I found this great little character development sheet that I’m going to use to help round out some of my characters in my novel. (fun fact: I tried to print out 4… I ended up with 12 copies of it. Have no idea what happened. OY)
Today’s will be the second-main character in my new novel.
Edward Kempthorne – English – Youngest of 4? kids – 32 years old – lived in the U.S. since he was a teen
Optimist or Pessimist: Why? – Pessimist. Learned it from his father and losing someone he loved only increased it.
Introvert or Extrovert: Why? – He learned to keep his thoughts/feelings to himself when he was growing up (was he ridiculed when he did share, reinforcing this trait?)
Drives and Motivations: He wants to make a difference in the world – not sell (WHAT?) like his father does/expected him to. He wants to make his family proud. Doing what’s right.
Talents: Reading people, (add to this!)
Extremely skilled at: writing speeches?
Extremely unskilled at:
Good Characteristics: honest, hard-worker, direct
Character Flaws: stubborn, lacks confidence in himself(?), resistant to change
Mannerisms: subtle
Peculiarities:
Biggest Regret: that he put his job above his family one fateful day
Minor Regrets: that he hasn’t married yet, he’s never _____, bitter words that never should have been spoken
Biggest Accomplishments: getting into the “Academy” to become a cop
Minor Accomplishments:
Character’s darkest secret: Hmmmmm
Does anyone else know? : not yet
If yes, did character tell them? either straight out he does, or in a round-about way…
If no, how did they find out?
So obviously I’ve got more figuring out to do for Edward but I have fallen in love with him already. I love that he’s English and is a searching, broken soul. His search through the darkness for truth and light will be interesting to write.
~Laura
the start of a good life 
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