Characterization Worksheet (example)
Copyright 1999 by Leigh Michaels
This is an example of how working through the characterization worksheet can help to reveal a character to the author's eyes.
What is this person's name? Molly Matthews
Why was s/he named that? Parents liked it, sister Megan (matching names)
Age? 25 Birthday? Jan/Feb
Where does s/he live? Duluth Minnesota, on the north shore of Lake Superior
Why did s/he choose to live there? Moved home from Chicago after losing her job in a corporate downsizing, to start her own business.
Does s/he live in an apartment? a house? Her parents' house, but just until she can afford to get out on her own
Does s/he live by himself? with others? With her parents and daughter Bailey, age 3
What kind of car does s/he drive? A few years old, inexpensive, mid-size.
What are his/her important material possessions? The materials needed to start her business, her portfolio of work samples
Give a brief physical description. Medium brown hair, tall and slim, well-dressed. Bruise on jaw.
What are his/her hobbies? Walking along the lake, agate hunting on the beach.
What kind of music does s/he enjoy? Easy listening.
Does s/he have pets? No. No time, plus living with her parents does not allow that freedom.
What are his/her favorite foods and drinks? Coffee-drinker.
If s/he has an unexpected free half-day, how does s/he spend it? Along the lake, with her daughter.
How would a friend describe him/her? Loyal. Close-mouthed. Very private--nobody knows all of Molly's secrets.
What is his/her education? College degree. She has worked for corporations in their publications divisions, doing annual reports, advertising pieces, PR.
What is his/her job? Owner of a very new company, Matthews & Associates, offering freelance PR and publication services.
Why did s/he choose that profession? To offer a better future for her daughter than she could obtain by working in industry.
How does s/he feel about his work? Hopeful for her business. Confident of herself, but fearful of business climate and getting started.
What does s/he want to be doing in twenty years? Still running Matthews & Associates, on a much larger scale.
How does s/he feel about the opposite sex? Her focus is on her daughter; she doesn't have time, interest or inclination for men. She's dated since breaking up with Bailey's father, but not seriously.
Why does s/he feel that way? The breakup with Bailey's father. She's been badly hurt.
Is s/he married? single? divorced? Single, but the world believes she's divorced.
Does s/he have children? Bailey, age 3 (almost 4)
Does s/he have former lovers? She had a crush on Luke Hudson, when she was a teenager.
How would a former lover describe him/her? Naive, foolish, warm and giving but totally innocent; a lamb among wolves.
Who are his/her parents? Bernie and Alix Matthews. He's retired from the Hudson family firm, Meditronics; Alix has been a homemaker.
Does s/he have brothers and sisters? One sister, Megan, older. Luke was Megan's age and her friend.
Where was s/he born and raised? Duluth, Minnesota, on the shore of Lake Superior.
How important is the family relationship to him/her? Early on, it was important. After her pregnancy and refusal to name the father of her child, her mother, especially, was disturbed; she didn't disown Molly but the relationship became more dutiful and formal than loving. Molly has always felt that Megan was the favorite child.
Who is his/her best friend? Why? She doesn't have many. She's left behind friends in Chicago and hasn't had time to make new ones since her return to Duluth. Her sister Megan is as close as anyone gets--and it's not very close.
Who is his/her worst enemy? Why? Megan's catty friend Melinda seems to have it in for Molly. Luke is an opponent but not an enemy, he needs her to do a job for him but doesn't want to rely on her.
Which one event in his/her life has made this person what s/he is today? The encounter with Luke in which she declared her love for him, and he told her to get over it and go on with her life.
How does s/he feel about himself? She's rebuilt her confidence. She's professional, able, a willing worker, highly motivated to succeed. Determined to be a good mom.
What trait does s/he have which s/he wants to keep secret from the world? That she still feels the pain of Luke's rejection.
What does s/he like most about his/her life? Bailey. She adores her daughter and will do anything for her, include putting up with Alix minding her business and advising her on child-rearing, because the living situation is the best at the moment for Bailey.
What does s/he dislike most about his/her life? That she's obligated to her parents, especially her mother, for a place to live right now, till she gets her business on its feet.
What one thing would s/he like to change about the world? The unfairness of the situation she's stuck in, pretending to be something she's not because of her mother's pride. Alix's tale-telling.
What would this person die to defend? Bailey.
What is his/her most likeable character trait? Loyalty and kindness.
What is his/her most unlikable or troublesome character defect? Unwillingness to be open with her feelings, sometimes draws conclusions about others based on her own feelings rather than evidence.
As the story begins, what is his/her problem? She's trying to build her business; her best chance of a good first customer is the father of the man who rejected her so cruelly, but she doesn't realize that Luke is also back in Duluth and now heading his father's company.
What does s/he do that makes this problem worse? Doesn't walk away from the encounter. She challenges Luke. She takes the job very seriously and that causes Luke's father to overwork and harm his health.
What is this person's ideal happy ending? A happy and secure family for herself and her daughter.
What reaction do you want the reader to have to this person? Friendship, sympathy, empathy.
Why should the reader care about this person? Because Molly's a nice person, stuck in a difficult situation and handling it with all the grace anyone could ask for or hope to be able to show.
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