How to Craft a Character Outline
By kristen overman
editor and writing teacher.
If you haven’t thought about writing a character outline yet, maybe this article will change your mind. When you write a novel, one of the biggest challenges is creating strong characters that readers can connect with and will remember. It’s hard enough to craft a compelling main character, let alone supporting cast members. To help make the process easier, consider creating a character outline before you start writing … or work on a character outline before you revise. Here’s how to create a character outline that will make writing your novel much simpler.
How to Create a Character Outline
To begin creating a character outline for each character in your novel, start by answering some basic questions about them such as age, physical appearance, occupation or hobbies, family background/relationships and status quo. Next dive into their personalities—what are their most defining characteristics? Are they outgoing or shy? Do they have any quirks or habits? If so, what are they?
Once you have answered these questions for each major player in your novel then move onto more specific topics that will intersect with your plot, including their goals and ambitions; fears and doubts; strengths and weaknesses; motivations; etc. Finally think about where this character fits within the overall story arc—what is his/ her role in helping push the plot forward? Obviously, if this is your protagonist or antagonist, this will be a complex answer.
Writing believable characters takes time and effort—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you take advantage of tools like a character outline. By breaking down all aspects of each person into individual elements, you can ensure that every single one is fleshed out properly before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Remember, detailed characterization is key when it comes to writing compelling stories and making sure readers stay engaged with what’s happening throughout. A character outline can certainly help.
What Is a Character Outline?
A character outline is exactly what it sounds like—a document outlining all the important characteristics of your characters as they go through the plot of your story. Remember, your characters should have a character arc, where they grow and change. Now track when these events and turning points take place in the story, and how your character’s core essence transforms. This includes physical traits, backstory, the objective and character motivation pursued at any point in time, the character’s needs, personality traits, and more. The goal of creating a character outline is to ensure that all your characters are fully fleshed out so that they feel real and alive on the page.
The Benefits of Creating a Character Outline
Creating a character outline for each of your characters has several benefits. First and foremost, it ensures that each character feels distinct from the others. When readers can tell them apart based on their personalities or even their speech patterns, they’re more likely to be invested in their stories.
An outline also helps keep track of all the little details about each character you don’t want to forget as you write your story—it helps create continuity throughout your book and keeps things consistent across chapters or sections.
Finally, having a character outline can be very helpful when it comes to revising or editing your novel–you won’t have any trouble keeping track of minor plot points or relationships between characters when they are laid out clearly in one document. Remember, a character outline is a living document. When you make changes in your thinking about the story or you decide to revise an element of your character, carry that change or note over to your character outline to get the most benefit from it.
elevate your writing
Are you ready to take your story to the next level? Kristen Overman is here to help you! She's an experienced editor with expertise in middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books, adult fiction, and memoir. She can work with you to develop your plot, characters, and narrative voice, as well as assist in the brainstorming and outlining stages of your project.
