CHARACTER CHEAT SHEET

Name:
Story role:
Story goal:
Story motivation:

THE BASICS
Full Name:
Age:
Place of birth:
Nationality:
Ethnicity:
Education:
Occupation:
Current residence:

PERSONALITY MATRIX
Choose one option from each line to create a distinct and detailed personality for your characters:

Selfish or Altruistic?
Aggressive or Passive?
Dishonourable or Honourable?
Disordered or Ordered?
Believer or Sceptic?
Fervent or Restrained?
Apathetic or Inquisitive?

(credit to Simon K Jones from simonkjones.com)

APPEARANCE
Eyes:
Hair:
Build:
Gait:
Mannerisms:
Style:
Accessories: 
Health:
Other distinguishing features:

COMMUNICATION
Manner of speech:
Accent:
Colloquialisms:
Body language:
Vocabulary:
Emotion:

HISTORY
Hometown:
Upbringing:
Education:
Hobbies:
Dreams:
Heroes:
Regrets:
Work history:
Major life events:
Foundational memories:
Historical events experienced:

RELATIONSHIPS
Economic status of family:
Social status of family:
Father(s):
Mother(s):
Sibling(s):
Children:
Extended family:
Closest friend(s):
Other friends:
Enemies:
Relationship goals:
Love interest(s):

PSYCHE
Personality type:
Goals:
Motivations:
Weaknesses:
Desires:
Flaws:
Secrets:
Strengths:
Fears:
Accomplishments:
Morality:
Irritants:
Legacy:

The Proust Questionnaire:
Answer these questions from the perspective of your character:

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
What is your greatest fear?
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Which living person do you most admire?
What is your greatest extravagance?
What is your current state of mind?
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
On what occasions do you lie?
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Which living person do you most despise?
What is the quality you most like in a man?
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
When and where were you happiest?
Which talent would you most like to have?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Where would you most like to live?
What is your most treasured possession?
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
What is your favourite occupation?
What is your most marked characteristic?
What do you most value in your friends?
Who are your favourite writers?
Who is your hero of fiction?
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Who are your heroes in real life?
What are your favourite names?
What is it that you most dislike?
What is your greatest regret?
How would you like to die?
What is your motto?