Characters Everyone Can Use

How I'll Describe Them and Why

Name: Do I really even have to explain why the NAME is important for a character? I guess I will. The name of the character is used on nearly every page you write. It is used to address a character and it can also describe a character. The name can also be tied to the occupation of the character. For Example, a lawyer character would have a name like Augustine or Cornelius. Age is also a huge factor for the name. For Example, the old man that lives across the street would most likely have a name that fits his age. If you have an old character that is in their 70's, you want to pick a name that was more popular from their generation. The same goes for a younger character.

Age: Age is important to know when your picturing a character immediately. It can help tell the reader about how the character may act in situations. It can tell how a character may make a tough choice. A child would be smaller and have more energy to do things. However, they will have a harder time making hard decisions whereas an older character would be able to take their time (if possible, just depends on what you're writing about) and make the better choice. Children tend to be more reckless while older characters should be more wise.

Physical Description: This, obviously, will describe how the character will look. This includes, gender, hair color and style, body type, hair length, height, weight, obvious things (such as a missing body part), eye shape and color, tattoos, and race. This also will include distinct marks like bites, scars, and birthmarks. Skin color is also very important to help describe the character. I will also include here if the character wears any jewelry of makeup. Gender does not limit those two things. It doesn't matter if you are male or female, you can wear makeup and jewelry.

Powers: (May not use on all characters) This will describe any power a character might have. It can be shapeshifting, elemental control, supernatural abilities and anything else that may go in this category.

Personality: This one is kind of obvious when it comes to why I use this. If you don't know and follow your character's personality, you may end up with a sloppy character who does things they probably shouldn't be doing. For example, you wouldn't want a character who is made to be a leader, following someone else's orders or a character who is shy and timid to charge into battle first. (Unless, of course, you build that character to be like that)

Likes: The likes of a character can tell you where they would want to go, what they would order off a menu, or why a character is drawn to something. The likes of the character would most likely correlate with their ethnicity. Sometimes it doesn't because some characters may hate how they grew up and lived the life they wanted to when they could move out.

Dislikes: Dislikes are similar to likes. It tells you why a character doesn't want to go somewhere or the food they would buy at a store. It also can tell you why a character is the way they are. If a character was raised in an abusive home, they wouldn't like yelling or marks left by other people.

Music Taste: I feel like the music taste of a character can tell the reader what kind of person they are. Music can describe a character better than other things. For Example, if a character listens to every genre of music, they are most likely to be more open minded. A character who listens to strictly one genre of music will dress the part. Characters who listen to country music only are more likely to wear blue jeans, flannel and white shirts, and baseball caps (NOT THE TYPICAL COWBOY HATS. IT SHOWS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TOO HARD {unless you want you're character like that} AND ARE UNREALISTIC) I think you get the picture. Anyway, music can define a character no matter what age. Everyone is into some kind of music and that can really help when making a character.

Clothing Style: The clothing style will almost always directly correlate with their ethnicity, music taste, and culture. Sometimes it doesn't but usually it will. The character's style doesn't always but can define a character. Sometimes a character that dresses like an emo may be a bit more straightforward but they may also be more anxious and self conscious. Characters that dress in the hippie style will tend to be more laid back and can stay calm in most situations.

Backstory: The backstory of a character is a HUGE element when it comes to making a character. If a character has no backstory, there isn't much to design a character from. The backstory of a character WILL not might, it WILL make a character who they are. A character who grew up in a nice home with strict parents will either have severe mental health issues or they will be a huge successor. A character who lives with a single parent in a poor home and not many toys/fun things will either be a very bad person or will be thankful for every little thing that is done for them and they will do more for other people when they can.

Extra: This will be anything that I dont thing belongs in the other categories. It may not be needed on all the characters just like the powers but I feel this is good to put here just in case I find something on a character that I can't fit in another category. I'm thinking I'll put religion here so it may end up with every character. Aesthetic would probably be a good thing to put here. That may include pictures so I am warning you now. If I make a character that has to be taken with another, I will most likely put it here along with sexual preference and sexuality. This category will most likely be in every character but not all these elements may be included.