You can create your own character sheet or use a template, which you can find online. Start with the basics, such as height, build, hair color, and eye color. Then, determine other physical details, such as how they stand or what unique features they have. Next, consider how their background, interests, and lifestyle impact their description. [1] X Research source For your main characters, provide as much detail as possible on your character sheet. Although you won’t include all of this information in your story, it’s important to know your characters well.
This is a more freeform way to develop your character. It’s okay to use more than one technique. You might find it helpful to make a sketch of your character and then also create a character sheet.
If you use reference photos, collect them in a file, either in digital or hard copy form.
For example, your character might have a mole shaped like a heart, a large tooth gap, or a noticeable limp. Quirks help make your main characters more relatable, and you can also use quirks to quickly characterize side characters.
A diamond tattoo below his lash line distracted from his aquamarine eyes. Her legs wobbled like stilts. When the wind blows, her hair engulfs her face like a flame.
For instance, the most common cliche for introducing a character’s description is the “mirror technique,” which is when you have your character describe themself in a mirror. Examples of description cliches include “red as a rose,” “cold as ice,” or “blind as a bat. ”
For example, a character who shuffles will look and act differently from a character who saunters or strides. Maybe your character fidgets or texts a lot. Perhaps they pace around while they talk to people or walk with their head down so they aren’t noticed. Include these types of movement.
For instance, a spiky pink mohawk might signify your character is a rebel, while a salon blowout might indicate your character is a queen bee type. You might also use hair style to show your character has different sides to their personality. For example, your main character might be a successful CEO with a sophisticated bob, but they might have a hidden purple streak dyed into their hair or a side undercut that lets them switch their style from board room to rebel.
A serious character might wear business attire. An artist might wear paint-splattered clothes. Your rock star might wear a leather jacket. A side character who’s a jock might wear sports attire.
For instance, literary writers usually give less description of their characters. They might tell the reader just enough information for them to get an idea about what the character looks like. For example, “A gruff voice sounded from somewhere inside the ragged beard. " On the other hand, genre writers often include more details. For example, a fantasy or sci fi writer would likely give a full description of a character who is non-human, such as a cyborg or elf. You might write, “A metal plate covered half her head, exposing the wires beneath it whenever her jaw moved. A blue eye stared out from the right socket, but her left eye swarmed and zoomed like a camera lens. A long nose pointed down like an arrow over her thin, robotic lips. "
“Thick black roots contrasted with the platinum blond shade of her curls. ” - This tells the reader that the character dyes her hair but hasn’t been able to keep up with the style. “He wore a sweatshirt advertising a pizza joint that closed three years back. It hung on his lanky frame like a coat hangs on a rack. ” - This shows that the character is wearing outdated clothes that don’t fit him, probably because he can’t afford new clothes.
For example, you don’t want to say, “Claire has long, brown hair and brown eyes. ” Instead, you might write, “Dark curls fell over Claire’s face, masking her amber eyes. ” Metaphors and similes both compare two seemingly unlike things, but similes use “like” or “as” to make the comparisons more obvious. Personification gives human characteristics to a non-human animal or thing. For example, “her eyes dodged his questions. ”
Use as few words as possible to get the job done. For example, it’s okay to write, “She dyed her hair the color of ink because it made her feel like an artist. " You don’t need to over-explain like this: “Her inky hair shadowed her pale skin like an oil slick on water. Whenever she looked in the mirror, she saw a romantic poet caught in a different time, making her feel like the artist she always wanted to be. "
Synecdoche is especially useful for side characters! Think about the strong traits that easily identify your character, such as a pink mohawk, a pointy chin, a hunched back, a distinct walk, a unique smell, etc. This trait can be positive or negative, depending on the character. Use this trait when referring to the character. For example, “When I saw the pink mohawk glide past my window, I knew my neighbor was arriving home. "
Appeal to the sense of smell by mentioning how your character smells. For instance, “Mrs. Hamilton always smelled like fresh baked cookies. ” Include the sense of touch by mentioning the texture of your character’s scar, or the silky softness of their skin. Activate the sense of sound by relating the sound of your character’s voice to a chirping bird or the growl of an engine. Appeal to their sense of sight by describing your character’s clothing and hairstyle. Whenever you can, appeal to the reader’s sense of taste. For example, when two characters kiss.
For example, “The word that best describes Luna is long. She has a long face, long arms, and long legs that look like stilts. "
For example, you might describe your character over the course of a scene rather than all at once.
