Painting My Way Out of the Corner

Day 6 Protag profile_ template

Template copied from one by Fancy (77)
FYI - I go ALL OUT when profiling/interviewing my characters. Here is the template I use. I know its pretty extensive. This would only be useful for those who really want to get to know their characters in-depth.

CHARACTER INTERVIEW / PROFILE

Name: undecided

Background
Birthday: Nov 10
Place of birth: Chicago
Parents: Jean (Imogene) and Jerome Webb
What was important to the people who raised him: Dad: Hard-work, Mom: Catholicism, Art.
Siblings: Older brother, Dave. Younger sister, Cindy.
Economic/social status growing up: Lower Middle class
Ethnic background: predominantly European-Caucasian, a Little Native American
Places lived: South suburbs of Chicago, three years in Wisconsin, one month each summer: France 16 summers
Current address and phone number:...
Education: B.S in Nursing, church ministries minor, presently in Grad School: MAAT
Favorite subject in school: HS geometry, art
Special training: nursing, urodynamicist
Jobs:33 years RN, 3 years receiving clerk Handy Andy home improvement store, Concession/ticket girl at Diana Theater, Page in a library.

Travel: France every summer for 16 years, short trips to Scotland, England, Ireland.
US: New England primarily.

Friends: Mentor passed 2007. Barb long-time church friend. (initially doesn't listen well)
Donna recently divorced, 4 sons, fellow nurse.
How do people view this character: Kind, willing, a worker. creative
Lives with: husband, Joel, 30 years.
Fights with: husband, self, rules/corporation of urology.
Spends time with: self, dogs, art-making. a little with spouse.
Wishes to spend time with: spouse, kids, friends
Who depends on him and why: employers, somewhat: dependable, willing, hard-worker, compassionate.
What people does he most admire: balanced lives, creative/skillful, articulate
Enemies: bureaucracy. entitlement culture.
Dating, marriage: it's complicated
Children: Ann, 35, Andrew, 28, (April, 27)(Naomi, died before birth(Hannah, almost 3, Emma, 1)Nate, 26 (Laura, 23-25?), Josh, 24.
Relationship with God: believer.

Overall outlook on life: hopeless at times, depressed, tired, sad, but Sees beauty and relishes sharing it with others. appears more positive than she is.
Does this character like himself: good question. I think, yes.
What, if anything, would he like to change about his life: Do work that is satisfying, and not futile, or less conflictual
What personal demons haunt him: difficulty with personal boundaries, allows others to step on and use her, minimizes own abilities.
Is he lying to himself about something: Maybe, that she wants to do Anything. that she is passionate about art therapy.?
Optimistic/pessimistic: more toward pessismistic.
Real/feigned: Real
Morality level: high standards and expectations.
Confidence level: low.
Typical day: overly busy, doesn't get the "regular daily things" done she tells herself she wants to do: Bible reading, prayer, exercise, plan and eat regular meals, write notes to ones she cares about, creative writing, or art-making... time with spouse.

Physical appearance
Body type: average, slightly overweight.
Posture: poor at the desk, good when with patients.
Head shape: oval
Eyes: blue
Nose: straight, slightly wide?
Mouth: small
Hair: White, thick, wavy/curly shoulder length
Skin: fair
Tattoos/piercings/scars: pierced ears. second piercing on left ear only in memory of daughter, ANN, after giving away to adoption.
Voice: low pitched.
What people notice first: thick white hair, blue eyes?
Clothing: lives in scrubs, or casual, somewhat artsy. Favorite rainbow sleeved sweater, tye-dyed skirt.
How would he describe himself: ?
Health/disabilities/handicaps: glasses, sleep apnea, snores

Characteristics
Personality type (choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholy): melancholy
Strongest/weakest character traits: persistence, judgment, integrity vs fear, low esteem, critical/judging, ruminates, mind-reading
How can the flip side of his strong point be a weakness: stubborn, haughty/narcissistic
How much self-control and self-discipline does he have: lots and little, wavers.
What makes him irrationally angry: inconsistent rules, unrealistic work expectations, me-first people, entitlement attitudes.
What makes him cry: everything: commercials, movies, books, people, news, ceremonies, babies.
Fears: exposure as incompetent, displeasure, anger.
Talents: ?
What people like best about him: genuineness

Interests and favorites
Political leaning: conservative
Collections: arts supplies, glass
Food, drink: Coffee. Chocolate.
Music: Instrumental, Joe Hisaishi!!!, Carrie Newcomer, John Denver: ballads,
Books:
Movies:
Sports, recreation: walking, running, bike riding, horse riding.
Did he play in school: no.
Color: blues, greens...
Best way to spend a weekend: relax/work at home, maybe with spouse around. garden, walk, putter in the house, de-cluttering.
A great gift for this person: gift card for books. chocolate.
Pets: dogs, cat
Vehicles: old, mostly broken down. had a Karmann Ghia. '74 convertible.
What large possessions does he own (car, home, furnishings, boat, etc.) home, furnishings.
and which does he like best: broken red naughahyde couch.

Typical expressions
When happy:
When angry:
When frustrated: "Fut"
When sad:

Idiosyncrasies:
Laughs or jeers at:
Ways to cheer up this person:
Ways to annoy this person:
Hopes and dreams: work she enjoys and feels is worthwhile.
How does he see himself accomplishing these dreams: school.
What’s the worst thing he’s ever done to someone and why: tongue lashing husband. anger, resentment. jeaulousy.
Greatest success: completed half-marathons, marathons, 3-day walks, pursued/accepted relationships with kids as they are.
Biggest trauma: Daughter to adoption, years of fear at work culminating in dismissal one day.
Most embarrassing thing that ever happened to him: bleeding in shorts during a half-marathon.
What does he care about most in the world:
Does he have a secret:
If he could do one thing and succeed at it, what would it be:
He is the kind of person who:
What do you love most about this character:
Why will the reader sympathize with this person right away: her sensitivity in a brusque/stress-filled environment.
How is the character ordinary or extraordinary: girl next door.
How is his situation ordinary or extraordinary: many feel trapped/burned out in work. Art Therapy is not a well-known field. It helps in a non-clinical environment (I hope)

Core Need:
Corresponding psychological maneuver (delusions, obsessions,
compulsions, addictions, denials, hysterical ailments, hypochondria, illnesses,
behaviors harming the self, behavior harming others, manias, and phobias):
Anecdote (defining moment):
History: