How Writers Turn People Into Words

One of the most helpful writing tools/exercises that I enjoy is the character sketch. This is the means by which we are able to meet our characters. The character sketch is a way to put the important details of a character in front of you on a page or two. It should give you all of the information you need to think about when writing about this character.

Below I have included a list of 20 ideas to assist in completing a character sketch. You by no means need to complete each of these. This is intended to help you generate fresh ideas, not weigh you down by unnecessary specifics. Try to expand on these with relevant details. For instance, if the character resides in Iowa, you might want to include the “endless ocean of cornfields” as part of your description. Please leave example character sketches in the comments below.

1. Full name
2. Date and city of birth
3. Sex
4. Hair and eye color
5. Complexion
6. Clothing style
7. Demeanor
8. Gait
9. Profession
10. Marital status
11. Relationship health
12. Physical health/abnormalities
13. Residence
14. Hobbies
15. Source of conflict/interest
16. Extrovert/Introvert
17. Type of people with whom he/she associates
18. Ultimate goals
19. Favorite places
20. Favorite food
21. Add more details here