What's in a Character?

Every good character lives and breathes in his or her own fictional world and crosses the barrier of time, space and ink to reach outsiders and pull them into that world. For a character to successfully wield skills, magic and charm, be they friend or foe, fleshing out needs to occur. It's easier for some writers to do a complete sketch of their characters before ever writing one word of their novel. That's what I do. With them fleshed out, I can easily jump into the story and show who my characters are without having to explain anything. Here's a list of prompts you can use as a starting point for character makeup.

FLESH:
Full Name
Age/D.O.B.
Locale
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
Stature
Weight/Body Build
Hair
Eyes
Consistent Props
Vices
Nervous Habits
Distinguishing Marks
Physical Traits
Overall health
Scent
Voice
Appearance
Property, wardrobe, vehicle

MIND:
Occupation
Obligations
Socioeconomic Class
Education
Intelligence Level
World Views or Religious Beliefs
Convictions
Sexual Orientation/Values
Background Info
Main Desires/Goals
Minor Desires/Goals
Typical Day

SPIRIT:
General Disposition
Personality/Temperament
Optimistic/Pessimistic?
Real/Feigned?
Morality Level
Confidence Level
Trust Level
Quirks/Idiosyncrasies
Habits
Strengths
Weaknesses
Hobbies and Interests
Recreational Activities
Likes
Dislikes
Greatest Obstacle
Greatest Fear
Motivations/Driving Force
Talents

BEYOND:
Significant Other/Relationship/Marital Status
Love interest?
Lives with?
Fights with?
Spends time with?
Wishes to spend time with?
Family members/relationships, ages, occupations, conflicts
Best Friend
Other Close Friends
Acquaintances
How does he/she view his family, friends, boss/co-workers, employees?
How is he or she seen by others?
By Society?

This is just a beginning list. Even if you never put most of these elements into the narrative or reveal them in dialogue, keeping them in mind when you're writing will help you think of your characters as real people and present them as such. But don't just fill in the answers and assume you're done. Delve deeper and find out the darkest, coolest, most fascinating aspects of your characters and make sure all that comes to the surface in your work. That's pure creative breath. That's what will make your work stand out and your characters unforgettable.

~ Signing off and sending out Cyber hugs.