How to Write a Character Sketch

A character sketch is a short written description introducing the reader to a character in a story. This is often one of the first writing exercises taught in English classes. Strong characters give the reader a reason to stay interested in your story. Learning how to write a character sketch is the first step towards great creative writing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Decide whether to write a detailed list or a hypothetical encounter you had with the character. Writing a list is easier, but writing about an encounter helps the reader better understand the character's voice, and will help get your creativity flowing.
2. Give the character a name and decide the gender. A name can tell a lot about the character, such as his geographical location and age or generation.
3. Use adjectives and similes to describe the character's physical description. Concentrate on what the character looks like, and what she is wearing or carries around, such as a baseball bat or a jar of fireflies.
4. Quote a conversation you had with the character. Describe what he says, does and thinks. Write about the character's likes and dislikes. Tell the readers about a major goal the character is working toward or wishes to accomplish.
5. Notice what other people say about the character and what they do to her. Tell about any interesting relationships with family or friends, whether people like the character and how they would describe her.
6. Explain the setting where the character is found. This may be a specific place like a favorite hangout.
7. Write about what your character is like in a general sense. Talk about what makes this character different, what his strengths and weakness are and anything else you think will be important for the reader to know.

Tips & Warnings

• Use quotation marks around anything the character says, or around any copied text from a book.
• Use details instead of blatant statements to allow the reader to make her own judgments and conclusions about the character.