11+ Creative writing · Topic explained
Building a character
How do you make a reader care about someone who doesn't exist?
The big idea
Build a character with a few telling details: what they do, say and want.
Picture it
Like a cartoonist: a few sharp lines, not every hair.
Key words
- Trait
- Part of a character's personality.
- Telling detail
- One specific detail that reveals a lot.
- Want
- What the character is trying to get or do.
Worked examples
- 1Warm-up
"Zara was brave." → "Zara was the one who climbed the tree to fetch the kite."
- Show the trait through what she does.
- 211+ standard
"Aunt Bea wore three watches, all set to different times, and trusted none of them."
- One odd, specific detail makes her memorable, and a bit funny.
- 311+ standard
"'Rules,' said Finn, 'are more like suggestions.'"
- Speech reveals personality: Finn is cheeky and rule-bending.
- 411+ standard
"More than anything, Ollie wanted a place in the sailing club, which is why he never told anyone he couldn't swim."
- A want plus a secret or weakness = a story waiting to happen.
The common mistake
The mistake
Listing everything: hair, eyes, height, clothes, age.
Instead
Pick one or two details that reveal personality.
Why: A list of looks tells us nothing about who the person is inside.
Where it comes up in the 11+
Story and description tasks often ask you to "write about a character who…"
The video
Video coming soon
We're making a short video that explains building a character step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.
Free printable
Building a character worksheet
Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.
Download the worksheet (PDF)Free account needed: it takes a minute.
Quick quiz
Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.
1. Which sentence best reveals personality?
- Kim had brown hair.
- Kim was eleven.
- Kim always saved the last sweet for her little brother.
- Kim was tall.
Show the answerHide the answer
Kim always saved the last sweet for her little brother.
It shows she's kind and thoughtful.
2. A "telling detail" is…
- A long list of features
- One specific detail that reveals a lot
- A piece of speech
- The story's title
Show the answerHide the answer
One specific detail that reveals a lot
One sharp detail can do the work of a whole paragraph.
3. What makes a character drive a story forward?
- Something they want
- Their eye colour
- Their age
- Their full name
Show the answerHide the answer
Something they want
A want, and something in the way, creates the plot.