Developing characters in your novel

In order to develop characters in your novel you need to make a list of their characteristics. Here are some questions to get you started.

1. What are the character's physical characteristics? Illustrate this with a story.
2. What is the person's background. Racial. School experiences. Working life. Illustrate this with a story.
3. What are the character's hobbies? Illustrate this with a story.
4. What are the character's pet hates? Illustrate this with a story.
5. What skills does the person have? Illustrate this with a story.
6. How does the person communicate with other people? Shy? Extroverted? Has a lisp? An accent? Give some examples of turns of speech. Unique syntax.
7. How would you describe that person's spirit? Illustrate this with a story.
8. How does the character change during the course of the novel?
9. List the events of the novel and how they affect the main characters.
10. Provide each main character with some memories from childhood to help give that person greater dimension.
11. Provide memories of the main family, something about their lives together perhaps everyday outings, a special holiday, which tells you about the family dynamic.
12. Give each minor character a gem, some sort of gift that they give to the main character to help them get to where they need to be by the end of the novel.