Thread: Characters: Outlining, Creating, Piecing and Writing Them

I need some help (-insert bad psychology joke here) with characters; normally, when I write, I usually write in a diary type mode where it's just one character through out and the only main characters are (is?) the "voice", and whomever they're around without having to really those characters besides the "voice"/diary writer to life without much effort.

And because I just started to seriously write a story without using the diary type format I'm used to, I'm having a little bit of difficulty in creating a three-dimensional character that I'm really satisfied with. I used to role-play until it became a bit redundant and stupid to use an already created universe and I used to write fanfiction and quit for the same reasons; so I have a little bit of knowledge on how to do it, but my main problem is:

How do I keep with a character without making them "perfect" or in a better term, Mary-Sue/Gary-Stu (for those of you who don't know what those are, I learned from fanfiction, they're basically perfect, drop dead gorgeous; everybody loves them, etc)? Or keep any of the characters from becoming one dimensional, never developed characters?

Does anyone else struggle with this?

I don't remember which website I downloaded this from but it's been a goldmine to me when trying to create characters for my stories.


30 Questions (Character Questionnaire)
Originally posted by Chloe:

When creating a character, I always fill out something like a questionnaire about them. That way, I have a fairly fleshed out character before I start writing. I often add things later on, but this is what I start with. Sometimes I read something where a character's actions don't match their personality, and I think this questionnaire helps keep me on track.

I thought that I would post it here, in case anyone else might find it a useful tool for creating believable characters.

1. What is your character’s full name?

2. When were they born?

3. What are their parent’s names?

4. Do they have any brothers or sisters?

5. What kind of eyes do they have?

6. What kind of hair do they have?

7. What is their complexion like?

8. What body type are they?

9. What is listening to their voice like?

10. Do they have a favorite quote? ???

11. What sort of music do they enjoy? sorta

12. Have they ever cheated on a partner?

13. Have they ever lost someone close to them?

14. What is their favorite sound?

15. What is their opinion on euthanasia?

16. Are they judgmental of others?

17. Have they ever been drunk?

18. What are they like when they stay up all night?

19. Have they ever been arrested?

20. What color evokes strong memories for them?

21. What do they do on rainy days?

22. What religion are they?

23. What word do they overuse the most?

24. What do they wear to bed?

25. Do they have any tattoos or piercings?

26. What type of clothing are they most comfortable in?

27. What is their most disliked saying?

28. Do they have any enemies?

29. What does their writing look like?

30. What disgusts them?

With a rather large cast of characters in my story, I sometimes do fall into that trap of flat and unrounded characters. I know how you feel, in fact I actually did used to write in a first person perspective before switching mainly to a third person a couple of years ago.

I've found the best way to develop characters is really to explore who they are. Like taxiday's post (which is a great idea and
I'll have to use it!), you have to know your characters. I sometimes will write short stories featuring my characters so I can develop their personality and self history. And to that degree for many of my older characters I will create three to four page biographies to understand changing events in their life and explore some of their cultural heritage.

It's okay to base some traits of your characters off of yourself and real people in your life, as long as you can protray these characters as realistic people with flaws and imperfections and allow the reader to relate to them. I find a Mary Sue is created when an author tries to turn a character into wish fullfilment, which is why many Mary Sues are perfect and beloved by all in the first place. A Mary Sue is a purple eyed, blonde, and ultra powerful author avatar after all. But when creating a character cast, try not to focus on avoiding Mary Sues (that tends to lead you to an even worse result, Anti Sues which are in a word, really boring and plain Jane characters) instead focus man power on a realistic character and borrow personality traits from yourself and others if it helps as long as they are flawed.

Most important characters will have to be rounded out and you will not have to give the same attention to a one time, bit character unless this character somehow either has indirect influence on the plot or you are considering using him/her in a spin off or sequel (I was going to say Bree Tanner of Twilight, instead my example will be Rozencraft and Guilterstern are Dead which I guess does not honestly count but oh well.)

Happy writing, I hoped this somewhat helped.

In my own experience, characters become themselves in a way. You start of with a concept, what they're going to be like, personality and traits etc.

As you start writing with them, they develop along with the story and you create a rhythm for the things they do, the way they think and speak.

Sometimes outlining can slow such a process down, so maybe just writing is an idea, getting it down and seeing what happens. Just a suggestion. Outlines might be the right thing to do for you, or not, but you won't find out unless you try them all, right?

Hope this helps in some way or the other.

As already stated; know your character. I, though, think that the questionnaire given above needs to have a more broad and deep approach to characters.

"I am what I am: an individual, unique and different, with a lineal history of an ancestral promptings and urgings, a history of dreams, desires, and of special experiences, of all of which I am the sum total." -Charlie Chaplin

Think about his or her past. How has it affected their life? How does it reflect in their behaviour? More than thinking about their favourite colours or favourite kind of music, or their rivals or goals or dreams or disgusts, think about the reason. How does it affect his/her behaviour and/or the whole plot? If his or her favourite colour somehow is important to the plot or to his or her personality, then think about it and do it well. Answer the question; why is it worth mentioning? Is it even worth mentioning at all, or is it just a little funny fact? If it is NOT worth mentioning because it has nothing to do with the plot, leave it be. If the reader does not need to know it, you don't either. These things are not so tied to the personality of the character that they need any further contemplating. They will come if needed. Basically all you as a writer need to know is your character's personality (not favourite films) and his or her past.

Though, I must admit - these little trivia facts tend to be interesting, however misleading and attention-stealing they might be.

I sometimes will write short stories featuring my characters so I can develop their personality and self history. And to that degree for many of my older characters I will create three to four page biographies to understand changing events in their life and explore some of their cultural heritage.

mochastain, you really do all that work? I admire you! You must indeed know your characters so well.

Yes, I do indeed. It does suck time away from actually writing but it's quite fun. Many of my characters are war veterans serving in historically important battles (one character served in Napoleon's army, another was an American soldier who served with the battle of King's Hill) and with others it helps to understand them as people. It takes a while with some characters, especially characters who are immortal but it is my preferred method for understanding them as people.

I tend to set a few characteristics for my characters then just start writing them, finding out about them as I go along (and adding those characteristics to a profile or dossier so I don't forget them). The 'Mary-Sue/Gary-Stu' thing just hasn't been an issue for me. I tend to think of the characters as though they're people I know, I can talk about them (and discover things about them) by casually discussing them with another writer. Interesting people have flaws, if there is nothing that they're afraid of/concerned about/intimidated by/embarrassed over/hiding/etc. then they're flat as the page they're written on.

I agree with Foxee. Discovery is key.

To each his own, but I can't imagine doing that questionnaire thing. It's almost like you're putting unnecessary restraints on the character or forcing yourself to develop a character based on a someone else's criteria -- maybe in some way that might hinder the development of the story.

I have a pretty good idea who my characters are before I start writing, but really, who they are is revealed by how they react to what's going on and to other characters and what they say about everything. A lot of that is revealed as I'm writing. Obviously, there are things that don't waiver, like physical characteristics, but otherwise, I'd prefer to more or less wing it.

I think the Mary Sue deal comes from making characters somewhat self-gratifying, or making them somehow reflect who we might want to be. I sometimes do that, or rather, I might resist having an MC behave or think in a way that might lead people to think I might think or behave that way -- if that makes any sense. That's not really a big leap, because they often share more obvious traits with me -- such as where I live, the kind of work I do, etc.

I'll stop now, before the B.S. alarm goes off.

I use the questionnaire as a start - adding and deleting as the story calls for.