Biography Info for Main Characters

“We care what happens to people only in proportion as we know what people are.” --Henry James

“A character, first of all, is the noise of his name, and all the sounds and rhythms that proceed from him. We pass most things in novels as we pass things on a train. The words flow by like the scenery. All is change. But there are some points in a narrative which remain relatively fixed; we may depart from them, but soon we return, as music returns to its theme. Characters are those primary substance to which everything else is attached.” --William Gass

Book title:

Character’s name:

Nickname: Significance:

City/town/region:

Special significance:

Personal Goals:

Professional goals:

Physical appearance:

Age

Hair color: Style:

Eye color: Glasses?

Skin tone: Type:

Face shape: Weight:

Height: Build:

Unusual/exceptional characteristics:

Mannerisms:

Character’s Background

Born:

Religion:

Manners/social graces:

RELATIONSHIPS:
Present and previous relationships with opposite sex:

How did the last relationship end?

Consequences of past sexual relationships:

1. How does the character relate to friends?

2.Family?

3. Who most influenced him/her?

4. How?

5. Characters first contact with antagonist:

6. Does his or her opinion of the antagonist change over time?

8. How does the character view the other characters:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

9. Do any of these relationships change?

Preferences

Hobbies/interests/leisure activities:

Favorite foods:

Drinks:

Music:

Books/literature:

Movies:

How do the other characters react to these preferences?

Is he or she a clotheshorse? A slob?:

Favorite clothing:
Work:
Formal:
Leisure:

Jewelry:

Travel:

Smoker? Why? What brand?

Likes animals?

Owns pets? Name:

Car or method of transportation:

Home: Rent or own, house or apartment, alone or roommate:

Profession, etc.
Occupation:

Name of firm:

Happy?

Travel involved?

Special gifts, talents:

Special knacks, skills:

Good traits: Acknowledged by:

Bad traits: Admitted?

Philosophy:

Educational background:

Income

Attitude toward money: (frugal, spendthrift) Why?

FRIENDS:
NAME: AGE:
NAME: AGE:
NAME: AGE:

PERSONALITY:
One absolute trait:

What is the character’s best trait?

When does your character feel most vulnerable?

Misc. Info

Did your character have a major childhood trauma?

How does it affect him or her?

What occurrence from his or her past will affect the plot?

Introvert/extrovert:

What kind of first impression does he or she make?

How does your character react to adversity?

How does your character act when angry?

What regrets does your character have?

How does your character reward and punish herself?

How would your character describe herself/himself in one sentence?

Which single word would they choose?

Basic temperament?

Worst fear(s):

Secret from the past:

Family members in the story:

©Jessica Page Morrell
For more information contact:
Jessica Morrell | Email: jesswrites@juno.com