Building Better Characters.

Before getting started writing any story, whether it be a short story or writing an entire book, these are the essential attributes a character profile helps you understand about your characters:

• Name
• Age
• Gender
• Place of Birth
• Place of Current Residence
• Nationality or Race
• Education
• Occupation

• Hight
• Weight
• Skin Color
• Eye Color
• Hair Color
• Hair Type (straight/curly/etc...)
• Right or Left Handed
• Body Type (Ectomorph/Endomorph/Mesomorph)
• Distinguishing Features (tattoos/scars/birthmarks)

• What are their strengths?
• What are their weaknesses?
• What is their biggest fear?
• How do they handle stress?
• How do they handle failure?
• How do they handle success?
• Are they introverted or extroverted?
• Are they optimistic or pessimistic?
• Are they confident or timid? 
• Are they compassionate or indifferent?
• Do they leap before they look or look before they leap? 
• How do they carry themselves (posture)?
• What major events shaped their personality (if not the events of the story)?
• Favorite food?
• Favorite animal?
• Favorite color?
• Favorite time of year?
• Favorite place to vacation?
• Favorite hobby?

For relationships, it's best to focus on the ones that impact the story. For those, focus on the character's relationship to each other. Are they close or not talking. Or have they not seen each other in years. If so, why and why is that important to the overall story.

Relationships to consider:

• Mother 
• Father
• Siblings
• Children
• Extended Family (grandparents/cousins/aunts/uncles)
• Significant Other/Spouse
• Best Friend