On Saturday, February 1, 2014, I took a workshop sponsored by the Knoxville Writers’ Guild (www.knoxvillewritersguild.org) and led by nationally published author Pamela Schoenewaldt (www.PamelaSchoenewaldt.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pamela-Schoenewaldt/158580547517755?ref=tn_tnmn).
Answering questions beforehand could save you heartburn later.
The workshop was on character development. What you have below is the third of the three handout exercises from the workshop. The first one, “Who are you?” was posted two Wednesdays ago. The second one, “Conflict Worksheet” was posted last Wednesday.
Each previous worksheet / exercise could be done in ten minutes or less, and oftentimes not pondering too long is best. This worksheet may take a little longer, but like the others can be used for the both the protagonist and antagonist of the story or novel you are working on, or just about any character you want to use it on. It might also be helpful if writing a memoir or biography.
CHARACTER SKETCH EXERCISE
Answer without worrying about grammar or logic.
• NAME your character
• LEARN your character by considering these dimension (writing notes on each or most is ideal)
• REMEMBER that your goal is a rounded character (not all good or bad) with a capacity for moving action.
• SKIP dimensions which repeat information.
• BEWARE of main characters who are very young, psychotics, or whose condition severely restricts their capacity for change.
• KNOW everything about this person.
CHARACTER DIMENSIONS
1. Age, physical appearance and attitude to body.
2. Significant health issues.
3. Distinctive physical signs: scars, handicaps, beauties, tics, tattoos, gestures.
4. Manner of speaking (level of language, accent, peculiarities). Manner of dress.
5. Living situation (where, with whom, how living space reflects character).
6. Socio-economic level and attitude to this level (satisfied, indifferent, ambitious?).
7. Work/ profession/ main activity.
8. Performance in Work/ profession/ main activity.
9. Sexuality and relationship to it (fears, doubts, longings, obsessions).
10. Quality of childhood.
11. Current relationship with family – how does it affect the person?
12. Significant intimate relationships and how they reflect the person.
13. What friends does character have? Attitude to friends, their attitudes to him/her.
14. Significant interests, hobbies, passions, obsessions.
15. Religious/spiritual practice and faith.
16. Fundamental belief about life/self (“The most important thing is . . . “)
17. How does the way the character sees him/her self compare to others’ views of him/her?
18. Major strength (include hidden strengths which could be mobilized).
19. Major success/failure or secret of past. (Any significant patterns?)
20. Typical way of dealing with stress or crisis… (Does it work? Should it change?)
21. Major weakness and fear.
22. Ambitions and blocks to achievement.
23. Shaping force/person/event of past.
24. What is not working for your character now?
25. What would your character sacrifice or fight for?
26. Where does your character experience a major conflict in values?
27. Where does your character draw the line: s/he wouldn’t do this….
28. What might push your character up to the line?
29. What conflict, choice or crisis faces the character now?
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