Establish a history for the character that includes race, nationality and education, social groups, hobbies and childhood experiences. Is he a single child, adopted or from a large family? The character may have conservative views, be a free-spirited liberal or an atheist. Describe the character's profession and marital status and give him a setting, city and country, to live and work. Tell us about the main influences in his early life.
Determine the character's sex, age, size, mannerisms, speech and eye and hair color. Does the character have scars, tattoos or a disability, such as blindness or deafness? How does he dress, casually or stylishly? These important attributes give the character a presence in the story and show how and why he behaves.
Each character must have specific personality traits, which give him more depth. These traits often contribute to his strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps your character has a quick temper, gets nervous, has a bad memory or is selfish. The character may have only a few traits, then develop more as the story progresses.
Describe the major people in the character's life and how he interacts with them. Maybe he is a tyrant at work but beloved at home or vice versa. Is there a particular person he confides in or trusts? Is there someone he avoids or dislikes, and why? A great deal of insight about a character comes from his relationships with others.
A character's main weakness needs to be one others can relate to on a personal level. It is the prelude to the main strength. In the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz," the lion needed courage, the scarecrow lacked a brain while the tin man lacked a heart. The 2011 movie, "The King's Speech," told the story of the King George VI who suffered with a stutter. Universal appeal of a simple, main weakness is important to create an empathetic character.
The main strength reveals a character's true nature that enables him to overcome challenges leading to his transformation. This strength elicits a strong emotional response and makes a reader or viewer root for the character's success. Bravery, integrity or optimism or forgiveness are common character strengths. The 1976 movie "Rocky" shows a ordinary fighter who uses his untapped courage to go the distance just once in his life.