Being a fan of lists and such, I personally love filling out profiles of my characters. I like the database feel of being able to open a book or file and see a character charted out, like I'm a special ops commander and I'm putting together my team.
But, on the whole, it's hard to find one on the internet that doesn't degrade the concept into too base a survey. A lot of writers I've met online hate the concept of characte profiles (to each their own), but
this one is pretty awesome. It's very indepth, but asks a lot of questions that make you think more about the character than many others I've found. Part of it is that the survey doesn't ask you list off numbers or stats, but asks questions about the nature of the character. I used it
once already for my MC from Tigress.
And feeling a bit brain fried at the moment, which is making me useless in regards to beta, I'm going to find out what more I know about my new Domme madam, Miss Crow. I shiver in antici-
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy? She stands at a strong 5'10", taller in heels, and built like an athletic woman who engages in regular exercise and maintains a good diet.
2. How old is she? Late 30s, maybe early 40s.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry herself well or does she slouch? She holds herself tall and proper, bearing an almost regal air about her.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities? Good health, regular doctor visits. She keeps in shape with regular workouts. Nothing out of the ordinary health wise, except maybe reading glasses at night.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid? She moves with intention, knowing what she wants and where she wants to go.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror? I don't know if she could be described as 'beautiful', but she does have very captivating and striking features none the less.
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred? Golden complexion, a result of her Hawaiian mother and English father.
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style. Dark red/brown, more reddish in bright sunlight.
9. What color are her eyes? Dark brown.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features? Not that I can think of.
11. What are her chief tension centers? Temples, bridge of nose.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does she have six of the same suit? There no t-shirts or anything quite that casual; she does have jeans, but they're designer. A lot of well kept and conservative choices that can still be sexy.Nothing really demur
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them? They should fit well, almost everything she has is tailored to fit her. So yes, she's very comfortable in them.
14. Does she dress the same on the job as she does in her free time? If not, what are the differences? When she has to make business appearances, it's in well made and fitting suits, or something that shows she's in charge.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando? Commando when she's feeling frisky, probably more of a thong the rest of the time.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse? Strong, gentle tones. It can also has a dominant edge that commands obedience.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate? She rarely raises her voice, her own commanding a respect that doesn't need to be loud to grab someone's attention.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics? A bit of an English accent, from spending some of her formidible years in England. Has a habit of calling a lot of people "dear".
4. What language/s does she speak, and with how much fluency? English, Spanish, French, Italian and German. Pretty fluent in most, though Italian gives her most trouble.
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations? Sometimes, she does have some housekeepers who speak Spanish better than English. Other times it's just because she likes keeping someone in the dark.
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does she have to think about her words? She needs a quick moment to gather herself, but otherwise can speak off the hip if she needs to.
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change? Eloquent, very eloquent and controlled. To lose that she'd have to be really pissed off, and she rarely allows that to happen. Calm, low, and slow speaking if much more frightening from her.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart? She's fairly intelligent, having gone to good schools and colleges. More book-smart, but she does know much about things you don't learn in books.
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate? She'll usually take a moment to think and consider her options. When she answers quickly, it's when she's already considered something before hand and had an answer ready.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical? Logical and practised, she considers all angles before commiting to a decision. However, in certain aspects she'll adjust intuitively, but that intuition is based on what amounts to a tree graph for each decision. Much more practical about things, but is willing to take chances if she thinks it's worth it.
4. What kind of education has the character had? Good schools growing up, boarding school for high school, Ivy Leagues for college.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about? She double majored in Business and Pyschology, with minors in Business Management and Art.
6. Is she an introvert or an extrovert? An introvert who draws people to her by nature. She can be "outgoing" but it's normally for functions and needed social events.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven? She's a woman who knows what she wants and won't settle for less. Often she has a smiling face on, but it's a smile that just as dangerous as it is comforting. She was driven in her earlier years, but at this point can be laid back about her life; but not to the point of being layabout or causual.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic? Each new meeting is someone who may be a potential help sometime in the future, but depending on the nature of the meeting she'll be more on guard.
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react? Act, even if it looks like a reaction. She'll go directly for things she wants.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight? I guess fight.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks? Perhaps a bit patronizing, as she knows she's in charge of a situation most of the time. Has no problem with any sort of joking, but likes things more sophisicated than crude.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them? It's not a mental disorder, persay, but she does suffer from semi-cronic headaches. The best she can do is take some migraine meds and try to sleep it off.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person? The biggest for her was realizing she loved the power of dominant control, especially that over individuals.
14. What does she fear? Losing control most of all, lacking the power to help those she cares for.
15. What are her hopes or aspirations? At this point in her life, she's really reached her aspirations, in the business world. Now she's taking time to enjoy more personal enjoyments.
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about her? In college she survived a suicide attempt.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with her parents. It was a good one, a tad odd in that she was a late birth, her parents being in their forties when she was born. Very loving, if a bit odd seeing as they were older when she came along. Both are deceased.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like? No siblings.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom she is close? Are there ones she can't stand? She has an aunt who still lives in Hawaii who she's close to. She's aware of relatives in England, though they're not close as they still disapprove of her father's choice of wife.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom she considers part of her family? What are her relationships with them? Quite a few actually. There are at least 7 young women who she took in and groomed to her liking, most staying under her care for a year, a few staying longer. She's quite close to all of them, and keeps in contact with their endevors once they go out on their own. She also cares for her small staff of housekeepers (and one cook), and makes sure they're happy.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet? Olivia Wilshire, an old college friend who went on to run an art gallery.
6. Does she have other close friends? She knows a multitude of people in various stations, though as to friends she really keeps in touch with some of the girls who lived with her, Aiden Brooksmiller being the most well known.
7. Does she make friends easily, or does she have trouble getting along with people? Not really a friend maker, though she is courteous and friendly. She's never had trouble getting along with others, but she sees a difference between being on good terms for a few hours or in business and liking someone enough to spend extended amounts of time together.
8. Which does she consider more important: family or friends? Friends, most family she doesn't hold in high regards (save her one aunt), so the friends she has she holds dear.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has she been married more than once? Single, never married. Two long term relationships, both ended.
10. Is she currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse? I don't think you could call it romantic, but she is in a relationship of sorts.
11. Who was her first crush? Who is her latest? Gillian Powell, 10th grade. Laura Denver, eight years ago.
12. What does she look for in a romantic partner? Despite being so dominant, she actually wants someone who can stand up to her and challenge her will. She likes those with a softer nature, but not someone who will go with just anything she says. She has people for that.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does she relate to them? If no, does she want any?No one biological, though she tends to think of the her girls as children, in a strange sorta way. She'll probably not have any herself, but she's open to maybe adopting later on.
14. Does she have any rivals or enemies? Some business rivals, no one whose going to put a hit out on her. There's some people in her social circles who don't exactly care for her, but they're not going to do anything to her.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does she fall on the
Kinsey scale? Probably a 5. Women are what catch her eye, but she wouldn't say no to a man (have to be a heck a guy though).
16. How does she feel about sex? How important is it to her? Very open about her sexual life; well, open as she's out, she does keep some of her tastes a little closer to the chest. She enjoys it, but she's in control enough that she's not going to fall to pieces if she doesn't get any.
17. What are her turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits? Dominance (hers), obedience (theirs). Crudity, false bravado. Weird bedroom habits... that's maybe a whole other issue.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (
zodiac of
choice) sign? How well does she fit type? Leo. She doesn't pay attention to signs and stuff, she just knows what her sign is.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in her life? She used to be growing up, but in college drifted away from religions. Now she's happy where she is, not totally atheistic, but not going out of her way to worship anything.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it? Be honest and up front about your desires; hiding them isn't going to do you any good. Stand up for what you want, and be willing to go for it. If you have the power to do so, give back and help those who need it, but don't just give it to them. She wouldn't compromise unless she saw that the only option of doing so would have too negative a consequence.
4. How does she regard beliefs that differ from hers? Is she tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent? She doesn't care what others believe, it's their choice. She'll just smile and nod, though she'll jab back if she thinks it's being used to belittle her.
5. What prejudices does she hold? Are they irrational or does she have a good reason for them? Dislikes laziness, or those who try to find the easy way out (easy involving no work on their part). Thinks that politicians are just out for money or favors, because most of the time she's met any that's what they were after from her.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is she rich, poor, comfortable, in debt? Very well off, starting and running several businesses over her lifetime. Not anywhere near the top 500 of any list, but has no need to ever worry about the cost of anything.
2. What is her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected her? Business founder and corperate bull, she's in charge in any board room. Is to the point that she no longer needs to head her businesses herself or wage corperate warfare. Supporter of the arts, as much as any person of status is, though she does invest in some artists now and then.
3. Where does she live? House, apartment, trailer? Is her home her castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does she share it with others? Lives in a six bedroom mansion, not counting living quarters for house staff, closed estate on thirty acres. Also keeps a downtown loft, some property in England and technically owns the home her aunt lives in in Hawaii.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does she spend her money on? Whatever it is she wants.
5. What does she do for a living? Is she good at it? Does she enjoy it, or would she rather be doing something else? When she worked, it was building her own businesses (selling one) or being hired on as a corperate bull to straighten organizations. She liked it, having the control of things from the top down. Semi-retired, letting things handle themselves now.
6. What are her interests or hobbies? How does she spend her free time? She enjoys art, and while indulging in some of her doesn't delude herself to thinking it's really going anywhere, it's just for fun. A "hobby" she has is employing young women to enter her care for one year, where she has total control over their every action. She uses this time to enjoy her own whims, as well as grooms them for more successful careers once they leave.
7. What are her eating habits? Does she skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods? Enjoys seafood, shrimp and salmon especially, and loves baked goods. Doesn't skip many meals, enjoys the occasional night on the town, and drinks moderately. She stops before she truely gets buzzed. Not fond of peas or plums.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is her favorite:
1. Color? Dark red.
2. Smell? Smoke spice.
3. Time of day? Dusk.
4. Season? Fall.
5. Book? Art of War.
6. Music? Cello.
7. Place? Opera house.
8. Substance? Tight silk.
9. Plant? Bonzai.
10. Animal? Large cat.
END
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