesses?
What flaw most threatens your character’s success in life?
What is the worst thing that could happen to your character?
What is he afraid of? Is it a realistic fear?
What will the reader understand about the character that he does not know?
At the beginning of the story, is your character in stress?
How does he handle stress?
Does he experience any physical reactions to stress?
Is your character generally in control of his life? If not, how does he react to that?
Is your character prone to any of the following: Depression Anxiety
Obsessive/Compulsive acts Substance use Pervasive anger
Rule-breaking Suicidal thoughts Dishonesty
Posttraumatic behavior Hyperactivity Narcissism
Circle any words that describe your character’s emotional and mental state at the
beginning of the story: Happy Sad Angry Calm
Stressed Nervous Eager Controlled Patient
Worried Hopeful Afraid Satisfied Dissatisfied
Cocky Confident Warm Cold Idealistic
Realistic Pessimistic Bored Restless Overwhelmed
Add any other descriptions
Strengths/Weaknesses
What are your character’s greatest talents?
What is something your character wishes he were better at?
What is a strength your character has that he is not yet aware of?
What is something your character can do that few around him can do as well?
Is there any strength your character has that he would consider a weakness?
What is something your character is good at that has absolutely nothing to do with the
plot?
What is your character not good at doing (an activity)?
What in his personal character is flawed?
If there is anything that might make your character fail, what is it?
Does your character see any of these personal traits as weaknesses?
Is he aware of his flaws?
Is he capable of overcoming these weaknesses, or will these always be his flaws?
What flaw is obvious to the reader that the character is not aware of?
What is a weakness your character has that has absolutely nothing do to with the plot?
Fantasy Elements
Does your character live in a magical world? Does he have magical ability? What is it?
How does having magic affect your character’s personality?
Is magic a good thing for your character?
Does your character have a relationship with any mythical creatures? Is that typical for
his peers? Does this relationship affect who he is?
Goals and Dreams
More than anything, what does your character want?
What prevents him from getting it?
If your character got what he wants, would he be as happy as he expects?
Is it possible for your character to get what he wants?
Is your character’s plan to get what he wants an organized plan or a vague goal?
What would your character’s dream life be?
Is it a realistic dream?
If your character got his dream, would he be happy?
4 comments:
I love how in-depth this is. Thanks!
Okay, so THIS is HELPFUL! I started a book a year ago? Yeah, it still has five pages in it. :) This will totally help me get somewhere! THANKS!
Oh and thanks for stopping by my blog and for your encouragement. It's a work in progress but everything is, isn't it?
You're awesome!
Becca - How do I not know you've been doing writing - five pages or whatever? That's so terrific! You'll have to tell me about it - or your ambitions in general.
Saw you at the SCBWI meeting in November. Great presentation! I'm from Ohio. I'm giving this to my writer's group along with your blog link. Hope to see you again! There is a small possibility that I will attend the summer conference. I've got my fingers crossed. BTW - here's the link to my blog. http://nothingbutwriting.blogspot.com/
Thanks ever so much for sharing at the meeting - and here!
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