The Ultimate Guide to Harry Potter Fanfiction

Characterization

This chapter is for those of you who want to take your characterization to the next level. I got these two templates from two tumblrs, i-see-light and and anatomytutoreferences. Personally, these have really helped me get to the core of who my main characters are. Of course, you don't need to be this detailed for every single character that you write about. However, for your main characters, I would highly suggest using this or something like it.

Because I know you can't copy and paste from Wattpad, this chapter has a link to a Google doc template of these two character sheets! You can make a copy of the doc to edit it or download it onto whatever word processor you prefer, but I want this resource to be available to you guys! The link will be down at the bottom of this chapter, under the votes section (next to the sharing options!). The link only works on the web, not the app, unfortunately, so if you're on the app and want the link, feel free to direct message me!

Character Sheet Template
               
Character Chart
Character's full name:
Reason or meaning of name:
Character's nickname:
Reason for nickname:
Birth date:

Physical appearance
Age:
How old does he/she appear:
Weight:
Height:
Body build:
Shape of face:
Eye color:
Glasses or contacts:
Skin tone:
Distinguishing marks:
Predominant features:
Hair color:
Type of hair:
Hairstyle:
Voice:
Overall attractiveness:
Physical disabilities:
Usual fashion of dress:
Favorite outfit:
Jewelry or accessories:

Personality
Good personality traits:
Bad personality traits:
Mood character is most often in:
Sense of humor:
Character's greatest joy in life:
Character's greatest fear:
Why?
What single event would most throw this character's life into complete turmoil?
Character is most at ease when:
Most ill at ease when:
Enraged when:
Depressed or sad when:
Priorities:
Life philosophy:
If granted one wish, it would be:
Why?
Character's soft spot:
Is this soft spot obvious to others?
Greatest strength:
Greatest vulnerability or weakness:
Biggest regret:
Minor regret:
Biggest accomplishment:
Minor accomplishment:
Past failures he/she would be embarrassed to have people know about:
Why?
Character's darkest secret:
Does anyone else know?

Goals
Drives and motivations:
Immediate goals:
Long term goals:
How the character plans to accomplish these goals:
How other characters will be affected:

Past
Hometown:
Type of childhood:
Pets:
First memory:
Most important childhood memory:
Why:
Childhood hero:
Dream job:
Education:
Religion:
Finances:

Present
Current location:
Currently living with:
Pets:
Religion:
Occupation:
Finances:

Family
Mother:
Relationship with her:
Father:
Relationship with him:
Siblings:
Relationship with them:
Spouse:
Relationship with him/her:
Children:
Relationship with them:
Other important family members:

Favorites
Color:
Least favorite color:
Music:
Food:
Literature:
Form of entertainment:
Expressions:
Mode of transportation:
Most prized possession:

Habits
Hobbies:
Plays a musical instrument?
Plays a sport?
How he/she would spend a rainy day:
Spending habits:
Smokes:
Drinks:
Other drugs:
What does he/she do too much of?
What does he/she do too little of?
Extremely skilled at:
Extremely unskilled at:
Nervous tics:
Usual body posture:
Mannerisms:
Peculiarities:

Traits
Optimist or pessimist?
Introvert or extrovert?
Daredevil or cautious?
Logical or emotional?
Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat?
Prefers working or relaxing?
Confident or unsure of himself/herself?
Animal lover?