When you're finished, connect the boxes to make a flow chart. Draw boxes or circles to represent the character's state at the beginning of the story, the important plot points that cause him to change and who he ends up being at the end.

You can design a character map that traces a character's growth throughout the plot of a novel or original story. In fiction, conflict pits characters against difficult situations that often cause them to change in ways they didn't expect. Whether you're brainstorming ideas for an analytical essay or fleshing out your novel's protagonist, making a character map can be a valuable visual tool for tracing his development from beginning to end.

While they're often given as in-class or homework assignments, these maps can also be useful for keeping track of character growth as you read or for making up your own original characters for a story. A character map is a graphic organizer that illustrates the personality elements, flaws, relationships and ultimate journey of a fictional character.

Windows 8 private character editor