Character Checklist

compiled by the Wandering Author

Use this checklist to trigger ideas, remind yourself of some of the complex traits and behaviours of individuals, capture each character’s
salient points, and organise what you know about them. There is no need to define any areas irrelevant to your character. The point is to adapt this
to your needs and those of your characters, not to follow it blindly. The questions and suggestions try to take into account all possible genres.

Vital Statistics

G Full Name: Even if they go by a nickname, this can be telling. G Nickname: What do their friends call them? Their enemies?
G Alias(es): Not all characters will have one, but for those who do... G Sex: Male? Female? Eunuch? Hermaphrodite? Transgendered?
G Age: Real? Claimed? G Birthday: Historical characters may not know the answer.
G Birthplace: You never know when this could be significant. G Citizenship: Pretty straightforward, even if the implications aren’t
G Current Residence: Could be different in summer or winter, etc. G Current Location: On vacation, a business trip, stationed abroad?
G Occupation: How do they make a living or spend their time? G Income: Or wealth, and how did they get it?
G Species: Not every story has only humans as characters... G Health: Any health problems, health history, etc.

Personal Matters

G Height: How tall, in their own terms. (Feet, meters...) G Build / Weight: Stocky, burly, or slender? Pounds, kilos, stone...?
G Eyes: Colour and shape. G Hair: Colour, and don’t forget thickness, common state, etc.
G Glasses / Contacts: Describe if necessary. G Hairstyle: Describe as needed.
G Complexion: Dark skin or light, smooth or pockmarked, etc. G Description: Shape of face and body, overall appearance...
G Right or Left Handed: Even this can make a difference... G Tattoos / Piercings: Describe as needed.
G Scars: Correlate with life history or other relevant sections. G Disabilities: Lame, deaf, blind, etc.
G Type of Dresser: Fashionable, sloppy, practical, Goth, etc. G Self-Image: Attractive, ugly, attractive only when in a relationship?
G Mode of Transport: Horse, car, spaceship, bicycle; description. G Pets: Name(s), species, description

Background

G Ethnic Heritage: The culture of the family, regardless of biology. G Childhood Home: Country, region, type of dwelling...
G Accent: Region, class, etc. G Education: Level: also, boarding school, homeschooled, etc.?
G Family History: What happened long ago can shape the present... G Skills: Learned at school, work, by private teacher, or self-taught.
G Highlights of Bio: The incidents in their life that shaped them. G Religion: What they formally profess; is it sincere, for form, etc.?
G Relationship History: Past friendships, romances, flings, etc. G Current Relationships: Family, friends, spouses, lovers...

Favourites

G Colour: What shades, what colour combinations do they prefer? G Animal: Domestic and wild.
G Book: Remember to stay true to your time and setting. G Author: And why?
G Movie: If your story is set in the future, invent one! G Actor: And why?
G TV Show: And why? G Actress: And why?
G Song: And why? G Singer: And why?
G Type of Music: And why? G Type of Art: And why?
G Type of Architecture: And why? G Artist: And why?
G Place(s): Be as specific as possible. G Environment: City, farm, forest? Nightclubs or street corners?
G Food(s): Try not to stick to the ones you like! G Drink(s): Alcoholic? Non-alcoholic? Coffee, tea, herbal tea?
G Type of Cuisine: Be as detailed as necessary. G Night out: Movies, dancing, talking, walking, drinking?
G Hobbies: List all that matter to the character (or once mattered). G Vacation / Holiday: Go where, do what, with who, for how long?
G Exit Line: Goodbye, See you, Ciao, Hasta la vista, Gotta run... G Subject: In school, and in conversation.
G Pastime: How they’d spend most of their time, if they could. G Companion: A friend, family member, or pet? Which one?
 Habits

G Catchphrase: What are they always saying? G Eating Habits: Must salt everything, sets napkin in lap, etc.
G Gesture(s): Scratch head, stroke chin, sniff armpits, tug earlobe... G Drinking Habits: From container or glass, always buys a round...
G Pickup Act / Line: Whatever they do to attract potential lovers. G Sleeping Habits: Reads a while first, always tosses off covers, etc.
G Irritating Habits: Wants a taste of everyone’s meal, always late... G Healthy / Unhealthy Habits: Smoker? Jogger? Binge eater?
G Other Habits / Tics: Bites nails, laughs when nervous, fidgets... G Superstitions: Whether cultural or personal, the ones they follow.
G Quirks: Really strange ingrained habits or tendencies. G Working Habits: Anything they must do to feel ready for work.

Unique Expressions

G How They Say Hello: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say Yes: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say Goodbye: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say No: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say Please: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say You’re Attractive: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say Thank You: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say I Love You: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say You’re Welcome: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say I Hate You: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say I’m Cold: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say I Want You: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say I’m Hot: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say Go Away: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say I’m Hungry: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say You’re An Idiot: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say I’m Thirsty: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say You’re A Genius: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say I’m Tired: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say I’m Sorry: In words and / or gestures.
G How They Say I’m Drunk: In words and / or gestures. G How They Say I’ve Had Enough: In words and / or gestures.

Core Issues

G Dream Occupation: What would they most love to do? G Dreaded Occupation: What do they think is the worst job ever?
G Dream Possession: What do they dream of someday owning? G One Thing They’d Never Own: Why? What does it symbolise?
G Life Goal(s) / Ambitions: The things they want most in life. G Worst Nightmare(s): What do they most hope to avoid in life?
G Moral Beliefs: The things they believe are right or wrong. G Vices: Things they or society believe are bad, that they can’t resist.
G Searching For: Their life’s quest, or things they believe they lack. G Blind Spots: What they can’t see in themselves, others, or society.
G Ideals: Whether they embody them, or struggle towards them... G Prejudices: We all have them, including our characters.
G Sense of Humour: Puns? Practical Jokes? Sarcastic? Satiric? G Propriety: Things they have no sense of humour about. Why?
G What They Think of Themselves: What they think they’re like. G What Others Think: Family, friends, co-workers, rivals, enemies.
G Strengths: Traits that help them or make them a better person. G Weaknesses: Traits that hurt them or make them a worse person.
G Good Points: A good point can be a weakness, or neutral... G Bad Points: The worst, least likeable things about them.
G Attitude to Romance / Love: And the person they love. G Attitude to Revenge / Enemies: Vengeful or forgiving?
G Greatest Triumph: Describe their greatest triumph so far. G Greatest Regret: One choice they most wish they could change.
G Greatest Boast: They may keep their real triumph a secret... G Greatest Secret: The thing they least want anyone else to know.
G If They Won the Lottery: What would they do? G If They Had Six Months To Live: What would they do?
G Philosophy: How they believe life, and the world, works. G Attitude Towards Life: How they approach life and its surprises.
G Public Agenda: What they want everyone to think about them. G Hidden Agenda: Anything they’re trying to accomplish in secret.
G Running From: Truths about themselves they’d rather avoid. G Trying to Ignore: Truths about family or friends they won’t face.
G Fears: Things that terrify or drive them, that shape their choices. G Pettinesses: Things they can’t keep from being petty about.
G Opposing Forces: Those beliefs that, in the context of the story, G Unexpected Omissions: Places your character has never been,
are likely to conflict or contradict each other and lead to and things they’ve never done, that you’d expect they would
tension. have from where they live and what they’re like.