What do you do when you write a CS and what elements do you include in it personally...?

Ok, I needed to re-write that

When you write a CS what is a reoccurring theme or element in a character?

I just think of a character that would fit the situation and mold that character into someone I'd like to write for.

I usually just fit it to whatever CS template the GM sets. But the basic one would be:

Name
Age
Gender
Appearance
Gear
Personality
Backstory

I re-wrote the OP, as I wrote that while I was watching YouTube, didn't say what I meant to properly.

There really isn't one for me. I like to have tragic characters, but that isn't a given. I tend to take a lot from my playthroughs of the Elder Scrolls though.

I also find a song which fits the character perfectly.

For my newest character, an Incarnate who is a member of the Dissident movement in Vivec, I use http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUchAD44xA8&feature=related, the Bear Mcreary edition.

So far every one that I have came up with is different. I think trying to get a completely normal person is the hardest.

For example I personally use music as a device to further my character... the only reoccurring element in my characters is name similarities, for example in one RP I have a character named Drake Cassamir, then in another RP I have a character named Cassamir Velan... etc. I also give one word to summarize a character before I write him for example with Drake it would be Fate, with Cassamir it would be Power, with Fadrill it would be Deceit, with Delam it would be Loyalty, etc.

Personally, I use a simple system (if you can even call it a system anyway) to design my characters. What works for me is establishing a core concept about the character in question, the thing that I'm setting out to try to depict with this person; that could be anything, from an occupation (say, a mage-hunter), to a mental condition (like psychopathy, from a past example I thoroughly enjoyed RPing), to another character from another universe.

Afterwards, everything grows around that and the character tends to develop along the lines that answering questions about the core concept takes them. Supplementary ideas and directions help guide the process down a particular path, like deciding what background the character comes from and how that interacts with their core concept; looking at the usual expectations lowered at someone of their race, gender, social status, occupation and such, and determining whether these expectations can be played with to some meaningful effect that would make the character feel more unique and/or alive.

That later stage is where RP-specific concerns also come in since I don't really have the chance to reuse characters unless it's for the same continuity. Since, obviously, a character has to work for the RP as well as for myself.

Because the Interregnum Timeline (didn't pick the name happened while I was away otherwise I would have protested ) is a continuing story I can have the legacy of one character lead into my next one, rather that be through indirect means (inspired by a character) or direct means (Family member, Trusted General, Met him/her, etc.)

I haven't roleplayed regularly in a very, very long time, but I find that I like to keep my characters within the same family tree. Which I play depends on the timeline of the roleplay. I think a rich and developed history creates a more fleshed out character with particular motivations. Plus, it's interesting to see how the genealogy grows from the contribution of unique characters.