Let’s Talk Process: Character Sketches

I don’t mean drawings. I mean, I wish I could draw.  I have a pretty clear vision of what each of my imaginary people looks like and I’d like everyone else to be able to see what I do.  Unfortunately, my skills are rudimentary at best and it’s probably a little late in my life to become proficient.

I have to settle for words.  Lots and lots of words.

See?

How to set the categories?  Easy peasy.  What do you need to know about your characters to create fully fleshed out people your readers are going to give a crap about?  The answer is different for each writer and from book to book.  For my current project my categories are thusly:

• Planet of origin
• Age
• Profession
• Physical description
• Personality
• Weapons of choice
• Physical strengths
• Physical weaknesses
• Vices
• Relationship status
• Special ability

Why?  This is (will be?) an sci-fi set adaptation of the King Arthur story.  The main characters are Knights of the Round table and each has a different role in the function of the kingdom.  I need to know what each of their roles is an keep it consistent throughout.  Each character’s culture will have an impact on how he or she fulfills that role and interacts with the other characters.  I definitely need to know what they look like, how they think, where their habits come from.  What they can do and what they can’t.  How they can be tempted.  Who they love.  The special abilities that make them interesting.

In a different project, I may need to know more about what the characters do in their free time, which kind of flowers each of them likes most.  What they eat for breakfast.  What kind of bread they prefer to make a sandwich on.  Rain or sun.  Sushi or burger.  Etc etc etc.

Each story calls for different traits to be teased out because each story is different.  Things may come up along the way.  That’s what the delete button or an eraser or a new pice of paper is for.  Even white out.  If you must.

I highly recommend taking the time to do them, however, because character sketches will:

1) Help you stay consistent; if your character hates chicken soup on one page, she can’t love it three chapters later.  Scars should always be in the same place, as should tattoos.  Character missing a finger?  It’s problematic if it shows up a a couple paragraphs down.  Prefers a katana?  Shouldn’t carry broadsword unless absolutely necessary.

2) Help you keep your characters well differentiated.

3) Give you quirks, bits, and bobs to exploit when the story stalls out.

4) Make your characters a little more real.  Not in a creepy way, but in a way that gives them depth.  That makes them believable, even if they are way the fuck out there.

Also, fun too look back on and laugh at.  Because where the fuck did you start and how did you end up where you got?

That’s how I do it, kids.  How about you?