Names can be a great help in building a character.  When I wanted to write about a sort of geeky kid who just happened to   see monsters - mainly because he was the sort of boy who looked in grungy places where other people didn't look - I decided to call him Cheesy.

I liked the name because it makes me think about smelly feet, wide grins and groany jokes - all of these thing helped me invent Cheesy.  His best friend is called Zoom.  What does that tell you about her?  What sort of characters do you think these are?

Cyril Beak.   Jim Pepper.  Amanda Bottomley-Smythe.  Alice Crumb.  Edwin Dark.  Bucket Arrowsmith.  Prunella Droop.  Susie Balloon.  Frank Spit.  Rosie Baker.  Butterfly Lil.  Big Tom Tompkins.  Beaver Edwards.  Lazarus Fig. 

Choose a name, then think about the person that fits that name.  You could start by drawing a cartoon of them, then imagine them doing something that's absolutely typical of them - maybe Rosie Baker is icing cakes!  Try to think of something they'd say - and how they'd say it.  Then put them in a situation.  (Stories happen when characters react to situations.)

Let's put jolly Rosie Baker into the graveyard when a vampire rises….

     "Goodness me!" Rosie said.  "You do look pale.  What you need is a nice cup of tea and a slice of my home-made battenburg.  That'd put the colour back into your cheeks!"
     "But I'm undead," the vampire moaned,  "you're supposed to be terrified."
     "Terrified?" Rosie smiled. "Of you?  Why look at you - you're as thin as a rake and your face is as pale as paper.  You couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding.  Now are you coming home with me or not?"
      Meekly the vampire nodded and followed her through the dark cemetery….

Now you have a go.  Choose a name and a situation (from the column on the left) and write away!  Once your character reacts to the situation (which may need explaining - or not!)  your story will begin to tell itself.  Watch out it doesn't  run away with you...