Character Development Checklist
How well do you know your character?
Basics are a given. You know their eye color, hair color, and maybe even their height and clothing preference. You know she isn’t a morning person. You know he has a preference for dogs over cats. But how well do you really know them?
Obviously, every character is not going to need all this information, and some will not be applicable for every character. Use your better judgement. I know you have it.
Basics:
Character’s Name: Folami Adebowale
Character’s Nickname(s): Folana
Age: 29
Ethnicity: African American + 2nd Generation Ghanian
Sex/Gender: Female
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Brown
Height: 5′5
Weight: 135
Scars: None
Tattoos: None
Birthmarks: None
Piercings: None
Dress/clothing preferences: Cheap and trendy
Right/left handed/ambidextrous: Right Handed
Glasses/contacts: None
Family and Relationships:
Parents: Adebola Adebowale (Father), Ngozi Adebowale (Stepmother via Father) and Fatima Aa'ida (Shabazz-)Sampson (Winslow, née), Shazad Abdallah (Stepfather via Mother, for her adolescence), Madison Sampson (Current/Most recent stepfather)
Siblings: 1.Quiana Winslow (34 via unidentified teenage father), 2. Saaliha Adballah (19 via Shazad), 3. Sabahat Adballah (17 via Shazad), 4. Felicity Shabazz (8 via ex-boyfriend Azurine Conrad) and unknown step-siblings via marriage with Madison Sampson
Grandparents: Uzochi and Yehide Adebowale; Timothy and Amanda Mae Winslow
Marital Status: Single
Significant Other: None
Children: None
Pets: None
Other family members: Nobody of importance to her
Friends
Enemies
Religion:
The religion they follow (if any): Having a mother who did not know her true origins and attempted to piggyback on a number of African cultures, she does not have a set in stone religious system and is herself mostly interested in philosophy and mildly intrigued by the thought of a number of dieties or a system of cooperative gods of all the peoples.
Beliefs: That every god that mankind has a name and identification for is possibly real and in communion with each other, if any exist at all.
Superstitions: None. She is very practical, though she greatly respects the sanctity of the beliefs of others and their freedoms in that regard.
Location:
Country of Birth: America
Place of Birth: Austin, TX (East Side)
First Language: English
Accents: None really. Austinites have a surprisingly non-regional accent, likely caused by all of the migration and tourism rampart in the city.
Schooling:
Highest Education
Degrees
Work:
Occupation
Salary
Employment history
Work space
Mode of Transportation
Home:
Rent or Own
House, apartment, etc
Mode of transportation
Living space
Address
Inner Workings Of Your Character:
Secrets
Fears
Worries
Eating Habits
Food preferences
Sleep preferences
Work preferences
Book preferences
Music preferences
Introverted/extroverted
Optimist/pessimist
Hobbies
Pet peeves
Prejudices
Proud of
Biggest vulnerability
Embarrassed by
Worst memory
Best memory
Skilled at
Unskilled at
Attitude
Obsessions
Stresses
Addictions
Disabilities (physical)
Disabilities (emotional/psychological)
Allergies
Medical history
Habits:
Verbal quirks
Physical quirks
Gestures
Work habits
Sleeping habits
Annoying habits
Irrational habits
Eating habits
Healthy habits
Unhealthy habits
Mannerisms
Drinking habits
Objects Kept In - And Why:
Their closet
Their bedroom
Their purse/bag
Their fridge
Their car
Their desk
Their pockets
Their junk drawer
Their glove compartment
Their backpack
Their locker
Other:
Talents
Political preference
Strengths
Flaws
Prized possessions
Special/favorite memories
Time and date of birth
What they love
What they hate
Favorite season
Social class
Sports/clubs
