I made mine using Microsoft Word and using the drop down list maker. I started with about four pages of character trait questions then add drop down lists to each question.
Some questions have very few options to pick from like hair color or eye color because, but others can get rather expansive such as a drop down list of pet peeves, or a drop down list of character flaws. (The latter is now up to 25)
As I create a character, I have the option to either pick out a character trait that I already have as an option, or create a new option. For instance, on the "what would they do on a rainy day" question I might have a bunch of answers like 'model making' or 'read a book', but if I have e better idea for this character I might add, 'origami'. Then I save that so for the next character I develop I have a bigger drop-down list of ideas.
What I found is, having a drop down list, allows me to creatively think about my characters. I won't use every character trait I have come up with, just a few unique ones to make the character unique.
For instance, with the origami choice, I can add into a novel that the morning had been heavy rain, and so a character worked the morning away making a paper whale. Then I could have her either throw the thing away after spending 3 hours on it to show frustration about a relationship she is worried about, or put the paper whale in a shadow box to show how proud she is of it. No matter what I do, devoting a paragraph on the character trait lends a sese of realism to the character.
Anyhows, thanks for the link!
