Using Character Sheets?

[neonflux]

I use them when writing screenplays as part of the treatment.

 

[FallingToFly]

A Character shet I've used in when working with other writers on a single story

Character’s name:
Nickname:
Significance:
City/town/region:
Special significance:
Personal Goals:
Professional goals:
Physical appearance:
Age:
Hair color: Style:
Eye color: Glasses?
Skin tone: ) Type:
Face shape: \ Weight:
Height: Build:
Unusual/exceptional characteristics:
Mannerisms:
Character’s Background:
Born:
Religion:
Manners/social graces:
RELATIONSHIPS:
Present and previous relationships with opposite sex:
How did the last relationship end?
Consequences of past sexual relationships:
1. How does the character relate to friends?
2.Family?
3. Who most influenced him/her? .
4. How?
5. Characters first contact with antagonist:
6. Does his or her opinion of the antagonist change over time?
8. How does the character view the other characters:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
9. Do any of these relationships change?
Preferences
Hobbies/interests/leisure activities:
Favorite foods:
Music:
Books/literature:
Movies:
How do the other characters react to these preferences?
Is he or she a clotheshorse? A slob?:
Favorite clothing:
Work:
Formal:
Leisure: .
Travel: .
Smoker? Why? What brand?
Likes animals?
Owns pets? Name:
Car or method of transportation:
Home: Rent or own, house or apartment, alone or roommate:
Profession, etc.
Occupation:
Name of firm:
Happy?
Travel involved?
Special gifts, talents:
Special knacks, skills:
Good traits:
Acknowledged by:
Bad traits:
Admitted?
Philosophy: .
Educational background: .
Income: Attitude toward money: Why?
FRIENDS:
NAME: AGE:
NAME: AGE:
NAME: AGE:

PERSONALITY:
One absolute trait: .
What is the character’s best trait? .
When does your character feel most vulnerable? Misc. Info
Did your character have a major childhood trauma?
How does it affect him or her?
What occurrence from his or her past will affect the plot?
Introvert/extrovert:
What kind of first impression does he or she make?
How does your character react to adversity?
How does your character act when angry?
What regrets does your character have?
How does your character reward and punish herself?
How would your character describe herself/himself in one sentence?
Which single word would they choose?
Basic temperament?
Worst fear(s):
Secret from the past:
Family members in the story:

 

[Weird Harold]

I wanted to get a general opinion on the use of 'Character sheets' i saw them mentioned on another thread and assume they are like a 'bubble chart' of what traits and quirks your characters have?

Can someone tell me more about them?

I voted NO because I don't use "character sheets" as a general rule and very seldom write anything down about characters for short to medium works.

However, I do recognise the value of a "Cast List" and "Character Biographies" in maintaining story continuity when a story gets longer or more complex. Although the sample data sheet that has been posted here is far more detailed than any but the most detail oriented writer should need -- two or three short paragraphs about each character is usually sufficient to remind me of a character's description and backstory.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Character charts are for NaNo. Lit = dirty fantasies.

 

[Fallenfromgrace]

Character charts are for NaNo. Lit = dirty fantasies.

NaNo? whats that?

 

[Svenskaflicka]

NaNo? whats that?

NaNoWriMo

 

[Fallenfromgrace]

NaNoWriMo

Thanks, now thats something to aspire to! not that i'd ever submit my kind of lit to that sort of thing- i'd have to use an alias!

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Thanks, now thats something to aspire to! not that i'd ever submit my kind of lit to that sort of thing- i'd have to use an alias!

Just like Lit, you're free to be totally anonymous. And there's nothing that says that you have to show anyone what you've written.

 

[Fallenfromgrace]

Just like Lit, you're free to be totally anonymous. And there's nothing that says that you have to show anyone what you've written.

Yes, i was just reading it

i was going to ask what's stopping people from uploading something they've written before. But there's nothing to gain by doing that over actually doing the task. At least by doing thactual task you are learning how to work. It's not about what you're writting but about how fast and how much you can- and just having fun with it. (is that correct?)

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Yes, i was just reading it

i was going to ask what's stopping people from uploading something they've written before. But there's nothing to gain by doing that over actually doing the task. At least by doing thactual task you are learning how to work. It's not about what you're writting but about how fast and how much you can- and just having fun with it. (is that correct?)

Pretty much. It's kind of like SUrvivor here at Lit - it's a challenge to see how good you can be.