for all you novelist hopefuls out there...

[Mithra Reborn]

I found a site with an AMAZING character outline sheet. this is seriously awesome. Thorough too. oh hell, i'll just give you guys the link. have fun my pretties!

http://www.epiguide.com/ep101/writing/charchart.html

[AdventWings]

*Reads it from top to bottom, then shoots it in the face*

No, I'm not that cruel. I do, however, have criticisms about this very detailed character outline sheet.

While it is a very amazing character outline sheet, it is best for characters with insane amount of backstory already developed. The writer must know everything about the character, the society such a character lives in, the timeline, tech level, cultural alignment and literacy, as well as everything from upbringing to role models.

Most of the time, the necesessary details that a good writer needs is less than half of what this guy listed. True, this highly detailed outline will help you give your character realism, but too much detail constrains your character as well as their interactions.

A general rule of thumb in character creation is to keep it simple. Outline the more obvious characteristics that a reader will immediately notice (personal habits, hairstyle, financial tendencies) and leave the finer details to circumstances. Chances are (and also hinted in the introduction of this very character sheet) you will be going through a lot of revisions to the character sheet along the way.

A final note is to not let this outline be the "Yardstick" for your characters, but as a guideline to be filled over time. You may start off filling only seven or eight subjects on your first go. After using the characters for a while, you will realize what the character would do (and find a tie-in to each of the subjects later on) before you come back to revise this outline.

I say "too detailed" but that's going by the general open-minded approach to writing. Nothing is set in stone - neither should your characters.

[Tainted Bushido]

I say "too detailed" but that's going by the general open-minded approach to writing. Nothing is set in stone - neither should your characters.

To elaborate on that little sis, heres the thing. If you set your character up as X, Y, and Z you will suffer in writing later when you need to bend X, maybe ignore Y, and obliterate Z. This sheet is nice in that it covers a lot of the basics and gives some beginning writers an idea of the things they should be considering. This kind of a sheet leads you away from the Lawful Good and Violent about it (TM) style characters as you need to give motive now.

Althanas however, supports more flexible characters that can play the field so to speak.

So, TL;DR version.

Thats an awesome writing tool, but like all tools they have their time and place. While not perhaps the best outline for Althanas, some of those categories are things newer writers should look at.

[Mithra Reborn]

alright. i thought it was cool(and not as use for Althanas) and i don't expect to set things in stone. in fact, i don't plan to completely fill that out. it just has a lot of good things to put down in a well organized manner. how thorough you are depends on you.


but thank you for your words of wisdom both of you ^^

[Saxon]

Jesus, this has everything from your character's mental disposition to their favorite curse words. I actually prefer to build a character from scratch and let it grow on it's own as opposed to trying to make one with all the proper documention.

Thanks though. ;)

[Visla Eraclaire]

Just as a counterpoint to the cries of TL;DR, there is a substantial school of thought about writing that you should know at least your principle character this well before you write a novel. Now, most people here don't write novels. Short stories, vignettes, and roleplaying characters are a whole different beast. Basic information necessary to drive the story with the excitement of discovery later is more valuable in that context.

Also, people seem to think that just because something is written down implies that it is static. I don't think that's accurate. Having a well-documented character makes change difficult, like it really is, but doesn't necessarily yield stagnancy.

[Rebellion]

Jesus, this has everything from your character's mental disposition to their favorite curse words.

duine daonna.
Nothing like some good old fashioned swearing in Gaelic, eh?

[Breaker]

No need to give this thing such a bad rep. I don't see how it could be bad to know all these things about your own character. It allows you superior control over exactly what you let the reader know. And unless you intend to print the sheet out and fill in the blanks in blood, it's not like you can't change things if need be.

This might actually help with laying the foundations of a novel I'm contemplating; thanks for the link.

[The Bloody Son]

After you've defined your character THAT MUCH, there'd be no reason to ever write with them. Lol. That's excessive.

[Esmerelda]

That sheet pwns. It helps to have this information organised as it develops.

[Mithra Reborn]

yay! I'm glad i could help some people out! ^^

[Abomination]

Oh boy, a Mary Sue fill-in chart. Thanks for this.

[Tainted Bushido]

Oh boy, a Mary Sue fill-in chart. Thanks for this.

Oh boy, a witty/sarcastic remark meant to be funny but misses the mark again. Thanks for this.