Name of character
Psychological and physical description—very free
Sit down and have a dialogue with him/her
Did something from dialogue arise that should be in the description?
Does the character have a unique way of moving?
Other physical characteristics
Psychological characteristics—eyes, does the person keep/make eye contact?
What one physical characteristic is most important? (put at top)
What one psychological characteristic is most important? (put at top)
Delete everything ordinary or conventional.
Delete least good remaining.
Delete all cliches, familiar from other peoples writings.
Delete all unnecessary words.
Show/describe character at work.
Markers—clothing, hair, fingernails, conduct with children, habits, jewelry, mannerisms, transportation, food and drink, sports, choice of words, accents, speech mannerisms, interests (subjects chosen to speak about), attitudes (+,-, machismo etc)
Best/worst inherited traits.
Best/worst effects of upbringing.
Does the character behave differently toward strangers than family members?
How would he react to meeting a once close friend in the street?
Does he sometimes talk in a way people find offensive?
Is he too pleasant to everyone?
Does he use unique figures of speech, expressions?
How are his attitudes revealed in what he says or does?
What can be discerned from the way he/she dresses?
Does x have conscious mannerisms? Is x unaware of some mannerisms that others notice?
What impression would you have if you met x for the first time?
How would that impression change if he were in a shower?
How is the character vulnerable?
Does x have a secret about something done in the past that can surface in the story?
Is x ever unjustifiably angry?
What is x a coward about?
Is there a reason that x cannot be completely trusted in one are of life?
What is the worst character trait of this person?
Was there a very influential early experience or event in this person’s life?
What one incident in school could x never forget?
Who was x’s favorite teacher and why?
Who was x’s enemy? Why?
Was x ever betrayed by a friend?
Did x’s physical appearance ever influence his vulnerability?
How did x’s parents get along? How did their relationship influence x later?
What occupation first intrigued x?
What does x recollect about his/her first love?
Time line
What does x complain about?
How is x eccentric?
How does x change in the novel?
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