ࡱ > 1 bjbj>> \qh\qh { t t D J J J J j ( * * * Z _ { $ x ." N * * $ F * * * ѱ& R : 0 j |" # |" |" % j |" t X : The attached clustering exercise establishes the basics of your character. However to give your depth and reality they need to have a life beyond the page, even, beyond the confines of just the story that you are telling. They need to have a past, good or bad childhood memories, desires, wants, a favourite colour, a favourite ice-cream flavour, and so on. In short they need to be people. Of course, not all of these details need to find their way onto the page, but it is important for the writer to know them. Below is a questionnaire that you may want to fill out to help establish their background. For main characters it is especially important that all the aspects of their personality, their past and present, are well known to the writer, because it is only in this way that we are able to create truly multidimensional fictional characters, that engage the reader immediately and stay with them long after the book is finished. Also it is handy to keep the results for reference it may prevent a sudden change of eye or hair colour in the text. Instructions: Start with the clustering exercise of a character either from a story that you have already written, or one you would like to write. Next fill out the questionnaire below. Once you are satisfied that you know all there is to know about the characters, go back to your story and rewrite it, Keeping this new information in mind, inserting it as needed. Hopefully you will have characters that are much more alive. The character questionnaire: (feel free to add to it and, of course, just substitute he for she as needed) Physical traits Gender: Age: Ethnicity: Height: Body type: Hair colour: Eye colour: Facial characteristics: Athleticism: Sociological traits Birthplace: Parents: Family: Childhood: Occupation: Income: Religion: Politics: Personality traits: Worst faults: Favourite foods: Favourite vacation destinations: Favourite sports: Favourite movies/TV shows: Favourite book: What makes him happy? What makes him sad? What makes him angry? Who does he love most? Who does he hate most? What is he most proud of? What is he most ashamed of? What is his secret ambition? What is his darkest secret? What is his worst childhood memory? What is his best childhood memory? What is his hobby? Does he have a plan for the future? Best qualities: Exercise Creating a Character DATE \* MERGEFORMAT 17/06/2022 PWG JG PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 1 ! " 6 q r * - 3 4 : > G R Y ' , P R S ] ^ _ ! " # $ 1 K S T V Y Z c j k p q ? S Z o w y z } ~ hA hB hap h8 5\ h V+ 5\ h V+ hkO h8 hQaA h8 T # 1 @ A Q Y ^ i q | 2 @ Q d@ gdA d@ gdA @ A Q Y ^ i q w | 2 @ I Q Z r v { 7 S o p v h hlA $j h"# h3K UmH nH tH u h@\ hN[ h||f h hC h h{ h h h h8 hA HQ r 7 S p ! " $ % d gdBE gd||f d@ gdA d@ gdA ! " # $ % & ' ( ) * + 3 4 H I M N O d e f p q r s y z { ɻ h hlA j h8>n UmH nH u h8>n mH nH uh5` hN[ mH nH uj h8>n Uh8>n h>9 hBE hO j hO U '% ' ( * + r s gd||f B#Agd>9 d gdBE 2 1h:pBE . A!"#S$o% 9 0 1h:p . A!"#O$% P 9 0 1h:p . A!"#O$% P 9 1h0:pN[ A .!"O#$% P D d 0w"J 2 * s > EdA D i a g r a m 1 3 "22 2 PK ! `&7(\ v [Content_Types].xmlN0DHC-JvjESVoR~IISU< t]<_알Ni2!jfeJA)iёEv}5_(KR6%BN c%mD:Ln)3ڣ