Story Plan Checklist: Thumbnail Biographies

[ladyseishou]

Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.

- Phillips Brooks



If you had to describe your character with three words...

Today we're going to modify yesterday's list of characters by adding a few words that describe the character, as he or she appears at the beginning of your story - a working thumbnail sketch. Certainly, write more as the muse guides you but we will be adding additional information to your protagonist's biography through the rest of this week.

There are many questionnaires, polls, and guides on the web to help a writer become better acquainted with his or her characters... here are a few links to get you started:

The 100 Most Important Things To Know About Your Character

The EPIGUIDE.COM Fiction Writer's Character Chart

Personality Adjectives

Please comment below to share your favorites!


As for me, I decided to start with three adjectives that described both a positive and negative aspect of my character and a more neutral characteristic that might evolve (for better or worse) during the story:

Alric: courageous, arrogant, naive

Jera: honorable, cynical, grieving

Tejus: righteous, jealous, draconian

These words will become the starting point for my mind maps for each character as I think about how each characteristic is connected to the other. What are your three words?

Tomorrow, we'll look at your characters from an outsider's POV. Until then Nano Writer, keep writing!

Comments

[angryoldhag]

Elizabeth McMahy: open-minded, curious, stubborn
Jahneeh: cheerful, cocky, mischievous
Myah: thoughtful, pessimist, proud
Calypso: helpful, flighty, magpie
Monty: responsible, rash, stubborn

[ladyseishou]

Your descriptions are very insightful! I really like Calypso's - "magpie" is great!

[twistingthetale]

Alexander Burnett: Loyal, brave, careworn
Kate Sinclair: Nervous, kind, just
Gaius/Guy: Charismatic, nefarious, vengeful

[the_wanlorn]

1. Abby Martin: good-hearted, passive, naive
Red: loyal, abrasive, fuckin' weird
Sam Wist: snooty, philanthropic, cruel

2. Carrie Clark: caring, abrasive, brash
Ray Wilson: caring, lack of good hygiene, passive

[brutal]

elliot: spoiled, independant, coward
ben: loyal, cynical, distant
wes: passionate, athletic, judgmental
jack: abrasive, smart, Machiavellian
mere: nurturing, secretive, obese
david: chivalrous, insecure, eccentric
rach: depressive, cool, bookish
devon: impulsive, damaged, mischievious
josh: bold, sheltered, aggressive
cathy: firm, loving, positive
stephen: decent, alone, unsure
westley: nervous, liberal, educated
paul: quiet, patient, assertive