In Mastering the Process: From Idea to Novel, Elizabeth George offers a prompt sheet that she uses to help her develop characters. The prompt sheet is a prompt, not a form; it should be used to prompt stream-of-consciousness freewriting about the character being considered. It's not intended as a rigid set of requirements.
• Name
• Age
• Height
• Weight/build
• Birthplace
• Color hair/eyes
• Physical peculiarities or unique details
• Educational background
• Best friend
• Enemies
• Family
• Core need
• Pathological maneuver
• Ambition in life
• Gestures while talking
• Gait
• Strongest character trait
• Laughs at or jeers at
• Life philosophy
• Political leaning
• Hobbies
• What other characters first notice about him/her
• What the character does alone
• One-line characterization
• Will reader like or dislike the character?
• Does the character change in the story? How?
• Significant event that molded the character
• Significant event that illustrates who the character is now
Related
Related
George, Elizabeth. Mastering the Process: From Idea to Novel. Viking, 2020.
