Characterisation - An Example Of...
by Jessica Jones ( Jeyssika )
This are the character profiles for my three characters in my story Ella.
I have mentioned doing similar things to do this to help with characters when you are stuck.
This really helped me move on with my story because I had a bit of a writer's block and a whole jumbled set of ideas then my amazing English Teacher, Miss Field, suggested I do this and it helped a lot.
So there you go....
Ella Smith:
• Like Olivia Dunham (a character off a TV show called Fringe) only more feminine
• Olivia Dunham: Tough, smart, good people skills, very brave.
• Very feminine – Long flowing blonde hair, vibrant green eyes, slim pink lips. Rosy cheeks, slim figure & likes to wear flowing dresses & skirts.
• Favourite colours – colours of spring – green – leaves, yellow –daffodils, rose /pink – blossom (Story takes place in spring- women walks through blossom on floor & beneath blossom trees)
• She is in her late twenties.
• She lives alone with her grey cat with silky fur. Cat is well-behaved & follows her like a shadow & loves to curl up on her lap on an evening when she sit in front of her fire in her little house that was left for her & all paid for by her parents before the both passed away - cancer – has a trust fund but still works part time as a nursery school teacher. Loves children but hasn’t met the right man to have them with yet.
• Likes to read a lot, mainly fiction –the classics & crime novels – enjoys the thrills in thrillers because she doesn’t really have any in her own life – small village with a school, bakery etc. Everyone knows everyone & everything about everyone. Nothing ever happens.
• But when it does happen, & to a large scale, she rises up the challenge & embraces the women inside of her that knows how to deal with it all. Becomes more like the brave & courageous people she reads about – she finds out she’s tough & smarter than she gave herself credit & that she deals with what happens to her in ways that surprise even herself.
• She has only one older sister who has moved to New York, she’s a big-time editor for the New York Times. But Ella would prefer the quiet life in the cosy village that they grew up in and stays put. Doesn’t resent her sister – Monica – but realises she is more like her when she thought when she becomes authoritative just like her sister is.
Zachary Lewis:
• Also a ‘Mr Nobody’ that lived in the next village over but moves to her village to get away from his ex – she turned against him even though she was the one who cheated on him. Doesn’t mind talking about his past, he has moved on – won’t let her hurt him anymore.
• He moves near where she lives – they (him & Ella) exchange glances around the village & she finds him mysterious
• Only till the big thing happens that makes them find out they are perfect for each other – even though how they realise this is not really the conventional method of dates etc
• Also in late twenties – has no pets. Tries to wonder around village more than anything so he’s not just sat at home watching his action DVDs. Shares same feelings of Ella – wants action not drama.
• However after what happens they decide that’s enough action for a lifetime & they decide to just move in together & live happily ever after.
• Has short brown hair this is a bit unruly but she likes it. She doesn’t want to comb it or gel it down she just wants to run her fingers through it as she kisses him.
• He always wears a shirt though he doesn’t have a job as such –he’s a popular poet – writes about life, love & nature
• He’s usually in jeans & a jacket too & shuffles around the streets in his old trainers that he will only buy new ones of when the ones he has have fallen to pieces – hint: they actually do.
3rd & final character – rest are only in passing or are not ‘worthy’ of giving a character rather than just being a body to help the plot.
Daniel Henderson
The villain
Cruel, calculated
Wouldn’t want to get on his wrong side
Not physically intimidating – average – not largely built or anything but not small
Almost grey & dull eyes
Black hair that is just there - never does anything with it.
Usually wears a shirt, trouser-pants & black shoes but no tie or blazer (long grey coat when it’s winter (takes place in spring - so can be cold))
The Challenge
Try it for yourself :)
Copyright © 2010 Jessica Jones
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