I have to say this is one of my favorite parts about writing! Getting to know your character! Becoming their best friend.

(#bestfriendgoals4reals)

You get to learn what they like and dislike. There is nothing more important than knowing your character, because the character is the soul of the book. The driving forcing behind every scene. Their actions dictate what will happen. That is why knowing them to their core is so vital!

It may sound like Joy's off her meds, but she's totally right. You basically have this living, breathing person occupying your mind. Might as well get to know them a bit.

(I have over 28 different characters in my head and it gets weird sometimes. So that should explain a lot about me)

Now!

I know that can kind of sound overwhelming but this will be fun! Because to start you on the path of knowing that character is just a list questions. Questions that you already know the answer to, or well your character does and they'll let you know! The answers to these questions tell you a lot about who your character is.

I see it as falling in love. You're obviously interested in this character. They neatly settled themselves into your brain. You like what you see and you can relate to them on a certain level. This is just a way to really get to know them, to figure out who they really are. They're already on your mind 24/7. Time to get to know your new tenant!

Exactly! So! This is a brief character analysis. Basic questions you need to know, even if you never tell us (the readers) about all of this, you still need to know it. We will be able to sense that you know all of it. (I really hope that makes sense)

A great writer is distinguished by the complete control they have over their character, complete ownership. This comes from knowing literally everything about them. They can act any way you want them to and your audience will trust you because you know the character best, there just has to be a good reason why they would do what they did.

You might not tell your audience about your main character's crazy Uncle Francis. But if it affects how they act around Pomeranians, you need to know not only everything about crazy Uncle Francis and his pet Pomeranian Chip but his relationship with your character. Most importantly, how that relationship has affected them. That way, when your main character starts barking and jumping up and down at the sight of a small fluffy dog, your readers will go along with the ride, because they will sense that you know what's going on, even if they don't.
(And she says I'm off my meds 😂)

Alright all you have to do is answer these questions about you specific character! (I'm a fan of using a legal pad to write it all down on, or you can simply comment here is you like!) I will be using my character Carter from A Secret Service as an example through out.

Character Analysis:

Name:

The name you give your character holds weight. It is the thing that defines them. (Carter has a guys name and so it distinguishes her and it's the name of President)

It acts not only as an identifier to the world around them, but also to those closest to them, to their loved ones and to the people who raised them. Its a hint to who their parents were and how they were raised.

Age:

This dictates the feel of a character. (I'm terrible because I love the age 17. Why? Because 16 is still young enough to be too naive. 18 is older and looking at the world as an adult. 17 falls righting the middle. I did make Carter 18 for legal reasons.)

Each age holds certain preconceived notions within in a mind of a reader, whether or not they are aware of it. I tend to use ages ranging between 20-22. This means they are out of high school and therefore have outgrown high school drama situations. But they are still young enough to be finding their way in the world. And not old enough to be taken seriously by the world around them. In the adult world, such ages are still seen as very young.

Height:

As anyone will tell you life is vastly different if you are short compared to if you are tall. Both have their positive and negatives. These things would factor into how your character views life.

Again, each of these factors bring with them natural sources of personality, conflict, environment and behaviors. Very tall people act very differently from very short people.

Weight:

Again, something that will clearly effect your characters out look on life as well as people's opinion of them.

Ditto.

Build:

You should know generally how you character looks. Are them muscular? If so, does that mean they lift weights and work out? Are them crazy thin? Does that mean they have an eating disorder? Everything means something, remember that. (Carter is fit because her father is a Secret Service agent.)

Color hair:

Blondes are viewed differently than brunettes just like red heads are seen differently than people with black hair.

Even hair styles and lengths hold different meanings and perceptions. Whether or not someone takes care of their hair speaks volumes of how they see themselves and how they take care of themselves as human beings.

Eyes:

They say eyes are the windows to the soul. So what color are the curtains? (Haha that was bad, sorry.) (Yes, it was.) But it's true, blue eyes are viewed differently than brown eyes. The color can mean something. (Carter has blue eyes just like her father, establishing a tighter bond between them that might not be over the top but you feel it)  

Clothing style:

From a single glance at someone and what they are wearing you can tell a lot. You can tell a prep school girl from a punk rock chick. This doesn't mean their style might not hide who they really are, but you need to know what people think when they see your character from across a room. (Carter wears a rumbled uniform. That speaks values on what she thinks about clothes and fashion in general) 

Gait: (How they walk)

This might seem like a random question but it's not. If your character swaggers, it tells the reader something. If they slouch and shuffle, that also tells us something. (I've never mentioned how Carter walks but I know she walks with an indifferent stride)

Also, a character's gait will tell you how they view themselves when around others, or in a crowd. Some one self conscious and anxious around others is going to walk differently than the most popular girl in school. Again, mannerisms speak of deeper things and portray levels within your character.

Physical Peculiarities:

What's something different about them that people notice? Are they proud or shy about it? How does if effect them emotionally to have people be aware of this flaw?

Birthplace:

Where you grow up defines you. We all know this. (Carter was born in the sea of politics D.C., that effects how she views politicians in general and children of those politicians)

Best friend:

Who is the one person they share all their secrets to? Who has their back no matter what? How long have they been their best friend? The length of time makes a difference. (It's not a surprise that Carter has no friends. It says a lot about her without having to flat out tell you)

Enemies:

Who is the person they can't stand? (The fact that the whole school seems to be annoyed with Carter really says a lot while her only enemy is her mother)

Family:

This is huge. Your family says a lot about how you've grown up. An only child sees things why differently from someone who comes from a large family. How does their number of siblings define them? (Carter only has her father, that has impacted her view of life extremely)

The community around a character has helped define them. It helps shape who they have become but will also play into who they are trying to be and will eventually become.

Core need:

This is where you get to the heart of your character. Try to find the one word that describes the core need. It can be simple such as love, protection, freedom, validation. Figure out what they need then figure out what they will do to get it. 

This core need is the base of everything they do, whether or not the character is aware of it. So some way or another, they are working to gain this core need. Whether or not they are succeeding is where conflict and plot come in.

Ambition in life:

What they long to do after high school gives us a glimpse into who they are. Someone who wants to be a doctor whats to save people, so does a soldier, but they both go about it in very different ways.

Someone's life ambitions offer a mirror into who they wish they could be, who they're trying to be. The school loner might want to become a politician because she actually likes talking to people and trying to make a difference. This is a clue as to how she might be feeling about being the school outcast, lonely and friendless.

Strongest character trait:

What is the unbending thing in them that makes you absolutely love them. Maybe they are forgiving, loving, charitable, loyal. (Carter is loyal, fiercely so)

Weakest character trait:

Here we see the flip side, the thing that could be used against them. Maybe they are arrogant, a liar, selfish, close minded. (Carter is closed off, it is the thing that effects her relationships the most)

This can be what they run to when pushed into a corner, when their scared or under attack. This is, in a way, their default mode, their comfort zone. It keeps them from becoming what they want to be. And it helps keep those who care out.

Personality type:

Here is that thing that really defines them. Introvert or extrovert? Athlete or bookworm? Who are they when they are around people?

Hobbies:

Now we might never actually see these but you want to know what they are. Someone who paints holds a different personality than someone who bikes. (Carter's hobbies are assembling guns, doing obstacle courses and fighting punching bags. I think that makes it pretty clear who she is)

What do others notice first about them:

This could be a physical character trait or a personality one. (Link notices right of the bat that Carter is observant.)

It's always good to keep in mind how the outside world perceives your character, not just how they like to see themselves.

How does your character change in the story:

This is a big question, because in this question lies your plot. You need to figure out how to get your character from being say a shy, bookworm to a confident motivational speaker, how in the world would that come about? That's the wonderful thing you get to figure out!

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There you have it! A character analysis that will help you start to understand your character just a little bit more! And don't worry, something might change later on. But this is a jumping off point!

So go learn about your best friend! Good luck! Happy writing!

Again if you have questions just ask! ☺️