This may work for all the plot driven/world driven writers more effectively that people who are great at inventing characters.
I basically, have a standard excersise book, on the front it says "Book of Characters" on the inside cover I write these:
* Choose a gender.
* Choose a place of birth.
* Choose a hobby.
* Choose a past job.
* Choose a present job.
* Choose a past love interest.
* Choose an enemy.
* Choose a pet.
* Why is your character not working at the old job?
* Why is your character not with the old love interest?
* Why does your character not make the hobby a profession?
* How did your character make the enemy?
* How did the pet once save the character's life?
* What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything to avoid? Why? What has he already done to avoid this? What do you see him doing in the future to avoid it?
* What is the one thing in the world your character would do anything in the world to have? Why? What has he already done to try to obtain it? What does he hope to try in the future?
* What is your character's name? What is your character's age, and physical description.
* Write everything else you know about your character, right now.
(From holly lisles's workshop)
When ever I have an idea, or when ever I am bored I follow through the workshop and make a character. This will allow me to have a library of different characters, secondary and possibley main that I can choose to place in my world.
Just thought I would share.
