ZnO varistors were prepared by the organochemical method which used citric acid and ethylene glycol as gelling agents. The microstructure of the sintered specimens exhibited small grains, uniform grain size distribution, and few intragranular pores. Thermal decomposition of the organic resin formed during the powder preparation process was completed around 450$^{circ}C$. No significant changes were observed in microstructure and current voltage characteristic with respect to calcination temperatures. A major advantage of the organochemical method used in this experiment is a possible uniform mixing of trace amounts of dopants. Therefore, this powder preparation method seems promising in investigating the effect of Li or In ion, which is added in ppm level to ZnO varistors, on the pulse respose characteristic.