Sansa's Character Creation Mastersheet

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moffnat

story connoisseur
Original poster
FOLKLORE MEMBER
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Writing Levels
  1. Advanced
  2. Prestige
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  1. No Preferences
Genres
Fantasy, politics, historical fiction, romance
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Welcome writers and creators, one and all!

Welcome to Sansa's Character Creation resource! Creating balanced characters can make or break any story you wish to write. You need good characters to make your tale the best it can be, and I'm going to help you do that. Below, I've provided a mix of sheets and my own input into the perfect character creation list. This list is approved by my master's program, so I'm sure you will find it effective and, more importantly, to your liking! You can apply this to your roleplays, personal works, GM sessions and more! I encourage you to copy/paste this list and use it other places beyond Iwaku. It's an important tool to have.

Why should you use this, you may ask? There are a multitude of reasons, but the foremost is the importance of writing information down. I always knew the info for my novel would be up in my head, swirling around and unforgettable. But the more information I wrote down, I noticed that I was able to come up with ideas more effectively. The transfer of data from my head to the sheet and back again has been an interesting flow to witness. You'll find this works for you, too. The more info you put out, the more info you can take in! Not to mention a good list can make any character feel more alive than they were before.

The key to getting the most out of this sheet is by employing the following tactics:
  • Be specific. Don't say your favorite character's favorite food is pizza--instead, say they love garlic and pepperoni from the pizza parlor on the corner of 54th and Broadway. Specific details make unique characters.
  • Don't overlook the importance of names. "Names have power, like magic spells." (Yeah, that's a quote from Cinderella. But it's true. Deal with it.)
  • Make sure you can visualize your character. If you can see them in your head, you know you've made someone worth writing about.
  • Psychology will play a huge role in your character's habits and language. Don't rule out the possibility of a slightly insane mind--sane characters are boring anyway. (Just kidding. But seriously, psychology is important to consider. Do research!)
Okay, okay. Here's the good stuff. The (rather extensive) sheet is below. Clicky click!​

THE BASICS:
Character name:
Nickname:
Origin of Nickname:
Birthdate:
Age:
Place of Birth:
Ethnicity:
Religion:

Height:
Weight:
Body type:
Eye color:
Glasses or Vision Enhancements:
Skin tone (pale, tan, olive, brown, etc):
Face shape: (round, square, oval, chubby, heart-shaped):
Prominent features:
Tattoos or distinguishing marks:
Casting choice (what actor do they resemble, if any?):

General health:
Disabilities, illnesses, or weaknesses:

Fashion and style (what do they wear, how do they wear it?):
Special jewelry:
Hair color:
Hairstyle:
Grooming/Facial Hair:

Additional information:

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Languages spoken:
Accent or dialect:
Vocabulary/reading level:
Voice tone:
Favorite phrases:
Do they curse?:
Demeanor:
Mannerisms:
Gestures:
Habitual behaviors (nail-biting, drumming fingers, hair fixing, etc.):
Posture:

PROFESSIONAL INFO:
Current occupation:
Level of job satisfaction:
Years at current occupation:
Income:
Professional skills:
Combat skills:

Additional information:

LIVING CONDITIONS:
Place of residence:
Type of residence:
Surrounding area (city, rural, etc):
Describe residence:
Who do they live with?:
Pets:
Overall quality of living conditions:
Home décor:
Important features of home:

Type of vehicle:
Age of vehicle:
Defining characteristics of vehicle:
Quality of vehicle:
Describe vehicle:

Additional information:

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
Marital status:
Significant partner(s):
How did they meet partner:
Nickname for partner:
Previous romantic partners:

Children:
Relationship with children:
Step-children:

Important family:
Mother:
Age:
Living or deceased:
Mother’s occupation:

Father:
Age:
Living or deceased:
Father’s occupation:

Siblings:

Extended family:

Friends:
Best Friend:
Describe relationship with friend(s):

Additional information:

How does the character relate to:
Spouse:
Lover:
Past lovers/spouses:
Children:
Friends:
Employer:
Underlings:
Minions:
Pets:
Strangers:
Opposite sex:
Same sex:
Family members:
Competitors:
Authority:
Enemies:

Additional information:

CHARACTER PERSONALITY AND PSYCHOLOGY:
Any psychological issues or illnesses:
Meyers Briggs Personality Type: [here's a link to the test!]

What do they love:
What is their passion:
What do they hate:
What would they die for:
What do they value:
Secret loves:
Sexual behavior (dominant or submissive?):

Personal philosophies:
Politics:
Spirituality:
Prejudices:

Greatest strength:
Greatest weakness or flaw:

Their favorite attribute:
Least favorite attribute:

Biggest secret:
Biggest fear:

Most likeable trait:
Least likeable trait:
How are they perceived by others?:

Proudest accomplishment:
Other accomplishments:
Biggest regret:
Most embarrassing moment:
Personality quirks:
Would they like to change anything about themselves?:

Short term or long term goals:
Obstacles:

Heroes or role models:
Negative role models:
Biggest life influence:

Likes or dislikes:
Favorite book, movie, music, etc:

Additional information:

PAST HISTORY:
Hometown:

Past relationships:
First love:
First sexual experience:

Major childhood events:
Best memory:
Worst memory:
Saddest memory:
Quality of childhood:

Educational experience/level:
Significant school experiences:
Special skills or training:
Anything un-skilled, needs work:
Hobbies:

Major illnesses, accidents or traumas:

Police record/criminal record:

DAILY LIFE:
Morning routine:
Afternoon routine:
Evening routine:
Sleep habits:

Additional information:

BONUS QUESTIONS:
How would your character react to (if applicable):
  • Inheriting a million dollars?
  • Losing a loved one?
  • A natural disaster?
  • Being fired?
  • Being violated in some way?
  • Having/Raising children?
  • Unexpected kindness?
  • A flat tire?
  • A serious illness?
  • An interracial relationship?
  • Five minutes of fame?
What is one material item they would save during a fire?
If they could choose the manner of their death, what would it be?
When they tell a story, to they embellish or exaggerate? Why?
What are their most compulsive habits?
How easily embarrassed are they?
How many different sexual partners have they had?
What would be a "perfect" evening for them?
If they were to die today, what would be their biggest regret?
Would your character be willing to murder someone if it would end hunger in the world?
If their loved one would die in six months, would they do anything to save them?
Do they prefer being around men or women?
What is their most treasured memory?
What is YOUR favorite thing about this character?

Let me know if I can answer any questions. Happy creating!
 
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