Characterization Worksheet
1. What is your main character’s motive? (18)
2. Why does your main character have the problem s/he does? (30)
3. What do you know about your main character that will determine how s/he will
react to the problem? (30-31)
4. How will your main character actively move toward his / her goal? What events in
the plot will you create to facilitate this? (30)
5. Describe your main character’s physical appearance. (23-24)
6. Secondary characters – How do they relate to the main character’s struggles? /
Describe them physically. (26-27)
7. What are contradictions in your main character?
The Four Ws – Establishing Your Basic Story Line (72-75)
1. Who is your story about?
2. Where is it set?
3. When is it taking place?
4. What is going on?
6 to 10 word Plot Summaries
Examples
Hobbit, wizard, dwarves seek destruction of ring Book title: _____________________________
Wolf blows down pigs’ houses
Story title: _____________________________
Write one based on another favorite work or short story:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Now brainstorm different possible story ideas for a new story. Write ideas on poster paper.
**Then develop your own list of 5 to 10 story ideas. Borrow from your group list and add your own.**
Masterplots (based on Ronald Tobias’s book, 20 Masterplots.)
Notes: Plot is a force or process. Aristotle reminds us about Unity and Cohesion. Consider whether your
story will be more internal (mental/ emotional) or external (physical/action-based). Successful writing
should involve some of both. Make tension fuel your plot and increase as opposition increases. Make
change the point of your story. Consider what we learn about life from your character’s choices. When
something happens, make it important. Make the causal look casual. Make your central character
perform the central action of the story. Leave chance to the lottery. Originality is key.
10 Basic Plot Patterns – Choose one of these as the framework of your story. More details later.
1. Quest - May develop part of hero journey/ cycle, such as education by mentor, overcoming of
final obstacle, or re-entrance into original world. Character gains more than what was sought.
2. Action/ Adventure - More physical; can be a process plot as in a fairytale; relies on cause &
effect. Hero in search of fortune/ success. Depends on specific details.
3. Chase – Pursuit, Rescue, or Escape – Like Hide & Seek. Protagonist, antagonist, possibly victim (if
Rescue or Escape). High stakes. Confined setting(s). May involve revenge or justice.
4. Riddle – see “Choking Doberman” or “Two English Gentleman.” Info. slowly revealed. Details are
significant. Make the causal seem casual at first.
5. Rivalry/ Underdog. (Ex: original Cinderella story.) One char. vs. another in some way. One must
gain upper hand by end.
6. Temptation – Character makes a dangerous choice and learns some kind of lesson.
7. Metamorphosis/Transformation/Coming-of-Age/ Discovery – Character undergoes an external
or internal change, or gains new knowledge. Change is valuable and surprising.
8. Love - 1 char. wants a relationship with the other; something(s) in the way; resolutions. Exs:
romantic comedies, Romeo and Juliet. Must be unusual or better to avoid.
9. Sacrifice – 1 character sacrifices something for the other. Must be built-up and unexpected.
10. Ascension/ Descension (Ex: “The Strange Man without a Coat”) – character descends downward
into madness/ grief/ darkness or upward toward hope/healing/light.
**Develop your own list of 2 to 3 plot types to consider for your short story. Then, based on your 6-to10-word plot summary ideas, develop 3 to 5 story ideas to consider. You should have 6 to 15 ideas.**
PLOT STRUCTURE 101
Sample Text: “The Choking Doberman.”
Somebody wanted… but… so….
ACT I – Set-up/Exposition – establishes setting, Lead, Objective. 1 scene.
ACT II – Rising Action – Complications, Conflict, or Confrontation. Increased tension. 1 to 2 scenes.
ACT III – Climax, Falling Action, Denouement – Knock-Out Ending. 1 to 2 scenes.
Lead
Objective
Complications
Knock-out
“Create a character, then get him up a tree, throw rocks at him, then get him down.”
ACT I: Developing the LEAD or main CHARACTER
Develop a sympathetic character: jeopardy, hardship, underdog factor, or vulnerability.
Develop a dynamic character.
Avoid “stock” or “type” characters by adding a twist or contrast.
Indirect characterization: appearance, actions, words, thoughts, others’ reactions. In other words:
What character looks like, does, says, thinks; and how character is viewed/ treated by others.
Consider character relationships. (See character triangles.)
Plan on 1 to 3 main characters.
Remember that some plots call for a protagonist and an antagonist. Other relationships are different.
**Using the Characters list, create 3 to 5 potential characters. Write a brief description of each.**
Consider:
Gender, Age, Occupation
Background – significant details or events
Relationship(s) to other character(s)
Appearance
Way of speaking
Symbolic associations – colors, words, weather, animals, plants, etc.
Strengths/Weaknesses – what 2 voices battle within your character?
Main change or impact on main character
Characters
Girl – boy – woman – man – child – baby – twin
Sister – brother – son – daughter – mother- father – grandmother – grandfather – aunt – uncle
Cat – dog – fish – whale – caged bird – eagle – lion – insect – farm animal – forest animal – reptile
Stone – mountain – sea – fire – wind
Atom – cell – organ
Traveler – alien – beggar – explorer – gypsy
Fairy – witch – king – queen – knight – dragon – princess – prince – unicorn – mermaid – vampire –
werewolf – centaur – faun – elf – dwarf – ogre – troll – sphinx
Angel – demon – priest – priestess – healer – prophet – god – star
Fisherman – farmer – miner – carpenter – lumberjack – cowboy
Computer programmer – database manager
Doctor – nurse – firefighter – ambulance driver – surgeon
Musician – conductor – painter – chef – actor – director – photographer
Professor – student – accountant – administrator – politician
Soldier – veteran – lieutenant – general
Athlete – trainer – referee
Veterinarian – marine biologist – zookeeper – animal rescuer – scuba diver
Prisoner – guard – chaplain – detective – police officer – lawyer
Objectives
solve a mystery
find treasure
heal from loss
become famous
achieve revenge
acquire a lost or missing object
gain power
win a battle
overcome a disability or injury
gain knowledge or insight
save a life
escape from danger or captivity
explore another world
heal from guilt or shame
save something/ someone in nature
protect or rescue a loved one
die in peace
reconnect with past/ loved one
survive
find the answer to a question
find hope or joy
build something important
discover the truth about something
**Develop and write out objectives for 3 to 5 characters. Keep in mind the total length of your story.
Remember that your story might be a few key scenes in the imagined context of a larger story.**
Points of View
Third Person Omniscient – Third Person Limited – First Person – Second Person (not recommended)
Setting
Consider (a) setting(s) that will enhance the development of the character and add to the mood.
**Sketch out 2 to 3 potential settings. Consider time period as well.**
Locales
desert
castle
mountain
city
tundra
market or public square
field
village
island
bus
farm
train
valley
airplane
forest
theatre or concert hall
tree house
bank
ocean, river, lake
store
beach
school
house
university
cabin
boat
restaurant
dance club
church, temple, cathedral
museum
court
foreign city: Paris, London, Hong Kong, etc.
prison
Time periods:
Dinosaur eras
Ancient Greece/ Rome
Medieval times
Western Colonization
American Colonial times
Age of Exploration
Industrial Era
Migration/ immigration
War times
50’s – 60’s – 70’s – 80’s – 90’s
Modern/ Contemporary
Future
**My story is about a ________________ who wants/ needs __________________________________.
It is set in/ at a ____________________________________________________ and will be told from a
___________________________ point of view. I want it to feel _____________ and _____________ .
ACT II: Complications, Confrontations, and/or Conflicts.
Sample Text: “The Whale Husband.”
**Develop possible complications for your lead.
My character will start out….
Then (1st complication)….
And then (2nd complication)….
If you plan to use flashback, consider this structure:
Start story “in medias res” – in the middle of things:
then flash back to problem in past:
then return to present and add complication:
Study sample stories for additional structure ideas. Remember to increase tension and make
resolution seem nearly impossible.
ACT III: Knock-Out Ending – emotionally satisfying for reader.
Remember to tie key details together and resolve most confusion or ambiguity.
Can end positively or negatively.
(Character gets what she wants…
doesn’t get what she wants….
and result is good
or result is bad.)
Sample Text: “Two English Gentlemen” (Brainstorm possible endings)
**Brainstorm 5 to 10 possible endings. Consider both happy and tragic endings. Remember endings of
favorite movies and what makes them so satisfying. Consider adding key lines or images. Narrow
down to 1 or 2 best options, or consider a combination of your best ideas.**