character outlining - Writers Forum

rydenthorne · 11-01-2006, 02:31 AM

I've discovered that when you have a variety of characters in a storyline, you begin to forget small details about them which create inconsistencies in your details. To help combat this, I came up with an outline for characters that helps me keep things straight. This is geared toward the fantasy novel I'm writing, but it's adaptable.

Character Name

Age:
Hair:
Eyes:
Complexion:
Personal Preferences:
Physical description:
Traits:
Titles:
Relations:
Domain:
Family Crest:
Beliefs:
Artifacts:
Clothing:
Weapons:
Accessories:
Financial Means:
Majikal Affinity:
Languages:

Agenda:

Possible Motivations:

Flexbile Garphite · 11-01-2006, 02:52 PM

That's a good idea. I think I'll do something similar for my story.

Fantasy of You · 11-01-2006, 03:04 PM

A story isn't an RPG.

mwd · 11-01-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantasy of You

A story isn't an RPG.

Seconded.

imrhati · 11-01-2006, 04:50 PM

I used to use similar methods, but I found them too constricting. Now I go with the flow and make it all work together when I re-write.

Dresdor · 11-01-2006, 06:29 PM

My characters are often like my RPG characters...I never forget a facet of them.

Except for obscure names...if I've only mentioned their father's name once on page 3 and I'm writing page 124, I'll have to go back and look.

Imalshen · 11-01-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantasy of You

A story isn't an RPG.

I've never Role Played (which is odd as I'm a theatre geek) and I use character outlines all the time. *shrug* Helps me.

Didn't J.K. Rowling do that for all the kids at Hogwarts or something so she'd have the characters ready-made for their appearances?

I really sound like a Potter nerd, but I saw it in an interview. lol

Pat · 11-02-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantasy of You

A story isn't an RPG.

If your characters are in the fantasy genre, then it is very close to one. The outline given is still rather useful, you just need to be able to recognize which of the items are more geared toward the fantasy genre and which ones are generic. Simply saying "A story isn't an RPG." seems a bit rude an unimaginative. You might try to offer advice on how to make the outline more fitting to all writing rather than just smack down a negative statement.

Elysium · 11-02-2006, 01:32 PM

That's a good idea. I find myself having the same trouble as Dresdor

.

Vee · 11-03-2006, 04:02 AM

I've never D&D roleplayed (rp'd) as such but I have with the written word and I beg to differ. Everytime you write from a character's perspective - you are roleplaying. I think maybe you need to redefine your concept of a roleplaying game.

Rob · 11-03-2006, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rydenthorne

I've discovered that when you have a variety of characters in a storyline, you begin to forget small details about them which create inconsistencies in your details. To help combat this, I came up with an outline for characters that helps me keep things straight.

You appear to have discovered for yourself something that is, in fact, quite common. It's often helpful to maintain a character fact file. You've adapted yours to suit the type of story, which is a good idea.

Mike C · 11-03-2006, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vee

I've never D&D roleplayed (rp'd) as such but I have with the written word and I beg to differ. Everytime you write from a character's perspective - you are roleplaying. I think maybe you need to redefine your concept of a roleplaying game.

Indeed. If you aren't living your characters, they aren't living.

I don't work with large casts of characters, and my characters tend to present themselves, fully formed, to me unaided, so I don't use profiles. However, we all do whatever works best for us as individuals, so if your profile makes it happen for you, don't let people put you off.

Emerson Darkness · 11-06-2006, 10:54 PM

Keeping track of certain qualities of each character is a novel idea. I mean if your green eyed barbarian ended up having blue eyes in the third paragraph of the fifth page in the second book, no doubt some crazed fan of yours would pick up on it.
Just think! That could get you world wide exposure all over the internet!!!

But realistically, i don't often care to read about how my favorite character is 6 foot 7 inches tall in the novels i buy.

I like characters i can identify with easily, without having to outrightly think of them in such restricted terms. If you have a circle of characters that can vividly interact with each other, some being tall, some broad, some faster and funnier, then you begin to capture a readers imagination.

Personally i've known a few people who were around the 6 foot 5 range, and some of them looked taller than others when i was with them individually. I think this had much to do with how i viewed each different personality. they each just came off differently to me. So i believe things such as height and weight can easier be imagined by how the characters interract with eachother and their surroundings.

CZ · 11-08-2006, 07:01 PM

I don't see anything wrong with making character profiles, but I think the writer should be careful not to cramp character development by locking a character too deeply into narrow restrictions/abilities.

Personally I don't make detailed character profiles because I don't want to take the time to do them - most of the details about my main characters are in my head except for jotted notes on eye/hair color and a few random factors I need to keep straight. I do the same for the minor characters I introduce because I'm one of those folks who hates to name a character and then never use them again: if I name a character in the book he/she is damn well going to crop up again if only briefly or in the background somewhere, otherwise I don't bother naming them.