Character development

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Character Development Worksheet
Character’s Full Name Calvin
Character’s Nickname(s) Kane
Significance of the name and/or nickname Calvin is a family name, and he isn't sure of the significance of the name 'Robin'. He suspects that it may be his father's first name.
Physical Characteristics:
Describe each physical characteristic and, on the line below each, tell how the character feels about the characteristic (self-perception).
Age - 16
Age character actually appears and the reason why - Perhaps about 17 or 18, as his thoughts are generally of a serious nature, and he is very sure of himself.
Hair color and style - Dark brown, nearly black. Despite the fact that he doesn't entertain notions of vanity, he prides himself on having thick, luscious hair.
Eye color - Grey-eyed, like many of the Seam. Calvin finds it convenient enough that
Height - 5' 11", nearing six foot. His height makes life difficult when down the mines, and as such is an inconvenience.
Weight - in relation to his height, he is underweight. This bears no significance to him; the same can be said of nearly any resident of the Seam.
Body type/Build - Lean, muscular, but lacking in bulk due to malnourishment. His ribs are prominent
Shape of Face and Distinguishing Features - He has an angular, handsome face, with an indiscreetly crooked nose from an incident with a peacekeeper several years ago. He wears this with pride; looks are not important to him, but he likes the idea that he wears proof of his own rebellious nature.
Coloring - Tan, like the majority of the inhabitants of the Seam.
Cleanliness - Working in the mines and regularly wriggling under the fences of the district result in Calvin being constantly covered in a layer of dust. He makes the effort to keep clean, and is by nature a tidy person, but does not take pains to stay immaculate.
Noticeable handicaps _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Sense of style ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Thing the character would most like to change about him/herself and why- ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
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Anne Olwin Copyright 2007
Intelligences and Attitudes:
Circle the ones that apply: Mechanical
Analytical Physical (sports) Mathematical Musical
Technical Introspective Kindhearted Honorable Punctual Barbaric Choleric
Others personal attributes:
Talents _________________________________________________________________
Drive and Motivators in Character’s Life ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Likes ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Dislikes ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Pet peeves ________________________________________________________________________ Value Character places on Things and Why ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Spirituality ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Habits:
Common Expressions ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Mannerisms, peculiarities and quirks ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Fun Pursuits/ Favorite pastimes ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Hobbies ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
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Social Artistic Optimistic Hardhearted
Pessimistic Rational Irrational Calculating Sneaky Integrity Strong Weak Careless
Downtrodden Thoughtful Gentle Thoughtless Melodramatic Phlegmatic Sanguine Melancholy Introvert Extrovert
Fastidious Authentic Brave
Anne Olwin Copyright 2007
Relationships:
Family (Who and describe the relationship) • Mother
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ • Father____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
• Siblings _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
• Spouse/Lover______________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
• Children _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
Friendships (Who and describe the relationships) ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Other significant relationships to characters in the story ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Pets ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ General behavior toward others ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Describe how others perceive the character and note any disparity between views ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Significant Personal History:
Birthplace _____________________________________ Upbringing—where and how ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
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Anne Olwin Copyright 2007
Education—where and what ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Significant Events ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Biggest Success ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Current Situation
Describe each and tell how the character feels about them. Residence ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Vehicles ________________________________________________________________________ Stuff (Belongings) ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Job/ Employment ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Relationships ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Hardships that linger ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Delights that linger ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Biggest Regret ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Secrets and who knows about them ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
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Anne Olwin Copyright 2007
Secret Hopes and Dreams
Places character would like to visit ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Things character would like to do ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ People character would like to meet ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Who character would most like to emulate and why ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Long-range goals ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Short-range goals ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Author Analysis of Character
This character makes a good:
• • •
Hero, because _____________________________________________________ Villain, because ____________________________________________________ Supporting Character, because _________________________________________
I’m intrigued by this character because: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Time-period that best fits this character: _______________________________________ Setting that best fits this character: ___________________________________________
Other characters needed to make this character work: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________