Writing Writing Tips: Planning a Character

[Deleted member 29316]

So yeah, just as the title says, it's all about planning the characters you have for your story. Please do take note that this is just another way of doing things, not the only way.

Now that you already have a plot and a setting for your story, the next thing you should consider is to plan your characters. Keep in mind that this is just the main characters of your story. The side characters (cannon fodders) usually come as you write your work, and unless you're considering to make them play huge roles later in your story, it's okay not to plan them. Planning your characters allows you to give them distinct personalities, and also keeps you from mixing it.

So for me, how do I plan my characters? Here's the items that needs to be answered:

General Information

• Name: (I've seen a lot of beginning authors having problems with names, often it's because they wanted to give meaning to their character's name. My usual advice is to don't think too much about it. Just go with the name you wanted for your character. But just in case you really wanted to think about it, Google would be your best friend.)
• Age: (Mostly important, especially in mortal beings. It could be in years, in season, or any other measurable 'units' you can imagine.)
• Race: (This is important if your work deals with multiple races, like dwarves, elves, demons, beastkin, etc.)
• Ethnicity: (Optional. Ethnicity is the nation of your character. Indian? Italian? Or, Dark Elf? Elf?)
• Country/Kingdom: (Optional. Useful if your work is about multiple kingdoms/countries/states.)
• Blood Type: (If this is important to your story, then you should include it.)
• Three Sizes: (Again, if this is important, then by all means, answer this part.)

Specifics

1. Character Background (Here, you should explain about the background of your character. Did he/she comes from a broken family? Was he/she bullied in the past? Questions connected to his/her past should be answered here.)
2. Appearance (Deals with the physical appearance of your character. Is his/her skin color white, black, brown, tan? Tall? Long or short hair? You get the idea.)
3. Attitude and Behavior (Deals with how your character interacts with other characters, or the environment around him/her. Attitude is how he/she perceives things or people, while behavior is how he/she moves or interacts with the people or world.)
4. Abilities (Deals about what your character can do. It can be physical, or magical, your choice.)
5. Other Notes (This is an optional part, usually deals with other things you could say about the character.)

Well, this is how I plan my characters. You may alter it according to your needs. Once I finished this template, I often would proceed to illustrate my character. If you have other suggestions or recommendations, feel free to add it to the replies below.

Another Tip: I highly-recommend observing people around you for ideas in your characters. Take note of wow would they react to certain situations, and what are their beliefs and values in life. In my story, 'The Human Saint is Bored', I based my characters on my students, and some co-workers. It would make your work easier.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I'd try my best to answer your concerns! Happy writing!

 

[Jemini]

It's good to know what type of writer you are first before you consider whether or not to use something like this though. As an intuitive pantser, methods like this are useless to me.

I my case, I just need a name, a gender, an age, and their role within the story. Once I have those 4 things, the personality and backstory just seems to form itself on it's own.

 

[BenJepheneT]

Holy shit, I didn't know how bad my process was until I read this.

Essentially my characters come first AND last after everything. I shape my setting and plot to accommodate my characters first, but without giving them identities. They're not even characters yet: I basically create roles within the story and try to give tangible motivations and goals whilst keeping a bare concept on what their traits would be like.

After that, I start shaping the world and planning the plot. It's only after all of that when I start building the second half of my character. I do this because I want my setting to influence my characters BEFORE they influence the setting. They essentially grow up and have their personality traits shaped by the world around them. It's like meeting a jovial, cheerful merchant in a post-apocalyptic world. It never made sense to me. This man would've been dead and broken a long time ago. I don't care if it makes the cast more vibrant and memorable; the sore thumb will always stick out to me.

It's probably why my characters read and talk just about the same. I focus on consistency and tonality so much I end up sacrificing the leeway that is inherent in fiction: that is total narrative freedom.

 

[Deleted member 29316]

It's good to know what type of writer you are first before you consider whether or not to use something like this though. As an intuitive pantser, methods like this are useless to me.

I my case, I just need a name, a gender, an age, and their role within the story. Once I have those 4 things, the personality and backstory just seems to form itself on it's own.

Like I said, it's one of the ways, not the only way. This would be useful to planners.

 

[Deleted member 29316]

Holy shit, I didn't know how bad my process was until I read this.

Essentially my characters come first AND last after everything. I shape my setting and plot to accommodate my characters first, but without giving them identities. They're not even characters yet: I basically create roles within the story and try to give tangible motivations and goals whilst keeping a bare concept on what their traits would be like.

After that, I start shaping the world and planning the plot. It's only after all of that when I start building the second half of my character. I do this because I want my setting to influence my characters BEFORE they influence the setting. They essentially grow up and have their personality traits shaped by the world around them. It's like meeting a jovial, cheerful merchant in a post-apocalyptic world. It never made sense to me. This man would've been dead and broken a long time ago. I don't care if it makes the cast more vibrant and memorable; the sore thumb will always stick out to me.

It's probably why my characters read and talk just about the same. I focus on consistency and tonality so much I end up sacrificing the leeway that is inherent in fiction: that is total narrative freedom.

I don't think your method is bad though. It's your way of doing things, and if it's effective, why not use it?

 

[Legendary]

I’d think of it as creating your d&d character lol

 

[Maple-Leaf]

Most of my characters are just blank slates I’ve created to complete a specific set of actions I want to watch play out in my head. It’s interesting how their personalities change as I start developing them. I think my inner edge lord takes over at times and a majority of the actually nice characters turn into twisted psychopaths at the end smh

 

[Deleted member 29316]

Most of my characters are just blank slates I’ve created to complete a specific set of actions I want to watch play out in my head. It’s interesting how their personalities change as I start developing them. I think my inner edge lord takes over at times and a majority of the actually nice characters turn into twisted psychopaths at the end smh

Yep, they would tend to develop as we go along the story. But, it's good to have a reference from time to time to avoid mixing some character behavior.

 

[Maple-Leaf]

Yep, they would tend to develop as we go along the story. But, it's good to have a reference from time to time to avoid mixing some character behavior.

Well they’re not all the same (probably) but they turn out evil in the end.

 

[Deleted member 29316]

Well they’re not all the same (probably) but they turn out evil in the end.

Almost the same as me...though they turn to schemers >.< But I think it's fine, if that's what you want to show in the end.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Thanky <3

 

[Jemini]

Like I said, it's one of the ways, not the only way. This would be useful to planners.

Oh yes, didn't mean to talk down on you or call you out here. Just advice to 3rd parties who might not know enough to realize that not all methods work for all people. Your method works more for those on the planning and formulaic side of writing. (not my method at all.)

 

[Deleted member 29316]

Oh yes, didn't mean to talk down on you or call you out here. Just advice to 3rd parties who might not know enough to realize that not all methods work for all people. Your method works more for those on the planning and formulaic side of writing. (not my method at all.)

Yep, it's cool, good sir. ?