10 Days of Character Building: Character Bio Sheets

This is Day 10 of 10 Days of Character Building

We have reached the final day of character building, and I have saved one of the easiest character generation methods for last. The character bio sheet is not only a simple way to develop a character, it is a simple way to keep track of the characters you develop. When you are writing a longer work, such as a novel, it can be pretty easy to forget a minor character detail. If you aren’t careful, the blue eyes you described in chapter one can turn to brown eyes by the end of chapter twenty.

Using a character bio sheet, you can write down all of the essential details for your character and keep it in a single place so that you can check it and change it whenever you need to. As your story progresses and your characters continue to evolve, you can use this sheet to keep track of any changes you have made to the character. If you keep track of all your details on the bio sheet, your editing process will go much more smoothly.

When you fill out a bio sheet initially, don’t feel as if you have to include a detail for every category. For example, the lies category may be empty when you begin, but if your character is forced to tell a lie on page fifty-five you can add that to the sheet. On your first pass, fill out all of the details you are comfortable with and leave the rest. Also, feel free to add your own categories. My items are merely suggestions.

• Character Name / Nicknames / Aliases:
• Birth Date:
• Place of Birth:
• Residence:
• Height:
• Weight:
• Measurements:
• Clothing Sizes / Styles:
• Hair Color:
• Hair Length:
• Eye Color:
• Handedness :
• Jewelry:
• Tattoos:
• General Appearance:
• Relationship with Family:
• Key Family / Relatives:
• Relationship with Friends:
• Key Friends:
• Key Enemies:
• Educational History:
• Work History:
• Skills:
• Phobias / Fears:
• Bad Habits / Vices:
• Quirks:
• Best Qualities:
• Worst Qualities:
• Key Childhood Experiences:
• Key Teenage Experiences:
• Key Adult Experiences:
• Sexual Background:
• Favorites (food, clothing, art, music, TV show, movie, book, etc.)
• Personal Goals:
• Professional Goals:
• Morality / Ethics:
• Style of Speech:
• Commonly Used Words / Slang / Jargon:
• Lies / Misinformation:
• Other Important Details:

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