Before I write, I have a great need to know my character. The only way I figure I can really know someone, is to get inside her head and live with her for a very long time. Since I cannot do that literally, then I have to create a life. That's what I call my character outlines - Create a Life.I know I tend to go a little overboard when I do this, but I love to get into my character's heads and become them. Here is an outline of Melanie. It really is incredibly long but it is the way that I create the life in my character.
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Character Outline - Melanie
Protagonist
CHARACTER'S NAME & AGE:
Melanie Fairchild; 12 years of age
A. BACKGROUND:
1: What is her background? Melanie Fairchild was raised in a loving, Christian Home. (Morals instilled; value system established by parents with a resulting accountability) For 10 of her 12 years, Melanie lived in the small community of Bestwick. Here Melanie felt reasonably well-accepted despite her hearing impairment. Her family recently moved to a century farm on the outskirts of Guelph – two hours away from Bestwick. (Moving to a new community intensifies feelings of inadequacies) Because Melanie has a sensory-neural hearing loss, she has to wear two hearing aids. She sees herself as different and has the tendency, lately, to keep herself secluded from any lasting friendship or relationship with anyone other than her family members. (sense of belonging is decreased; does not cope well with transition)
2: Where did she grow up? Melanie was born in England. She moved to Bestwick when she was 2 years old. (stable family life helps Melanie find some sense of belonging- at least in her family)
3: What ar
e her parents like? Murray Fairchild, Melanie’s father, is an audio engineer by trade who travels out of town a lot on business. He is a loving father but has been a little delinquent in ‘being there’ for Melanie, especially since their move. (Melanie misses her dad and his absence has created some distance in communication. Melanie has trouble venting to anyone and her anxiety increases.) Hilary Fairchild, Melanie’s mother is a busy woman. She just got a job working part time at Sun-Valley Plywood and she used to teach piano in Bestwick. She plans on getting some new piano students lined up soon. Hilary Fairchild also writes greeting cards as a hobby/part time job. (The busyness of Melanie’s parents will add to her insecurity; some bitterness will develop because she needs someone to understand her feelings; neither parent will be there for her at first)
4: Childhood, and family members: Melanie Fairchild is the older of two children. (Loves her brother but is at odds with him lately. Simon has settled into school and community. Melanie is bitter about this and wonders why she cannot fit in easily like Simon does. Starts to feel freakish and different- wallows in self pity)
5: Education, level achieved, grades, popularity: Presently in grade 6; low self-esteem (Will affect her relationship with others)
Protagonist
CHARACTER'S NAME & AGE:
Melanie Fairchild; 12 years of age
A. BACKGROUND:
1: What is her background? Melanie Fairchild was raised in a loving, Christian Home. (Morals instilled; value system established by parents with a resulting accountability) For 10 of her 12 years, Melanie lived in the small community of Bestwick. Here Melanie felt reasonably well-accepted despite her hearing impairment. Her family recently moved to a century farm on the outskirts of Guelph – two hours away from Bestwick. (Moving to a new community intensifies feelings of inadequacies) Because Melanie has a sensory-neural hearing loss, she has to wear two hearing aids. She sees herself as different and has the tendency, lately, to keep herself secluded from any lasting friendship or relationship with anyone other than her family members. (sense of belonging is decreased; does not cope well with transition)
2: Where did she grow up? Melanie was born in England. She moved to Bestwick when she was 2 years old. (stable family life helps Melanie find some sense of belonging- at least in her family)
3: What ar
e her parents like? Murray Fairchild, Melanie’s father, is an audio engineer by trade who travels out of town a lot on business. He is a loving father but has been a little delinquent in ‘being there’ for Melanie, especially since their move. (Melanie misses her dad and his absence has created some distance in communication. Melanie has trouble venting to anyone and her anxiety increases.) Hilary Fairchild, Melanie’s mother is a busy woman. She just got a job working part time at Sun-Valley Plywood and she used to teach piano in Bestwick. She plans on getting some new piano students lined up soon. Hilary Fairchild also writes greeting cards as a hobby/part time job. (The busyness of Melanie’s parents will add to her insecurity; some bitterness will develop because she needs someone to understand her feelings; neither parent will be there for her at first)4: Childhood, and family members: Melanie Fairchild is the older of two children. (Loves her brother but is at odds with him lately. Simon has settled into school and community. Melanie is bitter about this and wonders why she cannot fit in easily like Simon does. Starts to feel freakish and different- wallows in self pity)
5: Education, level achieved, grades, popularity: Presently in grade 6; low self-esteem (Will affect her relationship with others)
6: Sports and Hobbies, pets: Shies away from sports. Feels she is different and cannot live up to expectations of coaches. She does like to watch sports, particularly school sports from afar. Her Dad and brother are avid fans of baseball (because Melanie knows the basic rules of baseball, she is able to converse with Dad and Simon on occasion about sports.)
Chinese fighting fish is only pet. Melanie collects angels. (Hobby will cause her to be drawn towards the stone angels that are in the garden; Melanie is attracted to inanimate objects or animals that require little attention, therefore she feels a measure of control)
B. HABITS: It is important to make sure you are clear on how your character acts in a crowd and alone.
1: Bad and good habits: fiddles with hair; tries to cover hearing aids. (This emphasizes her embarrassment about her hearing loss) Finds it hard to look a person in the eye for fear of them sensing she cannot hear (reading lips is an asset but because Melanie always watches lips, she rarely looks at people’s eyes); likes everything in it’s place in her room; hates to see a label sticking out of someone’s shirt; will often be brave enough to tuck it in for someone (when something is awry in her room, she can spot it a mile away.)
2: Social habits: Is quiet in a crowd; considers a crowd three or more (increasing self inflicted isolation and reinforces people’s beliefs that ‘maybe there is something wrong’); Is polite when spoken to but does not go out of way to initiate conversation. (Sometimes misconstrued to be ‘snobby’)
3: Physical Characteristics: Ash brown, shoulder length hair with natural streaks of blonde; Five foot two inches in height; weight – approx. 90lbs (Does not see herself as attractive most of the time, especially when she is dwelling on her hearing impairment)
4: Facial features: square face with smooth peaches and cream complexion; no pimples; bushy brown, expressive eyebrows; small, flat nose; piercing hazel eyes that appear more brown when tired or ill (Thinks her nose is too big, eyebrows are too close together and too thick and that her face is fat. All this decreases her confidence when she is in social situations)
5: Grooming habits: Is fastidious about keeping herself clean and tidy. Hair is always brushed and parted in the middle. Carries purse with her essentials always. (When Melanie’s clean and tidy appearance changes, this is a definite indication that something is amiss)
6: Morals, and friendships: Melanie’s faith is evident as she struggles with her attitude and feelings. When she encounters the stone angels, she speaks as if she believes that there is a spiritual realm. Has troubles adapting to the new school and environment. Manages to make two new friends. Feels closer to Amanda than Carlotta but suspects Amanda is a friend out of pity. (Friction results from insecure friendships. Strong moral base results in inner turmoil because she feels a pull towards what is right but wants to do the opposite.)
C. STYLE:
1: How is their home decorated? Combination of new, yard sale and auction sale antiques and bargains. Parents have refinished a lot of furniture. Home looks classy and coordinated with character, although much is second hand. Melanie’s bedroom is pale blue with blue cloud border. Posters of musicians and some philosophical sayings (Biblical and otherwise) placed strategically. Refinished oak desk with computer and cd player on it. Single bed with Aztec blue patterned quilt. (Values recycled and second hand items; attracted to antique stone angels in driveway)
2: lifestyle (should reflect who he/she chooses for friends and job): since she is new to the community, Melanie is hesitant to start all over again in church and school and community activities. Used to belong to youth group in church. Used to be in the Awesome Authors writing club in school. Enjoys contemporary music. Television is watched in moderation with special attention to violence and sexual situations in programming. Melanie is aware of this and restricts herself – most of the time. Starting to spend a lot of time on computer. Makes some attempts at friendship when confronted by two classmates (isolating self and becoming more reclusive; fearful of not being liked and accepted; negative feelings intensified)
3: Job, satisfaction or dissatisfaction: Responsible for certain chores, such as dishes, cleaning room, changing beds, vacuuming on Saturdays, feeding and cleaning fish, helping with supper on occasion – especially when mother is late; enjoys most of the work. (mother can trust Melanie to do what she asks; is responsible enough to care for Simon) Doesn’t like vacuuming. Gives odd feeling and is noisy. Will usually turn hearing aids off when vacuuming but then will not hear the ‘change’ of noise if something is caught or jammed. (sometimes the vibration of the vacuum makes her nauseated; mother thinks it is an excuse not to do vacuuming)
4: friends: Carlotta, Leslie and Amanda are on Melanie’s list of new friends. Melanie still e-mails good friend in Bestwick – Chantelle; dependent on friends for self worth (emotions on roller coaster as friendships are in their infancy and unable to reach Chantelle at times)
5: income: is paid for looking after Simon each week. Can earn money doing extra chores – list on fridge (Opportunity to be independent; is able to pay for extras)
6: car: relies on parents for transportation (parents are always aware where she is)
7. clothing: work clothes, and are these different from the weekend person? Looks like she has stepped out of a Sears catalogue. Enjoys fashion. Has ‘play’ clothes. Will buy clothes from yard sales if it is ‘brand name’ clothing.
D. RELATIONSHIPS:
Mother: preoccupied with getting settled and getting into a routine in new job. (this interferes with Melanie’s desire to find solace in her mother and doesn’t help when she needs to just talk, like they used to. Melanie begins to feel more alone)
Father: often absent due to work commitments and is also trying to establish himself in his new position in Guelph. (absence causes Melanie to reflect on ‘is this what God is like too?’ No one seems available for Melanie to talk to about problems)
Simon, brother: Teases sister but does seek her advice at times. 9 years old. Nosiness bothers Melanie. (Simon is a source of aggravation for Melanie and she tends to take her frustrations out on him)
Amanda: Takes an instant liking to Melanie. Has a sister who has Down Syndrome. She is aware of some of the difficulties handicapped people face. Does not tell Melanie about her sister, though. (Melanie thinks she feels sorry for her that is why she befriended her. This causes bad feelings)
Carlotta: Tries to be friendly with Melanie but is a bit standoffish. Waits for cues from Amanda. Exhibits some jealousy about friendship with Amanda (Melanie has difficulty having more than one friend at a time. Although Carlotta’s intentions are not always the best, she does seem as if she wants to befriend Melanie. Melanie’s anxiety level is escalated as she imagines that she (Carlotta) is out to get her.
Leslie: Melanie’s dream-boy. Melanie spotted him in class from the onset but beats herself up thinking [imagining, hoping] the impossible. (sets herself up for disappointment and ridicule at the expense of her overactive imagination; has trouble realizing that he [Leslie] really does want to be a friend with no strings attached)
E. RESPONSIBILITIES: is responsible to do certain chores around the house as outlined in ‘jobs’. Has Chinese Fighting Fish for pet. (learned responsibility at early age)
F. DETAILS:
1: Style of music: Contemporary Christian; some secular tame rock
2: favourite food: Hot German Potato Salad; drumstick ice-cream bars
3: phobia: being shunned; snakes
4: memory: security of living in Bestwick
5: emotional trauma: seeing the handicapped kitten that was ‘murdered’ by the farmer
6: emotional security: knowing that there is peace despite the world and the attitude of people who don’t care.
Character Type:
Amiable, Driver, Analytical or Expressive?
Analytical Personality
How does this character:
Look: Melanie looks like a typical 12 year old except for her hearing aids. She is slim and dresses well. (Maintains her appearance because she knows it is essential in order to fit in and that is something she so longs to do in her new school)
Feel: Due to the upheaval in her life and her continued and (now) intensified struggle she has with her hearing disability, Melanie feels unsettled and unaccepted and becomes more reclusive except for the budding relationship with Amanda.
Move: Short apologetic strides. Runs when confronted.
Eat: Decent table manners
Dress: Meticulously
How does this character react, in general to what life throws at him or her?
Prior to her move from Bestwick to Guelph, she coped well and felt accepted for the most part in her school – although there was the occasional jerk who badmouthed and attacked her self confidence. She was more apt to stand up for herself in Bestwick, though for she knew she knew she could count on the back up of family and friends.
Name the major motivating event in this character's life and its effect; "and therefore, this person (must, chose, behave, avoid, etc) ..."
The major motivating factor in Melanie’s life is when she is trapped in her home after the tornado. She thinks at one point, she will surely die, alone. She curses God at first but then realizes that she has no one else to turn to. Her faith is tested, strengthened and after she is rescued, she begins to see life (and her relationships) on another level or different light, as the saying goes. She refuses to accept her faith with a Pollyanna type attitude, though, and still questions why things happen the way they do.
Name events and the character’s decisions in the past that have brought him or her to the present moment. There must be a strong, believable reason for those decisions.
Melanie has always felt a measure of insecurity because of her hearing impairment particularly following the incident of the farmer ‘murdering’ the blind and deaf kitten. She was fitting in well at her school in Bestwick but once they moved, her self conscious feelings being to surface. She attempts different relationships but her motivation for friendship is selfish and she finds herself in a few pickles as a result. Her relationship with her parents fuels the fires of insecurity and she begins to feel all alone, despite the contrary.
How does the character start out, then grow, and finally end up at the end of the story?
Melanie begins her journey as a young lady with issues of non-acceptance and insecurity due to a recent relocation. Her hearing impairment compounds the problem and she (Melanie) sees it as a major obstacle to establishing relationships.
Melanie has sublimated a past experience with a kitten (that was promptly killed because it could not hear or see) that scarred her and caused her to look upon her life as a (self-imposed) prison sentence. No family member knows about this experience so she has never dealt with it. When the tornado strikes and Melanie is trapped and fears death, she calls out to God and comes to the realization that her attitude has been a stumbling block to both her faith and her relationships.
After her rescue, Melanie delves deeper into her feelings and begins to make some changes. The conclusion does not cast Melanie into a land of milk and honey but it does allow her to reflect on some of her mistakes and, so, it does forecast a brighter future for Melanie and releases her from her burden.
Basic Statistics :
Current Residence: On a small acreage (2) on the outskirts of Guelph, Ontario.
24 Wheat’s Road, Guelph. NIR 2R2
Occupation: Student
Talents/Skills: organizational; collector; journals (writes);
Birth order: Oldest of two
Siblings (describe relationship): Usually close to brother, Simon, but has been tense since the move
Spouse (describe relationship): n/a
Children (describe relationship): n/a
Grandparents (describe relationship): Doesn’t see them often; maternal grandparents live in Bestwick; Grandpa e-mails on occasion; paternal grandparents - deceased
Significant Others (describe relationship): mother & father; strong but being tested since the move and the intensification of Melanie’s insecurites
Relationship skills: limited until situation changes then she becomes more tolerant; not perfect
Physical Characteristics:
Height: 5’2”
Weight: 90lbs
Race: Caucasian
Eye Color: hazel
Hair Color: Ash brown with natural blonde highlights
Glasses or contact lenses? no
Skin color: Smooth peaches and cream complexion; no pimples;
Distinguishing features: bushy brown, expressive eyebrows; small, flat nose; piercing hazel eyes that appear browner when tired or ill
Mannerisms: Generally quiet with a contagious smile when sincere. Eyes wrinkle when smiling. Suspicious of strangers. More accepting when she knows people better.
Favorite Sayings: “No Way”
Speech patterns: Some obvious impediment when saying ‘d’ ‘s’ ‘t’ in particular; has been accused of a monotone voice
Disabilities: sensory-neural hearing disorder
Greatest flaw: suspicious of people and their motivations
Best quality: faithful and true in secure relationships
Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes Intelligence Level: needs some adjustments and modification in school (FM system; placed strategically to read lips, etc.)
Any Mental Illnesses, neuroses, self doubt? To begin with, experiences lots of insecurities and figurative fist shaking.
Learning Experiences: she controls her attitude and reactions to what ever is presented to her in a day.
Character's short-term goals in life: To fit in to her new school, initially, and then to be rescued from the tornado
Character's long-term goals in life: To be accepted, to have purpose in life and to not be a burden to anyone.
What barriers stand between the character and his or her goals? Attitude towards her hearing impairment and the destruction wreaked by the tornado.
How does Character see himself/herself? Initially she relates her existence to that of the kitten who was deemed worthless (and subsequently killed)
How does Character believe he/she is perceived by others? She thinks they think she is less than worthy of the same respect afforded to others the same age
How self-confident is the character? Not very
Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof? Definitely emotion
What would most embarrass this character? If she misconstrued a boy’s feelings
Emotional Characteristics
Strengths/Weaknesses: Determination of thought and follow through is a strength (sometimes called stubborn!); impulsiveness of thought tends to be her weakness
Introvert or Extrovert? Introvert (self imposed)
How does the character deal with anger? Most common response is to run away and become reclusive, especially in confines of new room; Since ‘meeting’ the stone angels, she will often retreat to where they are located and she sits in the crook of the angel’s arm. She journals and this is cathartic for her.
With sadness? Prays. Again she finds solace in her angels
With conflict? Can get defensive; sometimes will cry
With change? Introspective. Anxious and becomes more intorverted
With loss? Sadness. Cries easily
What does the character want out of life? To be accepted by peers and to establish sincere relationships with key figures, especially Amanda and Leslie
What would the character like to change in his/her life? Her hearing disability
What motivates this character? Her desire to be accepted and loved by God and significant others
What frightens this character? Rejection
What makes this character happy? Continuity in life situations; writing; genuine friendship
Is the character judgmental of others? Sometimes hasty when assessing motives and then judges unfairly
Is the character generous or stingy? Generous
Is the character generally polite or rude? Generally polite but can be short with those she encounters who treat her in a negative fashion.
Spiritual Characteristics
Does the character believe in God? Yes
What are the character's spiritual beliefs? That Jesus is her Saviour
Is religion or spirituality a part of this character's life? Yes. Constantly battles good vs bad;
If so, what role does it play? At first, displays anger towards God for allowing ‘things’ to happen; talks with God and the angels many times.
How the Character is Involved in the Story -- Character's role in the novel (main character? hero? heroine? Romantic interest? etc.):
She is the main protagonist
Scene where character first appears: First scene
Relationships with other characters: Tempest in a teapot at times; individual relationships need affirmation and raison d’être as story line progresses.
How character is different at the end of the novel from when the novel began:
Wounds are healed and relationships are established therefore she feels more self-confident and is starting to turn her disability into ability with help of family, friends and faith in God.
D. RELATIONSHIPS:
Mother: preoccupied with getting settled and getting into a routine in new job. (this interferes with Melanie’s desire to find solace in her mother and doesn’t help when she needs to just talk, like they used to. Melanie begins to feel more alone)
Father: often absent due to work commitments and is also trying to establish himself in his new position in Guelph. (absence causes Melanie to reflect on ‘is this what God is like too?’ No one seems available for Melanie to talk to about problems)
Simon, brother: Teases sister but does seek her advice at times. 9 years old. Nosiness bothers Melanie. (Simon is a source of aggravation for Melanie and she tends to take her frustrations out on him)
Amanda: Takes an instant liking to Melanie. Has a sister who has Down Syndrome. She is aware of some of the difficulties handicapped people face. Does not tell Melanie about her sister, though. (Melanie thinks she feels sorry for her that is why she befriended her. This causes bad feelings)
Carlotta: Tries to be friendly with Melanie but is a bit standoffish. Waits for cues from Amanda. Exhibits some jealousy about friendship with Amanda (Melanie has difficulty having more than one friend at a time. Although Carlotta’s intentions are not always the best, she does seem as if she wants to befriend Melanie. Melanie’s anxiety level is escalated as she imagines that she (Carlotta) is out to get her.
Leslie: Melanie’s dream-boy. Melanie spotted him in class from the onset but beats herself up thinking [imagining, hoping] the impossible. (sets herself up for disappointment and ridicule at the expense of her overactive imagination; has trouble realizing that he [Leslie] really does want to be a friend with no strings attached)
E. RESPONSIBILITIES: is responsible to do certain chores around the house as outlined in ‘jobs’. Has Chinese Fighting Fish for pet. (learned responsibility at early age)
F. DETAILS:
1: Style of music: Contemporary Christian; some secular tame rock
2: favourite food: Hot German Potato Salad; drumstick ice-cream bars
3: phobia: being shunned; snakes
4: memory: security of living in Bestwick
5: emotional trauma: seeing the handicapped kitten that was ‘murdered’ by the farmer
6: emotional security: knowing that there is peace despite the world and the attitude of people who don’t care.
Character Type:
Amiable, Driver, Analytical or Expressive?
Analytical Personality
How does this character:
Look: Melanie looks like a typical 12 year old except for her hearing aids. She is slim and dresses well. (Maintains her appearance because she knows it is essential in order to fit in and that is something she so longs to do in her new school)
Feel: Due to the upheaval in her life and her continued and (now) intensified struggle she has with her hearing disability, Melanie feels unsettled and unaccepted and becomes more reclusive except for the budding relationship with Amanda.
Move: Short apologetic strides. Runs when confronted.
Eat: Decent table manners
Dress: Meticulously
How does this character react, in general to what life throws at him or her?
Prior to her move from Bestwick to Guelph, she coped well and felt accepted for the most part in her school – although there was the occasional jerk who badmouthed and attacked her self confidence. She was more apt to stand up for herself in Bestwick, though for she knew she knew she could count on the back up of family and friends.
Name the major motivating event in this character's life and its effect; "and therefore, this person (must, chose, behave, avoid, etc) ..."
The major motivating factor in Melanie’s life is when she is trapped in her home after the tornado. She thinks at one point, she will surely die, alone. She curses God at first but then realizes that she has no one else to turn to. Her faith is tested, strengthened and after she is rescued, she begins to see life (and her relationships) on another level or different light, as the saying goes. She refuses to accept her faith with a Pollyanna type attitude, though, and still questions why things happen the way they do.
Name events and the character’s decisions in the past that have brought him or her to the present moment. There must be a strong, believable reason for those decisions.
Melanie has always felt a measure of insecurity because of her hearing impairment particularly following the incident of the farmer ‘murdering’ the blind and deaf kitten. She was fitting in well at her school in Bestwick but once they moved, her self conscious feelings being to surface. She attempts different relationships but her motivation for friendship is selfish and she finds herself in a few pickles as a result. Her relationship with her parents fuels the fires of insecurity and she begins to feel all alone, despite the contrary.
How does the character start out, then grow, and finally end up at the end of the story?
Melanie begins her journey as a young lady with issues of non-acceptance and insecurity due to a recent relocation. Her hearing impairment compounds the problem and she (Melanie) sees it as a major obstacle to establishing relationships.
Melanie has sublimated a past experience with a kitten (that was promptly killed because it could not hear or see) that scarred her and caused her to look upon her life as a (self-imposed) prison sentence. No family member knows about this experience so she has never dealt with it. When the tornado strikes and Melanie is trapped and fears death, she calls out to God and comes to the realization that her attitude has been a stumbling block to both her faith and her relationships.
After her rescue, Melanie delves deeper into her feelings and begins to make some changes. The conclusion does not cast Melanie into a land of milk and honey but it does allow her to reflect on some of her mistakes and, so, it does forecast a brighter future for Melanie and releases her from her burden.
Basic Statistics :
Current Residence: On a small acreage (2) on the outskirts of Guelph, Ontario.
24 Wheat’s Road, Guelph. NIR 2R2
Occupation: Student
Talents/Skills: organizational; collector; journals (writes);
Birth order: Oldest of two
Siblings (describe relationship): Usually close to brother, Simon, but has been tense since the move
Spouse (describe relationship): n/a
Children (describe relationship): n/a
Grandparents (describe relationship): Doesn’t see them often; maternal grandparents live in Bestwick; Grandpa e-mails on occasion; paternal grandparents - deceased
Significant Others (describe relationship): mother & father; strong but being tested since the move and the intensification of Melanie’s insecurites
Relationship skills: limited until situation changes then she becomes more tolerant; not perfect
Physical Characteristics:
Height: 5’2”
Weight: 90lbs
Race: Caucasian
Eye Color: hazel
Hair Color: Ash brown with natural blonde highlights
Glasses or contact lenses? no
Skin color: Smooth peaches and cream complexion; no pimples;
Distinguishing features: bushy brown, expressive eyebrows; small, flat nose; piercing hazel eyes that appear browner when tired or ill
Mannerisms: Generally quiet with a contagious smile when sincere. Eyes wrinkle when smiling. Suspicious of strangers. More accepting when she knows people better.
Favorite Sayings: “No Way”
Speech patterns: Some obvious impediment when saying ‘d’ ‘s’ ‘t’ in particular; has been accused of a monotone voice
Disabilities: sensory-neural hearing disorder
Greatest flaw: suspicious of people and their motivations
Best quality: faithful and true in secure relationships
Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes Intelligence Level: needs some adjustments and modification in school (FM system; placed strategically to read lips, etc.)
Any Mental Illnesses, neuroses, self doubt? To begin with, experiences lots of insecurities and figurative fist shaking.
Learning Experiences: she controls her attitude and reactions to what ever is presented to her in a day.
Character's short-term goals in life: To fit in to her new school, initially, and then to be rescued from the tornado
Character's long-term goals in life: To be accepted, to have purpose in life and to not be a burden to anyone.
What barriers stand between the character and his or her goals? Attitude towards her hearing impairment and the destruction wreaked by the tornado.
How does Character see himself/herself? Initially she relates her existence to that of the kitten who was deemed worthless (and subsequently killed)
How does Character believe he/she is perceived by others? She thinks they think she is less than worthy of the same respect afforded to others the same age
How self-confident is the character? Not very
Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof? Definitely emotion
What would most embarrass this character? If she misconstrued a boy’s feelings
Emotional Characteristics
Strengths/Weaknesses: Determination of thought and follow through is a strength (sometimes called stubborn!); impulsiveness of thought tends to be her weakness
Introvert or Extrovert? Introvert (self imposed)
How does the character deal with anger? Most common response is to run away and become reclusive, especially in confines of new room; Since ‘meeting’ the stone angels, she will often retreat to where they are located and she sits in the crook of the angel’s arm. She journals and this is cathartic for her.
With sadness? Prays. Again she finds solace in her angels
With conflict? Can get defensive; sometimes will cry
With change? Introspective. Anxious and becomes more intorverted
With loss? Sadness. Cries easily
What does the character want out of life? To be accepted by peers and to establish sincere relationships with key figures, especially Amanda and Leslie
What would the character like to change in his/her life? Her hearing disability
What motivates this character? Her desire to be accepted and loved by God and significant others
What frightens this character? Rejection
What makes this character happy? Continuity in life situations; writing; genuine friendship
Is the character judgmental of others? Sometimes hasty when assessing motives and then judges unfairly
Is the character generous or stingy? Generous
Is the character generally polite or rude? Generally polite but can be short with those she encounters who treat her in a negative fashion.
Spiritual Characteristics
Does the character believe in God? Yes
What are the character's spiritual beliefs? That Jesus is her Saviour
Is religion or spirituality a part of this character's life? Yes. Constantly battles good vs bad;
If so, what role does it play? At first, displays anger towards God for allowing ‘things’ to happen; talks with God and the angels many times.
How the Character is Involved in the Story -- Character's role in the novel (main character? hero? heroine? Romantic interest? etc.):
She is the main protagonist
Scene where character first appears: First scene
Relationships with other characters: Tempest in a teapot at times; individual relationships need affirmation and raison d’être as story line progresses.
How character is different at the end of the novel from when the novel began:
Wounds are healed and relationships are established therefore she feels more self-confident and is starting to turn her disability into ability with help of family, friends and faith in God.
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So there we have it. A rather long example of a character outline, but thorough! 
