So maybe (like myself) you feel just a bit guilty using  lists of characteristics that another writer has made.

 Trust me I know how it feel's, Even though you know it's okay you still feel wrong (I am so guilty of this, so guilty!) but if your like me then don't worry!

 I've go your back! The answer to stop feeling guilty has a few different solutions, And her they are:

1. The Magic List: Write your own list of characteristics! It was thought up by you and you wrote it yourself! Ta da!

2. The Take a noun, any noun. Be it mouse, green bean, Egypt, beanbag, anything. And make a character based off of that noun. I don't care if the noun you pick is pencil, or a coconut, it really can be any noun! Or word even. 

Now use that noun to structure your character, using characteristics that fit the noun you have chosen. If your noun was dog then your character might be obedient, friendly, trustworthy with a happy expression. Or you could take the alterative outlook on a dog and make the character wild, disobeying, and vicious at times.

This method is one of my favorites! Try it, it usually works! usually......

3. Take your own faults, fears, and habits and make them your characters, or take characteristics from people you know, it's certainly a very accurate way to experience characteristic.

Hope those suggestions help you poor guilty writers out there! Myself included.