How to Create a Character Profile

By The Lazy Scholar TM

One of the most important elements in a novel or short story is characterization: making the
characters seem vivid, real, alive. One technique that many writers use with success is to create a
character profile for the main characters in the novel. The purpose of a character profile is
twofold: to assist the writer in creating a character that is as lifelike as possible and to help with
continuity issues in the story. In interviews many famous authors have stated that they came up
with the basics of a character's personality and then they found that the character just "came
alive" for them and ended up driving the story all on his own. But for the beginning writer,
sometimes a more concrete approach is helpful. That is where the character profile comes in -- it
is simply a tool for organizing your thoughts about a certain character and keeping track of a
particular character's idiosyncrasies and relationships. It can help flesh out a cardboard character
and even make you think about facets of his or her personality that you had not considered
before. Character profiles are especially helpful for novels which involve several main characters
and for stories which use multiple points of view.

Character profiles are useful when writing in any genres. Depending on the genre in which you
write, you will create additional sections on the Character Profile Worksheet. For example,
fantasy writers can use the character profiles to keep track of factors such as magical abilities,
family lineage, spells the character is under, and limitations on the character's power to ensure
continuity in the action. For literary and mainstream novels, profiles are especially useful for
keeping in mind motivations of the character -- hurts and disappointments in the past which may
not be alluded to directly in the dialogue, but which nevertheless color everything the character
thinks and feels. For example, someone who was abused as a child will most likely react
differently in certain situations than someone who had a happy, loving childhood.

A Character Profile is also of great help during the rewrite stage of your novel. You can use the
profile to ensure continuity in the character's actions. For example, if in draft 1 your heroine is
just recovering from a nasty divorce and in draft
2 you've decided to make her a happily married
mother of three, you will know to check every scene with dialogue about her marital status as
well as scenes where the (now non-existent) dastardly ex-husband is mentioned. If you change
an attribute of your character, be sure to update your Character Profile Worksheet right away.
Obviously, a character can develop over the course of the novel. The Worksheet provides a place
for you to note that fact so that when you read over your final draft you can see if you achieved
your particular character development goal for that character.

A Character Profile is just meant to be a guide where you can list facts and details to help you get
to know your characters, especially if you get stuck on one character who doesn't quite seem real.
Maybe he needs a new characteristic -- a hidden trauma, a fabulous skill or a deadly secret --
something that will make the character come alive for you. How detailed you want your
character worksheets to be just depends on what works best for you. So, next time you're stuck
on characterization, pull out the Character Profile Worksheet and get to know someone new.
 Character Profile Worksheet

Basic Statistics

Name:
Age:
Nationality:
Socioeconomic Level as a child:
Socioeconomic Level as an adult:
Hometown:
Current Residence:
Occupation:
Income:
Talents/Skills:
Salary:
Birth order:
Siblings (describe relationship):
Spouse (describe relationship):
Children (describe relationship):
Grandparents (describe relationship):
Grandchildren (describe relationship):
Significant Others (describe relationship):
Relationship skills:

Physical Characteristics:

Height:
Weight:
Race:
Eye Color:
Hair Color:
Glasses or contact lenses?
Skin color:
Shape of Face:
Distinguishing features:
How does he/she dress?
Mannerisms:
Habits: (smoking, drinking etc.)
Health:
Hobbies:
Favorite Sayings:
Speech patterns:
Disabilities:
Style (Elegant, shabby etc.):
Greatest flaw:
Best quality:

Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes

Educational Background:
Intelligence Level:
Any Mental Illnesses?
Learning Experiences:
Character's short-term goals in life:
Character's long-term goals in life:
How does Character see himself/herself?
How does Character believe he/she is perceived by others?
How self-confident is the character?
Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof?
What would most embarass this character?

Emotional Characteristics

Strengths/Weaknesses:
Introvert or Extrovert?
How does the character deal with anger?
With sadness?
With conflict?
With change?
With loss?
What does the character want out of life?
What would the character like to change in his/her life?
What motivates this character?
What frightens this character?
What makes this character happy?
Is the character judgmental of others?
Is the character generous or stingy?
Is the character generally polite or rude?

Spiritual Characteristics

Does the character believe in God?

How the Character is Involved in the Story

Character's role in the novel (main character? hero? heroine? Romantic interest? etc.):
Scene where character first appears:
Relationships with other characters:

1. Character's Name: -- (Describe relationship with this character and changes to relationship
over the course of the novel).
2. Character's Name: -- (Describe relationship with this character and changes to relationship
over the course of the novel).
3. Character's Name: -- (Describe relationship with this character and changes to relationship
over the course of the novel).
4. Character's Name: -- (Describe relationship with this character and changes to relationship
over the course of the novel).

Directions:
If you are unsure about what some of these things mean, let me break it all down for you.

Character Name: The only thing that goes on this line is the Character's name that you use in the story.

Full Name: This is the characters real/full name.    First name(s), middle, last.    Some people have multiple
first/middle/last names.
Nick Names: Whatever the character has for a nickname.    This doesn't have to be used unless your
character has one.

Gender: Pretty basic.    Is your character a female, male, transsexual, hermaphrodites?

Age: How old is your character?    Is s/he ten years old?    Fifty?    Six hundred and ninety-seven?

Birthday/year: When was your character born?    April 15, 1300 AD?    August 22, 2025 AD

Marital Status: Is your character single or married?    Are they attached to anyone in particular or are
they are a player? (This goes in comparison to Spouse).

Spouse: Who is your character’s lover/mate?    Are they gay/lesbian?    How does the relationship fare?
(This goes in comparison to Marital Status).

Hair: What's his/her hair like?    Is it short and brown with blonde highlights?    Long and raven
black?    Blonde in pigtails?

Eyes: Describe his/her eyes.    Are they silver and shiny?    Are they baby blue like a cloudless summer
sky?    Are they demonic red like a rose?    Do they glimmer?    Do they change color depending on his/her
current mood?

Origin: Where was this character born and raised?    Perhaps s/he was born in Paris, France but raised in
New York City?    Born and raised in the Nevada deserts?    Perhaps s/he was born in Germany during
WW2, time traveled to America in the twentieth century to be raised, then time traveled to England in
1682 AD to live out his/her remaining years (if s/he is an elder).

Language: What language does your character speak?    Perhaps he was born in Russia but learned only
German?    Maybe she is a vampire from the 1800s and knows only British English as opposed to
American English?    Does s/he speak a made-up language?    (If you're making up the language, be sure
to provide yourself with an alphabet of some sort to be sure your character is accurate and there are no
faults to the word meanings.    Although, as in Thai, some languages have words that may mean more
than one thing depending on how the voice is used.    Be sure to explain to the reader what your
character is saying; ie: "Egocan non dico vos quotiens Ego adepto dementis." ("I can not to say you as
often as I to obtain insanity").    Have it in parenthesis directly after your character has spoken the words
or have another character ask to translate.    Also, keep in mind, any time you are using another
language, the word(s) must be italicized and if you are already typing in italicized letters, they will be
non-italicized.

Blood Type: What blood type does your character have?    Is it human sort like O Positive or B
Negative?    Perhaps it is a space alien kind?    Is it green or yellow or is it red like a human but is taken
from a space alien?

Height: How tall is your character?    Is he as huge as a giant and the rest of his people are small enough
to be ants to him?    Perhaps she’s small in size but her great heart makes her huge?    Maybe your
character can be tiny but with supernatural abilities, can grow into great sizes.

Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults: How much does s/he weigh?    What is his/her body like?    What
physical faults does s/he have?    Does s/he weigh 160lbs with an athletic form but a bad case of
acne?    Is s/he a warrior who weighs 225lbs but is entirely covered in muscle and has scars all over
his/her body?    Is s/he aged with wrinkles, heavy set, appearing to look about 215lbs, and has a withered
arm or deformed face?    If there are scars, how did s/he receive them?    Does your character looks every
inch human but has wings and horns like that of a demon?

Race/Species: Give your character some depth beside the basics.    Could your character be something
more than just an ordinary human, perhaps like a deity in a human body--remember Hercules?    Maybe
your character is a new species that you made up just for this tale--explain it.    Perhaps it’s nothing new
and just another human race, like a Pacific Islander, a Native American (Indian), or a Spaniard?    Maybe
your character is an African from South Africa but sounds like s/he is from Australia?

Parents/Elders/Guardians: Who raised your character?    Is the mother or father deceased?    Was your
character an orphan?    Does your character know his/her parents?

Siblings: Is your character an only child?    If no, who are/is his/her brother(s) or sister(s)?

Friends/Allies: Who are your character's friends or is your character a recluse?    Does your character
have allies, perhaps a fellow street gang or another territory/country?

Enemies: Everyone has at least one enemy--who is your character's enemy?    Is it a rival country that
wishes war for religious beliefs?    Is it another street gang that's jealous because your character's gang
has more power or money?    Is it a girl/boy who is jealous of your character for being too popular in
school?

Beliefs/Religion: What does your character believe in?    Is s/he Agnostic, Satanic, Christian, Muslim,
Jewish?    Does your character pray ritualistically or worship a Pagan God or several Indian Gods?    What
are the God's names and what do they have powers over?

Career/Past Careers: Is your character a pizza delivery boy and get paid $6.50 an hour?    Is s/he a tavern
wench in the Medieval Era?    Is s/he an outlaw in a western timeline?    Did s/he used to be a chamber
maid/servant/cook in a Medieval Castle and marry off to become a mother/father of a large family?

Dreams/Life Goals: What dreams does your character have?    What life goals does s/he wish to achieve
sometime in his/her life?    Does s/he want to become a computer professor at a Pennsylvania University
but right now is struggling with a measly retail job and going to school?    Does s/he want to become a
Knight but is currently a Squire?    Perhaps s/he has a dream to be able to walk but is currently crippled
and lives in an era where there is no cure for a withered leg or dead nerves.

Hobbies: What does s/he do in his/her spare time?    Perhaps s/he enjoys listening to the Boston
Symphony playing live in concert?    Does s/he enjoy reading mystery novels or writing romance
stories?    Maybe s/he likes to be around animals and enjoys the comfort of a feline or the dependency of
a beast.

Likes: What does your character like?    Perhaps s/he enjoys a bouquet of roses?    Perhaps s/he likes rain
showers.    Maybe s/he feels more comfortable in a dark environment?

Loves: What does your character love to do?    Does s/he love to paint?    Does s/he love a certain
pet?    Perhaps s/he loves receiving boxes of chocolate from a loved one?    How about two warriors
dueling-- does your character love to watch or play spare within one?

Dislikes: Your character dislikes something--what is it?    Maybe s/he is jealous because a fellow class
mate is too smart or popular?    Perhaps s/he just can't stand sunshine?    Maybe s/he dislikes the color
pink because it looks too feminine or blue because it's too masculine.

Loathes: What does your character hate the most of all?    Perhaps an enemy ruler who is perfect and his
people love him--your character hates him because s/he is jealous that the enemy ruler has
everything?    Maybe your character loathes his/her mother for abandoning him/her in his/her youth?

Fears: What his s/he afraid of?    Everyone has a fear; even if somebody claims s/he is afraid of nothing
then s/he is explaining s/he fears the absence of nothing.    Maybe your character is a vampire and fears
the sunlight?    Maybe your
character is an 11 year old boy and is afraid of the dark?    Maybe your character is a 17 year old girl who
lives in a bad neighborhood and fears getting raped?    Perhaps your character is an elder and fears
getting mugged or ignored from his/her juniors (juniors = younger citizens)?

Strengths: Give your character strength; what makes him/her stronger inside?    Maybe s/he can run in
track but can't walk a marathon?    Your character can write a brilliant novel on the computer but can't
form words with a pen and paper?    Your character knows sixteen different languages, how to build a
super computer, and create a time traveling device but cannot ride a bicycle (see Weakness)?

Weakness: Everyone has to have a weakness--some reason why they are not a powerful God.    If your
character does not have a weakness then the story becomes fake and the reader will not wish to
continue the story because the reality of it has disappeared.    Make sure your character has as many
weaknesses as strengths. As seen in Strengths, perhaps your character knows sixteen different
languages, how to build a super computer, and create a time traveling device but cannot ride a
bicycle?    Maybe your character can communicate with animals (see Strengths) but cannot communicate
with people very well?

Good Qualities: What makes your character good in heart?    Remember, even pure evil has some good
in it; Satan (in Biblical beliefs) used to be one of the most favored angels of Jesus Christ but had fallen
due to his jealousy.    Perhaps your character has so much honor and pride as an American hostage in a
war and will stand up to the kidnappers and be shot rather than cower in fear (patriotic)?    Perhaps s/he
has been raised in a very bad family but came out never touching a cigarette, drugs, or alcohol and never
received any piercing or tattoos?

Bad Habits: Does your character bite his/her nails until they bleed?    Does s/he chew on his/her lower lip
when thinking?    Maybe your character can't help but pick his/her nose in public?    Maybe s/he is almost
always sexually turned on and is easy because of it?

Turn Ons: What makes your character sexually aroused or attracted to somebody?    What is it that
makes him/her get antsy to touch or be touched?    Maybe a husband comes home to see his wife
wearing only a lacy thong and camisole while doing the dishes?    Perhaps a non-popular teenage girl
sees the captain of the high school football team washing his car and wearing only his blue jeans while
his chest is glistening with sweat?    Maybe your character finds the other sex intelligent.    Perhaps he
finds it a turn to see her driving a standard instead of an automatic vehicle?    Maybe s/he is bisexual or
gay/lesbian and finds the other sex attractive.

Turn Offs: What makes your character disgusted?    Could s/he be attracted to somebody who is fit to
perfection like a model but has scars all over his/her body?    Perhaps your character is turned off by
gays/lesbians?    Maybe a boyfriend is attracted to his girlfriend in everyday clothing but her formal
clothing is ugly and does not sexually arouse him?    Perhaps your character's lover has horrible body odor
and smells?

Normal Talents: This is connected to the Supernatural Powers & Ability category.    What makes your
character different from everyone else?    This is where you are allowed to have fun—BUT KEEP IT
REALISTIC!    Even if your story is science-fiction or fantasy, you still have to make your story
believable.        Does s/he have luck when playing Texas Holdem (poker)?    Is your character a wiz at
computers?    Can s/he read a four hundred page book in less than four hours?    Maybe s/he has a
photographic memory?    Or perhaps s/he is so good with numbers s/he doesn’t ever require the use of a
calculator?

Supernatural Powers & Abilities: This goes hand-in-hand with the Normal Talents category.    This is
where you state what your character is or what his/her supernatural ability or power may be.    If your
character is not supernatural, this category can be left blank.    Either way, you must remember to “KEEP
IT REALISTIC!”    Even if your story is science-fiction or fantasy, you still have to make your story
believable.    Even supernatural creatures from other planets are realistic enough to believe.    Remember,
you want your reader to understand what you’re writing about—not be turned away if your character
has a godlike syndrome.    Perhaps your character has the unconscious effort to suspend time or perhaps
your character can ignite fire with the flick of a wrist?    If your character has the ability to fly at night and
when the sun sets wings appear, that would be considered supernatural (wings would be mentioned
beneath the Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults category).    Maybe your character can shape shift
into another creature or character?    Perhaps s/he is telekinetic/psychokinetic (ability to move things
with your mind), telepathic (ability to read and control minds), or has the ability/power to create fire
without using anything but your hands or mind?    Maybe s/he can go invisible?    Supernatural is anything
that is “Super” and “Natural” (like Superman).    It needs to still be natural but more superb than our
natural.

Temperament: This is where you explain your character's basic personality.    Is your character an
introvert or an extrovert?    Is s/he a class clown or a shy book worm?    Was your character born with the
heredity genes to be a wild-driven party-lover?    Perhaps s/he is difficult to deal with?    Maybe s/he is
easy when it comes to sexual activity.    Is your character understanding of others?    Or maybe s/he was
held back in education by a learning disorder?

Background: This has the largest writing section available because this is where you are going to explain
your character's life story up to the point where s/he is first mentioned in the story (though some writers
still continue the background throughout the character's appearance in the said tales).    Even if your
character is a 3 year old child, you still explain his/her background; how old was the child when s/he
learned to speak or walk?    This is where you can have as much fun as you would like with your
character, but again KEEP IT REALISTIC!    Perhaps your character is a 16 year old orphan; what happened
to make him/her an orphan and explain his/her life up until s/he enters the story.    Maybe your character
is a senior citizen; explain most of his/her life if it is required for the story.

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Character Profile Sheet

_____________________________
Character Name

Full Name: ________________________________________________________

Nick Name(s): _____________________________________________________

Gender: _____________________

Age: ____________________________________

Birthday/year: ____________________________

Marital Status: ___________________________

Hair: ____________________________________

Eyes: ____________________________________

Origin:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____

Language(s): ____________________________________

Blood Type:
____________________________________________________________________________________

Height:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____

Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults:

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

Race/Species:
___________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

Parents/Elders/Guardians:
________________________________________________________________________

Siblings:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___

Friends/Allies:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Enemies:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__

Beliefs/Religion:
_________________________________________________________________________________

Career/Past Careers:
_____________________________________________________________________________

Dreams/Life Goals:
______________________________________________________________________________

Hobbies:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__

Likes:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____

Loves:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____

Dislikes:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___

Loathes:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___

Fears:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____

Strengths:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

Weakness:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

Good Qualities:
_________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

Bad Habits:
_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

Turn Ons:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_

Turn Offs:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_

Natural Talents:
_________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

Supernatural Powers & Abilities:

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

Temperament:
__________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________

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