/lit/ - Literature

>>3913750
A character study shouldn't be a fact-sheet; it should be a portrait of a person. How they look is inconsequential, unless it matters to the story (e.g. a man who kills people with fros who has a fro).

I, personally, think character studies are pretty pointless for longer works, as they only serve to hinder your characters natural evolution in your story.

>I know youre supposed to be exhaustive when doing it

And who told you this? This sounds like a terrible practice.

>>3913754
This. Initially they should only be outlined. Like a shadow, taking more shape and form as your story evolves.

>>3913754
>>3913763
>>3913767
Weird, I always thought character studies were supposed to be as long winded as possible. The goal was to get all the little quirk sand details of the character out, even if most of the details wouldnt be used.

The idea is that if you did this the character wouldnt just take on your own habits and rituals but their own, since you already have this character aligned with certain likes and dislikes. Also these attributes lead to different attributes as the character evolves.

Not defending this though, its only what ive been taught.

>>3913795

Forget what you were taught. Some people (Rand jumps to mind) will write volumes on a character before they start writing, but I know of no good or great writer that had more than, as said, a sketch (not a fact-sheet).

It's called a "character sketch", as in the basic - not a "character portrait.

sidebysidepencilsketchpaintedportrait.jpg

>>3913795
>taught how to write

PFOOFLE! Some of the very best writers have been practically self-insertionary. That's how the struck the truth!

But we all come to the truth by our own paths, I suppose.

Sorry to bother you, OP.

>>3913797
>>3913798
Ok, so if you guys ever do a character study, what details do you look for to note down? Personal philosophy?

>>3913820
Things like hair and clothing are irrelevant if they don't relate to your character's mind. The main benefit of literature is the ability to tell the audience what the character is thinking. You can't really do that in any other medium, at least not to the extent that it's been developed in literature.
If something seems irrelevant, it is. Instead of a having checklist of characteristics you feel you to describe, your goal should be to create a character with depth. It doesn't matter how you accomplish this goal, only that the goal is accomplished.