Making characters come alive

They're the foundation on which your story will rest. Whether they're witty or charming, evil or innocent, you have to find a way to make your characters come alive. The best way to do this is to, simply put, give them a life. Here's a list of basic things you should know about each of the characters in your book so that you'll know what motivates them and how they'll react under any given circumstance.

Name:
Age:         
Weight:           
Height:
Birthdate:                    
Eye color:               
Hair color:
Distinctive features (moles, freckles, scars, lisp, stutter, etc.):
Occupation:
Yearly salary:
Religion:
Marital status:
Children:
Hobbies:
Address:
Schooling:
Talents:
Short and long-term goals (this will affect motivation):
Needs:
Biggest fear:
Biggest dream:
Best friends:
Worst enemies:

So fill out this list for every character before you begin your book. Things can always be added or changed but this will keep you consistent throughout.

Top Ten Horror Novels

I confess--I love a good scare. And this is the perfect time to get the hair on the back of your neck standing up and indulge your macabre without anyone thinking you're a little off. So if you're in a ghoulish mood, try one of these gruesome tales:

Anything by Stephen King could fill this list, but let's turn to some different masters of the craft:
1) Ghost Story by Peter Straub
2) Ghosts by Noel Hynd
3) Phantom by Deen Koontz
4) The House that Jack Built by Graham Masterson
5) Walkers by Graham Masterson
6) Usher's Passing by Robert R. McCammon

We shouldn't leave out some classics as well:

7) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
8) The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
9) any compilation by Edgar Allan Poe

10) OK, I cheated. The Shining by Stephen King