The time has come, the FaeFolk said, to talk of many things. 

Of likes and hates and favorite foods, and what a lifestyle can bring. 

Don't worry, I'm not going to turn this entire article into a poem. I'm not that mean. 10 points to anyone who got that reference! 

In Character Development Part 1, we discussed creating a character's general information and appearance. Now we're going to get into what makes the character tick. What lifestyle choices has she chosen in the story? 

As with every piece of advice offered here, you can use as much or as little as you'd like. It's your character. Design her in a way that fits your book. 

That being said, let's get started! 

LIFESTYLE AND VICES

Daredevil or cautious: Does your character like to skydive, deep-sea dive, race motorcycles, or do the cinnamon challenge? She might be a daredevil. Or does she try to live a quiet, sheltered life, away from danger or anything that might do her harm? You may have a cautious character. You can throw information about your character into her backstory to show her daredevil/cautious nature, or even start out the story with her spearing a lion fish, or enjoying a nice cup of chamomile tea while reading a good book. 

Smokes: I promise this isn't a medical questionnaire. Does your character smoke? Cigarettes? Cigars? Do they have different flavors? Does she vape? This is important because it can lead into her possible addiction, ie need to leave the scene periodically for a smoke. Characters might notice a scent on her whether it's a cherry cigar or a more floral-scented vape pen. Smoking can help you describe the nature of a person's skin (generally someone who doesn't smoke will have smoother skin than a smoker). Also, a smoker may have a raspy voice. There are many descriptive pieces you can use. You may also want to ask your character why she smokes. A habit? Or does she do it for release from something mental or physical? 

Drinks: Is she a teetotaler? Does she drink occasionally? Can you find her at a local bar or tavern every night? Is she drinking legally? Is she an alcoholic? This is important because 1. it can reveal a person's personality (sober vs not sober), 2. it may show where your character may be found (out with friends at a movie vs at a bar), 3. it can also indicate a character trying to either chase away stress, anxiety, depression...or someone who just wants to have a nice drink after a long day at work. 

Drugs: Does she do different kinds of drugs? This can be medicinal or not, it depends on your character. How often does she do them? Do they change her personality? (We'll get into some of that in the next chapter). Do drugs lead her to do dangerous things, like working with a dealer? 

Allergies: What's your character allergic to? Shellfish? Dairy? Pollen? Mold? Peanuts? Happiness? In all honesty, there are a lot of people who suffer with serious allergies, so if your character is one of them, you want to include it. Your character may not eat particular foods if it can send them into a hospital, or running to the bathroom. Is this allergy something someone can use against them (ie. poisoning someone for the throne)? Also, does your character have seasonal allergies? That would be pretty frustrating for, say, a werewolf who relies on scent. 

Sorry, Lupin. 

Hobbies: Just like you, your character should have a hobby or two. She might be an assassin by day, but paint (with the blood of her victims! Kidding) once the job is done. This gives your character a bit more, well, character! Really, I'd love to know what a knight does on her evening off, or a teacher, bar manager, space ship captain, etc. 

Early Bird or Night Owl: I think I need to add in "exhausted pigeon" since that's what I am. Is your character up at 5 am running the track, or does the thought of an early sunrise make her want to burst into flames? Do you find her out on the town in the wee hours of the morning? Or is she just tired all the time and falling asleep at the most in opportune times?   

Character's favorite color: Your character might wear this color a lot, or be particularly drawn to folks wearing it. Maybe the favorite color has a certain meaning (ie. representation of your character's country or items from her past). 

Character's least favorite color: Face it, there are colors we all hate. What wouldn't she be caught dead wearing? Or what sets her off? If you want to get into the psychological realm, certain colors are known to make people calmer or angrier. Does that play a part in your character's life? 

Favorite Music: Is she jamming to rock or pop? Maybe wailing along with country? Is she more of a rap girl or new age lover? Maybe she favors the mandolin and reed flute. Favorite music could be playing on a car she's driving, or maybe she's a musician in a guild herself! Think of Guardians of the Galaxy. Music plays a big part in that film. 

Least favorite Music: We all have that music that we can't stand. It can simply lead to a disagreement between characters. 

Favorite Food: Shawarma...What's your character's favorite food? In medieval times you might be limited, but candied nuts or boar's head can really stir up the appetite. What about favorite restaurants? Where does she like to order in? Are there special meals in space that don't exist in our world that she absolutely loves? And, as with color and music, what food does she hate? 

Use of expletives: Some characters swear a lot. Others find it offensive. And some try to make up words to use instead of expletives. This can really help you hone your character's dialect and attitude. Just be careful who you're swearing to. 

Can character defend self (use firearms? knives? swords? blasters?): This is a really important one (depending on the era you're in). Can your character defend herself with her fists alone? Has she learned how to use weapons in a fight or if she gets in trouble? Is she a terrible shot like a Stormtrooper? Or does she have the marksman's aim of Merida or Katniss? Even more important, how did she learn to do this? Too many times authors will say a character has incredible skills but never tells us where she learned them. Also, it's okay if your character is terrible at defending herself. Not everyone knows how to fight. 

Criminal Record: A criminal record can tell a lot about a character. What trouble has she gotten into? Is she on the run from the cops? Has she made sure to pay every parking violation? Has she stolen gold from the rich and given it to the poor? Let us know. This can add a lot of depth to your character. 

Neat/Messy: What are you going to find when you visit your character's home? Is everything in just the right place or are there items strewn across the floor? Is she always missing things? This tidbit can help you decide how your character should look and act in certain situations. 

Phew, you got through it! 

These are just a few examples of how you can talk about your character's lifestyle. Remember, what you do during the day can determine how you act, speak, or make decisions. It's going to be the same way for your characters. What other lifestyle items would you include? 

Next time we'll talk about personality and mentality. 

If you have any other topics you'd like us to cover, post them below!