Create a Character for my Short Story-Novel, Please help!

Greetings,

In progress of my story, I find lack of characters, and I'm not the smartest man in thinking of characters...This is somewhat childish, but please create brief character profiles. Here's an example:

Name: Richard Masin
Rank: Gunnery Sergeant
Age: 25
Born: Missouri
Personality: Serious, to the point, does not tolerate failure (etc)
Physical: Hazel eyes, tanned, 5'7'', abused skin- rough;
Education: High School Drop Out
Favored Weapon: Thompson
Backround: Grew up in a small town on a farm, with three sisters, and no mother.
---
(Any other info)

Just keep it brief, I need MANY ideas, so please support me in my cause, I will greatly appreciate your help. Even statings of names will help to be quite honest.

Thanks alot men,

Sergeant Frank Minoso

 

The 2nd immaculate conception!!

"I'm a writer,"

You are in the wrong business then.

 

It's not a complete business, I'm studing to become one though. It's more of a hobby. Please make a character...><

SGTFMinoso

 

Maybe a dumb answer,

Go to the phone book, randomly choose names.

Dont pick all the odd ones, there were lots of Smiths and Jones's in the US Army.

Make a list of skills, roll a dice and allocate points/skills/attributes, just like D&D.

Use a lot more imagination in your writings or your story is going to be bloody short!!

 

I'm with Ali - the D&D method is a great way to do it. There's a great little program that I've used that has a random name generator called WriteItNow. Has some nice tools to help you organize plots, ideas, etc.
WriteItNow

 

Aright, sounds good. Thanks guys

 

Some questions to ask yourself about your character
1/ Why did he drop out of high school
2/ What sort of family is he from ?
3/ why did he jion the USMC did he get into trouble with the law ?
4/ did he want to see the world ?
5/ what does he like / dislike?
By answering such questions you develop a character

Hope this helps

Jerry

 

Duh! I think I might of out done myself here !!


Best

Jerry

 

He's too young to be a Gunny Sergeant I would think. Most senior NCOs had 10+ years of service particularly in the Marine Corps where they expanded less and took fewer draftees. I could see possibly staff sergeant or more likely sergeant. This would be more consistant with five to six years of service and a lack of education for the WW 2 period.
Another question would be when did he join the Corps? Where did he serve in peacetime (if applicable)?