Make A Character With Me: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Detailed Characters

 Make A Character With Me: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Detailed Characters

Hello my fellow writers! Today I come to you with an easy to use character sheet! I know I can’t be the only one who struggles with creating characters outside of that vague vibe you get at the start, right? (Or maybe I am…)

This character sheet will be split into eight sections, each one tackling a core aspect of a detailed character. We’ll go through this together, with me giving a basic explanation and then giving some examples with a character of mine.

Note: Only fill out the ones you want to, I’ll be filling out all of them for demonstration. 

Let’s get started!

Basic Information

This category includes the necessary information in having a character, including things like names, age, and gender. 

Full Name: Gemma Lyvia Windsor (You don’t have to include a middle name, but I like doing so)

Nickname(s): Gigi, Gem (Or any ridiculous childhood nicknames that they just can’t get rid of)

    Age: 16

    Date Of Birth: 2/8/2362 (I go by day/month/year)

    Gender: Female

    Race/Ethnicity: White

    Religion/Beliefs: Doesn’t believe in anything particular.

    Occupation: Hops jobs a lot- does a lot of factory or treatment camp work.

Physical Description

Yet again, a necessary category for having a basic character. This category dives into features such as hair, eye, and skin color.

    Height: 5’5” 

Build: On the skinnier side because of a lack of food. (you can always just keep it to one word, if you prefer it)

    Eye Color: Light Gray 

    Hair Color/Style: Messy/Wavy Black Hair (length can always be an added detail)

    Skin Tone: Pale

Notable Features: Freckles, has a puckered scar on her hand. (This means things like scars, tattoos, freckles, and the like)

Typical Clothing Style: Jeans, Peacoat, multiple layers. (Like their go-to outfit, for example)

    Voice: Detroit accent (Things like accent, any speech impediments)

    Health Status: Perfectly healthy (Disabilities, auto-immune diseases, allergies, etc)

Personality

This is your character’s core inner self. This section includes their fears, desires, and quirks. 

Core Traits: Curious, Determined, Optimistic, Disrespectful (I would recommend picking 3-5 of their biggest/most prominent traits)

Dominant Emotion: Determination (What are they most likely feeling at any given moment?)

    Quirks: She rubs her wrist when she’s thinking.

    Habits: She checks on her dragons every night at 9:00 pm. 

    Fears: Spiders (Can be something big, or something that people think is silly)

    Desires: Wants to keep her dragons safe, wants the country to change.

    Moral Alignment: Chaotic Good (example: Lawful Evil)

Motivation/Driving Force: The fact that she’s doing what she does for people other than herself. (What spurs them on even if they want to give up?)

Flaws: She can be blatantly disrespectful or go against rules she doesn’t agree with.

           Secrets: She owns dragons.

   How They Handle Stress/Conflict: She gets snippy.

Background

This is the section where we get to explore your character's roots. These are things like, who are their family? How educated are they? 

Family: Mr. Windsor(Father), Mrs. Windsor(Mother), Aiden(eldest brother), Wulfric(older brother), Genesis(Aiden’s wife). (I would recommend doing at least the following: parents, siblings, and any family that they are close with)

Important Relationships: Electra(friend), Lux(friend), Aryn(coworker) (This would be where you put friends, lovers, mentors, rivals, etc.)

    Education: Basic education crammed into seven years

Significant Past Events: She nearly lost her hand working on heavy machinery. (This could be trauma or a cherished memories)

Childhood Summary: She grew up just outside of the slums, and learned as much as she could as quickly as she could, and started working three months before she turned thirteen. At thirteen, she nearly lost her hand in an accident involving heavy machinery, and has always been fascinated by the dragons that are scattered all over earth. (A brief recap of what they’ve experienced)

Coming-Of-Age Moment: The day she nearly lost her hand is when she lost a lot of her childlikeness, and became more of an adult. (The defining moment of them growing up)

Character Arc Potential: I see her becoming a key part of her country's future. (Where do you see your character in the future?)

Role In Story

This is for defining the character within the constraints of what they do for your story. This section has stuff that includes what role they play and what they’re goals are.

    Protagonist/Antagonist/Supporting: Protagonist (what role do they fall into)

Primary Goal: Her main goal is to find a good job and care for both herself and her dragons

Secondary Goal: She would like to legalize owning dragons, somehow. (something they want to achieve, but not as much as the category above)

What’s At Stake If They Fail: For her personal goals, nothing. But for changing her country, everything.

How Do They Change Throughout The Story: She goes from being her usual job-hopping self, and winds up in a complicated position within a rebel group, all while trying to care for dragons.

Skills & Abilities

This is for their talents. What can they do? What can’t they do?

Talents: She has a natural aptitude towards climbing and taming animals. (stuff they can do naturally well)

Skills: She can spin just about anything on her fingers. She is also good at blending in. (stuff that they’ve taught themselves to do)

Weapons/Combat Training (if any): She can throw knives with some accuracy, and she can also perform basic combat.

    Languages Spoken: She speaks fluent English and German. 

    Magic: (only if applicable)

    Weaknesses: She is terrible with firearms. 

Miscellaneous

This category is a hodge-podge of some fun tidbits that you might enjoy to fill out. This section includes both things about your character and things to do with your character.

Hobbies: She likes to climb and do self-made obstacle courses. (what does your character do for fun)

Pets: Her dragons aren’t technically pets, but she loves them like they are.

Favorite Food & Drink: She really likes baguettes. 

Favorite Book/Story/Myth: Her favorite fairytale is The Juniper Tree.

Theme Song &/Or Playlist: She doesn’t have one. (Spotify playlists are fun to make for your characters)

Inspirations: A writing prompt inspired the start of her character. (what inspired you to make this character)

I hope you guys enjoyed going through this character sheet with me! If you were intrigued by Gemma Windsor and want to know more about her and her world, leave a comment saying so and I will do that!

Have a good day fellow writers!