Character Template: Past

This section of the character template has only two sections but I think you will usually write lots in here. Feel free to share in the Comments section any additions or modifications you make – your insights might be helpful to others!
  

CHILDHOOD:

LIFE-CHANGING EVENTS (3+):

Character Template: Schedules

Your character's schedule is a reflection of their past, present, and future socioeconomic status. It also gives insight into who your character interacts with regularly. This template looks at work, public, and private life. I include how the character sees others and how others see the character. I also include sections for how each area of life affects the others. Feel free to share in the Comments section any additions or modifications you make – your insights might be helpful to others!

 

WORK LIFE

CAREER:

STATUS:

CAREER PATH:

ASSOCIATES:

CURRENT PROJECT & GOAL:

PERFORMANCE:

PROBLEMS:

ATTITUDE & ASSUMPTIONS:

VIEWS ABOUT OTHERS:

VIEWS OF OTHERS:

EFFECTS ON PUBLIC & PRIVATE LIFE:

SCHEDULE:

PUBLIC LIFE

ROLE:

ACQUAINTANCES:

CURRENT PROJECT:

GOAL:

CURRENT PROBLEMS:

ATTITUDE & ASSUMPTIONS:

VIEWS ABOUT OTHERS:

VIEWS OF OTHERS:

EFFECTS ON WORK & PRIVATE LIFE:

SCHEDULE:

PRIVATE LIFE

ROLE:

FAMILY (include effect of birth order):

PARENTS:

SIBLINGS:

EFFECTS OF BIRTH ORDER:

OTHER:

FRIENDS:

ENEMIES:

GOAL:

CURRENT PROBLEMS:

ATTITUDE & ASSUMPTIONS:

VIEWS ABOUT OTHERS:

VIEWS OF OTHERS:

EFFECTS ON WORK & PUBLIC LIFE:

SCHEDULE:

Character Template: Skills

What your character can and cannot do – as well as how he does them – goes a long way toward opening and closing options for scenes and scene tension. Something your character struggles with can be an obstacle in a scene or an area for growth. Proficiency at a skill gives insight into your character's upbringing, attitudes, and lifestyle. Here are skills that I consider important for my stories. Feel free to share in the Comments section any additions or modifications you make – your insights might be helpful to others!
 

SKILLS

NEGOTIATION STYLE:

MONEY MANAGEMENT:

CAMPING SKILL:

PHYSICAL ABILITY:

COMBAT TRAINING:

TEACHING ABILITY:

ABILITY TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION:

MEMORY(ability & tricks):

MAGIC:

OTHER:

Character Template: Attitudes and Personality

Attitude affects your character's thoughts, your character's actions, and your character's perceptions. I include education in the attitude section because I believe the educational experience is an important influence on attitude. My character sketch embeds attitude into several other sections. Feel free to share in the Comments section any additions or modifications you make – your insights might be helpful to others!

EDUCATION

TYPE:

EXTENT:

FOCUS:

SOCIAL:

PERFORMANCE:

ATTITUDE & ASSUMPTIONS:

EFFECTS ON WORK, PUBLIC, & PRIVATE LIFE:

SCHEDULE:

HOBBY:

VICE:

DISLIKE:

RELIGION:

POLITICAL STANCE:

MOST LIKES:

MOST ADMIRES:

MOST VALUES:

MOST INTIMIDATED BY:

LEAST TRUSTS:

MOST RELIES BY/ON:

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT:

GREATEST REGRET:

GREATEST EMBARRASSMENT:

GREATEST FEAR:

GREATEST SECRET:

SECRET FROM OTHERS:

SECRET FROM SELF:

RECURRING DREAM:

FAVORITE COLOR:

FOOD:

ANIMAL:

ROMANTIC PREFERENCES:

ALTER EGO:

PERSONALITY TRAITS (strengths & weaknesses, degrees & exceptions)

INTELLIGENCE:

COMMON SENSE:

HUMOR:

COURAGE:

CREATIVITY:

FLEXIBILITY:

MORAL STANDARDS:

PERCEPTION OF EVIL:

EMPATHY/ KINDNESS:

MODESTY:

Character Template: Physical

The world of your book is a very visual one so it is a good idea to know how your character looks and acts. Your characters appearance affects the assumptions made about him and how he is treated both by other characters and the reader.

This character template is designed for people – both human and nonhuman – but can be modified for cases when the character is a group with similar features (like a small village). Feel free to share in the Comments section any additions or modifications you make – your insights might be helpful to others!

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CHARACTER TYPE:

CONNECTION TO LEAD:

STORY GOAL:

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

GENDER: RACE: SKIN TYPE:

AGE: BIRTHDAY:

HEIGHT: EYE COLOR: BODY TYPE:

DISTINCTIVE FEATURE:

HAIR COLOR/STYLE:

STYLE OF DRESS (based on time period and season):

ACCESSORIES:

BEARING:

AFFECTATIONS:

ABNORMALITIES:

MANNERISMS

SPEECH:

WALK:

SIT:

EATS:

GESTURES:

FACE:

EYES:

ENERGY:

LAUGHTER:

POLITENESS:

PLEASURE:

ENJOYMENT:

ANGER:

ANXIETY:

FRUSTRATION:

RELAXED:

UNCERTAIN:

EMBARRASSED:

SUPERIOR:

DISTINCTIVE SPEECH PATTERN: