Type your character's name and occupation at the top of the page, centered. For instance, "Duane 'Dog' Chapman, Bounty Hunter" or "Mary Poppins, Magical Nanny." Space down a couple of lines.
Create a simple chart consisting of single-word prompts aligned on the left side of your page, one per line. On the first page, list physical characteristics as prompts: coloring (hair, eye, and skin), height, weight, physical fitness, dress style, scars, tattoos and so on. List as many as you like while keeping it within one page.
Create a chart on a second page for vital statistics including date and place of birth, religious beliefs, educational history, family members (including pets), income and social status, medications taken, romantic partners and major possessions like cars or boats.
Create a chart on a third page listing any mental or psychological quirks as well as information you might include on a resume like skills, accomplishments and previous employers.
List the following on the last page: goals, fears, dreams, internal conflicts, external conflicts and initial story goal. Leave plenty of room between the different entries.
Save this file as "characterchart.doc" or use a similar generic name.
Identify which characters need to be in-depth characters. These will always be the characters whose absence would change the story. You will have at least one, and if your villain is the main antagonist you will have at least two.
Open your character chart file and immediately save it under the name of the first character on whom you will be working. Change the character name and career at the top to match your first character.
Fill out the chart. This is a process that may take days. If you have trouble answering some of the questions, pretend you are interviewing your character and recording each answer.
Save your chart under your character's name.
Print out charts as they are completed (optional). Keep them in a three-ring binder for quick reference. You will probably change completed character charts as you create character charts for new characters. Keep changes up-to-date in your binder and in the computer file.
Review all character charts every 15,000 to 20,000 words as you write the story. Refer to them whenever you are unsure about how characters should react or where you need to take your story. Each time a character's story goal changes, record the new goal on page 4 of your character chart, under the Initial Story Goal section; do not remove any previous goals, but rather maintain them to help remember your character's path through the story.