2. Creating a portrait with words . . .
Character
Sketch
Creating a portrait with words . . .
From Reading to Writing Mary Oliver captures the nature of a person in her poem “The Journey.” In the story “Powder,” Tobias Wolff draws a more leisurely portrait of a man “in his forty-eighth year, rumpled, kind, bankrupt of honor, flushed with certainty.”

3. Creating a portrait with words . . .
Character
Sketch
Creating a portrait with words . . .
A good character sketch captures the personality and appearance of a person and can be part of almost any writing genre, from poetry to fictional narratives to biography to news stories.

4. MAIN IMPRESSION OF SUBJECT
B a s i c s i n a B o x
Character Sketch at a Glance
RUBRIC
Standards for Writing
physical description
person’s action and speech
mannerisms of person
A successful character sketch should
present a vivid picture of the personality and physical appearance of a person
establish a dominant, or main, impression of the person
reveal the writer’s response to the person
include dialogue, mannerisms, description, and other devices that show rather than tell what the character is like
place the character in a context that contributes to the reader’s understanding of the character
have a clear organizational structure and a strong conclusion
MAIN IMPRESSION OF SUBJECT
writer’s feelings about the person
other people’s reactions to the person
surroundings

5. Writing Your Character Sketch1
Prewriting
A writer must learn to deepen characters, trim writing, intensify scenes.
Richard North Patterson

6. Writing Your Character Sketch1
Prewriting
Whom do you want to write about?
You can choose someone you know well.
You might consider an interesting relative, a special teacher, or a remarkable friend.
You can also write about someone you have only casually observed but whose actions are unusual or revealing.

7. Planning Your Character Sketch
1. Explore your feelings. How do you feel about the person? What tone will you use to convey your feelings—detached, admiring, humorous, serious?
2. Create mental images of the person. Mentally replay scenes in which your character speaks, moves, and interacts with others. Which details stand out?

8. Planning Your Character Sketch
3. Place your character in a setting. Describe the person in a time and place that will reveal his or her personality. Which setting will best show how your character interacts with others? Which setting will reveal your character’s inner self?
4. Create a dominant impression. What is the main impression you want to give? What descriptions and incidents involving the character will best create this impression?

9. Writing Your Character Sketch2
Drafting
The best part of writing a character sketch is that you can start anywhere. Just begin drafting and let the person emerge as you write. You can rework the details when you revise and edit.

10. Writing Your Character Sketch2
Drafting
Show rather than tell.
Good character sketches let readers draw conclusions. Use anecdotes, dialogue, or any other device that will show rather than tell what your character is like.

11. Writing Your Character Sketch2
Drafting
Grab attention early but save the best for last.
Draw in your audience by starting with an interest tickler—a funny incident or a bizarre detail about your character’s appearance. As you develop your character, save your best for last.

12. Writing Your Character Sketch
Revising 3
TARGET SKILL
WORD CHOICE
In a character sketch, carefully chosen words add clarity and vigor to description. Specific verbs can bring the action to life. Specific modifiers can paint vivid pictures of how things look, smell, sound, taste, and feel.

13. Writing Your Character Sketch
Editing and Proofreading 4
TARGET SKILL
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Pronouns help present ideas clearly and help prevent unnecessary repetition. Make sure your pronouns agree with their antecedents in number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter) and are the right case (nominative, objective, or possessive).