Creating a Plot and Character profiling

There are many things someone can come up with, and many ideas that may pass by in your head. However not every idea that may be born in your thoughts, could be worth writing. You must have heard this a lot, I sure have, but because I personally write for entertainment, that being not only the entrainment of others, but mine too, I would like to say that, if an idea gives you pleasure, then write it. Even if it's cliche, or too boring or whatever. Write for yourself first. Forget the numbers and everything else. Remember that Writing is an art, and art is a form of expression, so express yourself in any way you deem enjoyable.

With that being said, let me help you with how to lay down a plot and create your characters.

Firstly, get yourself a notebook, and note down your idea. Then decide if that specific thing you have in mind, that scene, is gonna be the beginning of your plot, the middle or the end.

For example let's say you want to write a story, about a lonely high school girl and all you have in mind is this one scene of that character crying in a corner silently. You ask yourself if your story was, to begin with, that scene, where could it go. What could happen? 

Someone could hear her cry and take an interest in her.  Her guardian angel could decide to take a human form and bring her life around.  She could decide to give up on life and get reborn. So many options that are up to the creator aka writer.

If that scene was to be in the middle, then you have to think, about what happened prior for your character to end up in that scene. 

And if it was on the end, you have to come up with ways her life went downhill enough for her to end up crying like that.

Now when outlining a plot, it could be difficult to think of the whole book, from start to end, but you have to try and leave at least one point on each structure step.

Beginning     Middle      End

Begining: In a society where humans and vampires coexist, the lead is secretly part of a revolutionary group that wants to extinguish the one kind of the two.

Middle: Break of character. She realizes she had fallen for someone she shouldn't and is swaying from her motives

End: Decision. Does she chooses to love or not

A rough outline that basically will help you have an all-around view of your book and what is about. That's a small plot outline. You can make it as detailed as you want and even incorporate scenes that may come into your head and divide them into which part of the structure they belong.

Don't be discouraged if you can't round up your whole plot from the start. Many books are created on the go. As you write ideas get born and the story flows on its own.

I will provide below some points that could help you write a detailed plotline.

Opening    ---A good description of the environment in the story takes place

Character introduction -----Explain the relationship between the characters and the environment 

Thoughts on the theme ----possible trauma of the lead character, their past, the relationship they have with the other lead characters

Inciting incident ---the situation in which the protagonist is involved that basically sets the whole story to spiral

Support story---- (we don't always have one) but if there's any relationship or situations going on among the second leads that's notable.  (Example: Tae x Sira / JK Areum on Hush)

Genre appropriate elements and relationship development --- if it's action, action scenes and things related to that genre, if it's romance based, scenes related to that. 

Escalation of the main problem---- danger level rises, fighting with the partner/ friend, and attack from the villain. Stuff like that.

Awareness, decision----- the character desires to act to solve the issue (Example: realized they are in love with X and go to stop him from leaving the country.)

Solving the matter/Ending ----Resolution 

Character profiling

Even if you don't have a detailed plot outline, it would be good to have a clear character profiling. 

You have to note down all the characters you want in your story, what they are, who they are etc. In order to help you do that, I have a set of questions I am going to provide to you that you can use to create your characters.

Name

Colour attributed to them

Birthday

Role in the story

Sex

Age

How do they speak

What do they call themselves

Where do they come from

Do they have a nickname

Do they have any peculiar behaviours

Personality

What annoys/ triggers them

Charm

Current Situation

Upbringing

Reputation from their surroundings

Habits

Ethics/Beliefs

What has been their most difficult hardship so far

Strengths 

Weaknesses

Complexity

How can the reader sympathize/ relate with the character

The purpose of the story

Obstacles that prevent them from achieving

What actions do they take to resolve the obstacles?

How does the character change through the story

What was their state of mind at the beginning/middle/end of the story?

Appearance questions  (optional)

Race

Eye colour

Hairstyle/hair colour

Body style/Height/weight

First impression

Charming qualities

What is their usual clothing style

Do they wear any accessories

Social setting questions

What is their occupation

Why did they choose that occupation

What are his aims for the future related to that occupation?

What does the character think about their occupation

What are their concerns related to the future

Personal setting questions

Family

Single/taken/ married?

Do they have a love interest

Do they have ex-lovers

How  are that character's relations with his friends/ his parents/ his neighbours/ siblings

What is their relationship with their rival/enemy if they have one

Private settings questions

What does the character do when they are alone

What do they do on their days off

What are their important daily habits

Hobbies

What are they scared off

What does the character hope for in the future

The questions may seem too many, but I would advise you to apply them to your main characters and close supportive character for it will help you a lot. Creating a character is like creating a whole persona, a whole human being with a personality. The better you do character profiling, the more realistic and alive your character will end up being.

(If you want to see me filling the questions for the sake of an example let me know and I will edit to this chapter a filled-in example )

Someone asked so below you will find the filled in example using Jimin's character from my book HUSH (*edited)

Name. : Jimin

Colour attributed to them.   : Warm gray

Birthday   : October

Role in the story.   :Main lead

Sex.   :Male

Age.   :  25

How do they speak.: Composed profesional/diplomatic

What do they call themselves : a villain

Where do they come from : Korea/ Busan

Do they have a nickname : demon N.1

Do they have any peculiar behaviours : tendency to be manipulative / switch

Personality : loves too deeply, respectful, kind,well mannered.

What annoys/ triggers them : disrespect

Charm : can be both cute and hot

Current Situation : stuck between past mistakes and his desire for freedom

Upbringing : mother dead, father's remarried. Rich family, has a brother.

Reputation from their surroundings : strict and cold

Habits : knowing everything. Double checking things / smirking

Ethics/Beliefs : do good under the carpet, trust none, do it yourself if you want it to be done right.

What has been their most difficult hardship so far : mother's death/ finding out his girlfriend was gonna be his father's new wife/ breaking his brother's heart

Strengths : calculative, enduring, visionary, confidence, manipulative, intelligent, handsome

Weaknesses : self blaming, putting people's pain above his, taking everything as his responsibility

Complexity : whatever his brother touches, instantly loses interest for him

How can the reader sympathize/ relate with the character : he is broken, taking on blame and in attempts to save something desperately he makes more mistakes. Deprived of love and hanging on fake love just to lie to himself.

The purpose of the story : communication is key, overcoming your past is difficult but doable, opening up to trust people even after you have been let down is a must for not all people are the same. Inner growth.

Obstacles that prevent them from achieving : his own inner self, self loathing, blame / the woman of his past that still reappear to remind him of his failure and betrayals/ fear itself

What actions do they take to resolve the obstacles? : He has been avoiding his ex and trying his best to hate her. Ultimately he understands that his solutions won't come that way.

How does the character change through the story : he always had a good grasp of emotional issues however with Y/N around, he starts feeling comfortable to let his guard down because her kindness reminds him of his once own heart and reenforces that not all people are untrustworthy

What was their state of mind at the beginning/middle/end of the story? : Beginning- he just wanted to teach a lesson, because he knew how it is to be a people pleaser. Middle- he was afraid of getting too close but also afraid of letting go of Y/N End- he founds himself truly in love after a long time and is determined to cherish that love with all he got till his last breath.

Appearance questions  (optional)

Eye colour : Brown

Hairstyle/hair colour : Blonde / Black

Body style/Height/weight :fit, 1.73 cm. -

First impression : authoritative, handsome, well composed

Charming qualities : great hair, sparkling eyes, pretty smile, plump lips

What is their usual clothing style : suits and ties / tshirts and sweatpants at home

Do they wear any accessories : rings, earrings, necklaces

Social setting questions

What is their occupation : Philosophy Professor

Why did they choose that occupation : Interesting in questions life

What are his aims for the future related to that occupation? : He wants to remain on the job till he grows old

What does the character think about their occupation : he enjoys it a lot and sees it as a way of helping people

What are their concerns related to the future. : He might find himself someday not knowledgeable enough to teach the subject

Personal setting questions.

Family : Father/ brother

Single/taken/ married? : In a relationship

Do they have a love interest : Yes

Do they have ex-lovers : plenty

How  are that character's relations with his friends/ his parents/ his neighbours/ siblings : Has no friends. With his brother they are at war. His father is cool but he avoids him out of guilt. Neighbors and other coworkers he is exemplary.

What is their relationship with their rival/enemy if they have one : the relationship with his brother is rocky. He loves him but is aware that he is to blame so he tries to take all his anger seeing it as fair punishment.

Private settings questions

What does the character do when they are alone : mostly corrects homework, does paperwork for his father's company. Basically just work.

What do they do on their days off : go to his mansion and lock himself on his library room

What are their important daily habits : fixing his hair, chosing good clothes. Spraying his perfume

Hobbies : playing darts, taking long rides for fun with his car

What are they scared off : being hated by the people he loves

What does the character hope for in the future : to be understood and loved despite his broken self and flaws of character.

In the next chapter, I will discuss how to build dialogues and ensure clearance in your writing.