Writng Character Sketches of Family Members

Yesterday, I thought of something more that you can add to your Family Stories book. You might try some character sketches. We know that a 'sketch' is a rough, or unfinished drawing with details to be added later. A character sketch is much the same, but it is in written form, not drawn. 

Pick a person in your family. In your character sketch, you'll want to show his/her personality traits, behavior, physical traits, nature, and perhaps his/her background. You might show things the person does or says that portray his/her personality. 

In this character sketch, you are not telling a family story. Instead, you are giving a picture of an individual . In another exercise, you can use this person in a family story. Set aside a section of your Family Stories Book for character sketches of the people in your family--siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, even pets you have had. Give each one a separate page. 

Another section of your book might be reserved for your Memories which yesterday's post highlighted. This is why I suggest using a large 3-ring binder as it is so easy to continue adding to it. I have recently purchased a third book as the first two were getting quite full. My after New Year's job is going to be to reorganize each one and to add hard copies of my writing that is on file on my laptop but has not been printed and put in the book.  

Let's get back to the character sketches. You'll want to describe the physical traits of the person--stature, hair and eye color, and complexion. Next describe some personality traits and their nature. If they had phrases or words they often used, add that to your sketch. I had a great-aunt that added 'don'tcha know' to the end of almost every sentence. Finally, write about their background. It can be very short or more defined, your choice. You might add that they were mother of, or father of, and name their children. Or that they were the son or daughter of and name those people. 

What you put in and how much is your choice. The more you tell about the person, the clearer the picture of them will be. Again, don't write an actual family story. For this exercise, you want to show the person in several ways. 

Details will enhance your character sketch. Things like 'Uncle Pete had hands the size of dinner plates.' Will give a clear picture, and it's more descriptive than saying he had big hands. Or 'my cousin, Sammy, never blew his nose, just sniffed over and over.' These small details can add so much. 

Make a list of people in your family; then create a character sketch of each one. Do one a day rather than several. You'll find these character sketches most helpful to you when you do write those family stories.