BASIC CHARACTER BUILDER

THE QUICK VERSION

Start to flesh out a character

BEST TIME FOR THIS

During early story development or any time you add a new character

CHARACTER: A MIX OF PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL TRAITS

You won't understand what your story is about until you understand who your characters are. Dramatist Henrik Ibsen felt he could not begin writing a play until he knew the characters inside out — as if he had lived with them for a month. To know a character is to know the complex blend of physical, psychological, and social traits that make him or her unique. The most important of these traits will be revealed to us through the character's actions under the increasing pressure of story events.

Great stories create extreme circumstances where characters are tested — and usually changed — and where they may do things, for better or for worse, that they never thought possible. To write such stories, you need to know your characters well enough to understand where in life they have come from, how they usually behave day-to-day, in what unexpected ways they might act under stress, and in what ways they would never under any circumstances behave.

ABOUT THE EXERCISE

Try this first with your main character. You can repeat it later with other principal characters in less detail. Don't overdevelop minor characters. They may steal the show if, after they come and go, we are waiting for them to return.

You don't need to write volumes as you answer the exercise questions. It's more about making choices and knowing what they are. For best results:

Set up a personal palette. For each character you build, choose one or two people whom you can use — in combination with yourself — as a source of information. Pick people who trigger strong positive or negative feelings. Give the character a name that embodies your choices and has special meaning for you.

Look for what matters most. The importance of each question will depend on the unique character you are developing. Try to find character facts that may influence story events. Don't waste time on details that will have no impact.

Focus on when the story begins. The character will undergo changes as the dramatic journey unfolds. The exercise is designed to help you flesh out who the character is before those changes begin to occur.

When basing a character on someone from your life, you may find the best material by using his or her real name in the early private stages of writing. Once you establish the character — and before others see your script — switch to a fictitious name.

* YOUR CHARACTER'S PHYSICAL LIFE

Remember that "now" and "today" refer to when the story begins.

1. When was the character born and what is the character's age now?

2. Think about his or her other vital stats, such as gender, ethnicity, height, and weight. Which of these, if any, might matter in the story?

3. How would most people describe the character's physical appearance?

4. Good or bad, what is the character's most striking physical feature?

5. How would you describe the character's strength, endurance, and coordination when it comes to physical activity and sports?

6. What is the character's favorite sport or physical activity?

7. How is the character's health now, and what has most contributed to this?

8. Is the character on any medication now? If so, what is it, why is the character taking it, and how does it affect his or her behavior?

9. What significant diseases, if any, has the character had in the past and what impact does this medical history have on the character now?

10. Has the character ever sustained a serious physical injury? If so, what happened and how has this affected the character?

11. Does the character have any permanent physical defects, such as nearsightedness, or temporary ones, such as a broken leg? If so, what are they?

12. Of the character's most defining traits, which ones run in the family?

13. Does the character use nicotine, alcohol, or recreational drugs? If so, what is used in what quantities and how important is this in the character's daily life?

14. What is the character's greatest physical asset?

15. What is the character's greatest physical weakness or liability?

* YOUR CHARACTER'S INNER LIFE

1. What is the character's IQ and how has this affected the character?

2. How would you describe the character's imagination?

3. How does the character rate in terms of common sense and sound judgment?

4. How would you describe the character's outlook on life?

5. Does the character tend to be dominant or submissive with others, and why?

6. How does the character usually approach major problems?

7. What is the character's greatest talent?

8. What is the character's greatest lack of talent?

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