Before I start a novel, I write a character review of each character so I get to know them. I want to know their physical appearance, their likes and dislikes, what their typical day is–that sort of information. I also want to know those intangible bits that truly make each person unique.
Here’s a list to consider as you get to know your characters. These type of traits will shape their actions and reactions throughout your plot:
- absent-minded
Credit: Pew Research
- active
- affable
- ambitious
- amiable
- animated
- annoyed
- argumentative
- arrogant
- attentive
- decisive
- babyish
- dependable
- bewildered
- determined
- bossy
- candid
- capable
- care-free
- careful
- caustic
- cautious
- charismatic
- charming
- clever
- cold-hearted
- compassionate
- complacent
- conceited
- concerned
- confused
- confident
Credit: Pew Research
- considerate
- cooperative
- crafty
- cruel
- cultured
- curious
- determined
- daring
- demanding
- doubtful
- eager
- easygoing
- effervescent
- efficient
- embarrassed
- excited
- exuberant
- fair
- fanciful
- fidgety
- fighter
- finicky
- frank
- fussy
- facetious
- generous
- grumpy
- loquacious
- gentle
- hard-working
- harried
- hardy
- harsh
- humorous
- intelligent
- intrepid
- ill-bred
- immature
- impartial
- impolite
- impudent
- impulsive
- independent
- industrious
- inimitable
- insolent
- giddy
- jealous
- blasé
- diligent
- giving
- jovial
- boorish
- discouraged
- naive
- hospitable
- negligent
- lucky
- inventive
- insipid
- insistent
- lackadaisical
- leader
- lovable
- loyal reckless
- relaxed
- resourceful
- restless
- dutiful
- malicious
- mature
- bossy
- dishonest
- glum
- languid
- disparaging
- greedy
- lively
- busy
- disrespectful
- gregarious
- logical
- dissatisfied
- grouchy
For a book of character traits, you might try Linda Edelstein’s Writers Guide to Character Traits. You might have better luck with it than I did. If you’re a highly-organized sort, you might enjoy pichu 4850’s character trait meme. Let me know if you find it helpful.
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best site ever and you the man
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This was AMAZING! =) My aunt is in the hospital from a bike accident and most these things helped describe her ALOT. Thanks!
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I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope she’ll be OK.
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That’s a good idea, Connie. An arrogant, confident female and a compassionate emotional male. Jury’s still out whether that is working for Boehner, though.
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This is an impressive list of character traits. Love it. Do share!
Where did you get the list or did you create it? This was very informative. 🙂
Thanks,
Elizabeth
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I’m a collector. I have a Word table with about fifty rows for different designators I might like to use in my writing. I have clothing styles, facial gestures, dog activities, house descriptions, neighborhood descriptions, and more. They’re designed to jog my creativity if I feel dull. One is this long list of characteristics to remind me people are rarely unemotional. In a perfect writing world, they’d pop into my head at the right moment in a scene, but in reality, sometimes I struggle. Whatever works, huh?
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Wat a great tool to use when wanting to mix things up a bit with your charachter…giving the female a few obviously male dominated traits will add a few ah ha! Thanks for this post!:)
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