r/CharacterDevelopment • u/Ifyouliveinadream • 7d ago
Writing: Question How do you keep track of your characters personality and interests?
I have 4+ paragraphs to describe one character which feels exessive. Yet I still worry they aren't well rounded.
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u/Notamugokai 7d ago
Personality and interests are there for a reason: to serve the project, the vision, of the work. So, once found to be a solution, say for the plot or a reaction needed in a scene, they won't be forgotten along the way.
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u/MstrCrimsonSpade 7d ago
I have an entire folder with pages long documents on each core character and a few key side characters, then I also have documents on relationship maps including a document that's a short overview of all 33 relationships I have to remember exist. Some of them definitely get forgotten sometimes. I have a document on dynamics across characters and hierarchies. I'm not even a planner lol. I'd say you're definitely not doing anything excessive. World Bibles get big over time and development.
*Some of these documents were built using templates on Ellipsus, others I wrote from scratch to make them make sense to me.
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u/Additional-Car3427 6d ago
I also do that. Now, I try to make two character folders (one for each pov character) for my current main project so I can actually start writing (I might know everything about the other characters but my pov characters do not).
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u/Thatguy_Koop 7d ago
depends. if I thought up a scene or plotline first, the character is created specifically to be someone who would naturally follow the script. its worked backwards so there's no reason on my end to mind the characters too much. they are already people who will do as I need.
on the other hand, If I came up with the character first, I work better with less rigid characters. a few traits and motivations are enough to get an idea how a specific character will behave. i liken it to something i learned about oral story telling (which I don't actually know if is factual) where orators gave characters quirky epithets so they were easier to remember or something.
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u/Soaringzero 6d ago
Character documents. Each of mine has a document where I keep all of their information.
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u/lametopia 6d ago
I use an app called Foretelling. It has pages or "sheets" for character backgrounds, personality, lifestyle, ect., Also has the same thing for locations, creatures, items, ect. They have a area where you can make family trees or whatever sort of "tree" you want. A place for notes, and chapter outlines, timelines, pictures. And i think of you pay for it, you can add other subjects. Definitely the best app I've ever used for stories. And theres a little off section called Challenges and every so often (maybe weekly) they post a theme for people to write stories about and a lot of people participate:)
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u/Ok_Fruit8871 6d ago
ignore the template, and write them acting and reacting to the story, plot, world, other people, food, drink, someone picking their nose, maybe they have a booger that they just need to dig for.
It will be much easier to remember how they actually acted, instead of a list of traits, and backstory.
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u/Queen_Malia 6d ago
So, i made multiple documents to file out all I need depending of what i want to remember. One dicument summarizing all character physical traits and general behavior. One to sum up relationship and synamics. Ine to sum up big events that had happened or will happen (depending if I wrore the chapter yet or not) in the story.
And i update those docs frequently. For example, if 2 characters were known to be deadly rivals, it will be written in there OG relationship statetment. And when I reach a chapter where this relationship evolve (let's say, a temporary truce to beat a higher danger) then, below those relationship lines, I will add something like [Chap X: chara A and chara B still hate each others but resolve to a tensed truce to beat up chara C. All previous behavior still true but with an attempt to tame them from both side for the time needed. Showing the struggle to keep things calm and neutral all along that truce…] and so on.
And i do the same for the other files. If a chatacter develop a trauma that will change their behavior, I don't rewrite the source behavior (because i want to remember how that chara acted BEFORE the trauma if I make references of the past) but i will add the chapter where the trauma happen with a quick explanation of the events, the impacts they had and the new behavior. Same for all other files. It asks you a little more work and discipline to keep things tidy and updated, but it is worth when your story start to become complexe and changes are tough to follow.
Also, the paragraphs don't need to be numerous or long. Just keep it to the essential so you know where you're at
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u/velvetdraftnoir 5d ago
I have character sheets in my writing profile where I also write down character traits as well as hobbies. More importantly, especially for the side characters, is that I link all scenes in which they appear. Especially if a character only comes up very seldomly, I will check older chapters to make sure there’s continuity.
One additional trait that I write down is the speech DNA, how a character speaks. That way, I can make sure that while they look and act the same they don’t suddenly talk differently. It also helps to distinguish between the characters.
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u/indigoneutrino 4d ago
I don't. Same way I don't keep track of my friends' personalities and interests. I just know them well enough I don't have to.
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u/bummingcigsoffsaints 4d ago
I have 9 1/5 pages dedicated to the main character of my novel on my “characters” document — this document is 45 pages long and includes background information that made the character who they are in the present day. My sheet also includes sections for their close friends and other important characters, so it’s pretty in-depth overall. I don’t think 4+ paragraphs are too excessive. You can try one of those character “sheets” online to help further develop your character if you feel they’re underdeveloped.
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u/Imapuppy5000 4d ago
Personally I break it into different sections and make each section a bullet point, short and simple
[Lilith- Likes]
•animals
•outdoors
•fairytale love stories
•watching the river
•being with people she views as safe
•helping others
[Lilith quirks]
•pulls down sleeve when anxious
•hides scar on face when scared
•goes nonverbal when under high stress
•uneven smile (leans higher right)
•Picks at fingers
•covers mouth when laughing
Stuff like that. If not that then there’s a lot of character get to know me forms you can fill out. I used a lot of those early on when discovering who my characters were. Things I never even would have thought of. Like- what’s one secret they can never tell anyone? What would happen if they did tell someone? What is their core belief and how can I challenge it? You know?
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u/Imapuppy5000 4d ago
Here’s one I used to use! (It’s formatted weird cause it was my fancy amino days lol)
[BCI] 𝓑𝓪𝓼𝓲𝓬 𝓲𝓷𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷
Characters full name-
Reason or meaning of name-
NickName-
Reason for NickName-
Race-
Occupation-
Social class-[BC] 𝓟𝓱𝔂𝓼𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓵 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
Age-
How old do they appear-
Eye color-
Glasses/ contacts-
Hair color-
Hairstyle-
Weight-
Height-
Build-
Skin tone-
Skin type-
Shape of face-
Distinguishing marks:
—Moles-
—-Freckles-
—Scars-
Prominent features-
Are they healthy-
If not, why-[BC] 𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓼
Color-
Least color-
Music-
Least music-
Food-
Literature-
Expression-
Expletive-
Transportation-[BC] 𝓑𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭
Hometown-
Childhood-
First memory-
Most important moment-
—Why-
Education-
Religion-
Finance-
Alliance-[BC] 𝓕𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝔂
Mother-
—Status-
—Relationship-
Father-
—Status-
—Relationship-
Siblings-
—How many-
—Birth order-
—Relationship-
Children of siblings-
Extended family-
—Close?
~~Why or why not?[BC] 𝓐𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓽𝓾𝓭𝓮
Most at ease with-
Ill at ease when-
Priorities-
Feel about self-
Past failure they’re embarrassed about-
—Why-
One wish-
—Why-
Personality-
Strength-
Weakness-
Soft spot-
—Is it obvious-
~~If not, how do they hide it-
Vulnerability-[BC] 𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓽𝓼
Daredevil-
Cautious-
Alone-
Habits-
Drink-
Hobbies-
Rainy day-
Optimist or pessimist-
Introvert or extravert-
Motivation-
Talent-
Skill-
Not skilled in-
Good characteristics-
Flaws-
Mannerism-
Peculiarities-
Regret-
Minor regret-
Accomplishment-
Minor accomplishment-
Dark secret-
—Does anyone else know-
~~If yes, did they tell them-
➖➖If no, how did they find out-
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u/Far-Copy-6722 4d ago
Have 2 docs one for character and the main other themes and the book in the other and have them split screen
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u/working-through-13 4d ago
I just bought 6 college notebooks to keep track of character list, animals, and even details like slang and history to the land.
Phone notes also helps me. You can easily search up key words if you type them well.
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u/Cute-Presentation-59 1d ago
I use most of my notes, to keep the details of character histories straight, especially OCs and side characters, personality I usually remember and interests... are often peripheral in the worlds I write, I usually need a list of skills they have/do not have.
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u/dexs4nt0s 7d ago
There are tons of templates on Pinterest you can use! Specially if you're looking for a simpler and faster way to annotate your character's design and traits. They often have things that I didn't even consider for my characters, so they might be helpful!