How to Create a Character Profile
By The Lazy ScholarTM
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 – Story Title: _________________________________________________
Basic Statistics:
Name
Age
Nationality
/ Race
Hometown
Socioeconomic
background
Current
Residence
Sociology:
Class
Occupation / Income
Educational
Background
Religion /
Spiritual Life
Intelligence Level
Quality of Home Life
Family
Relationships
(siblings, spouse,
children,
grandparents)
Significant
Others (friends,
enemies)
Physiology:
Height /
Weight /
Sex
General
Health
(disabilities,
mental
issues)
Eye / Hair
/Skin colour
Mannerisms
Speech
Patterns
Style of
Dress
Distinguishing
Features
Psychology:
Hobbies
Habits
Talents /
Skills /
Abilities
Attitude
towards life
Personal
Goals (short
term, long
term)
Temperment /
Nature /
Qualities
Moral
Standards
Sources of
Frustration
Fears
What would most embarrass the
character?
How does the character see
him/herself?
How does the character believe
he/she is perceived by others?
What would the character life to
change in his/her life?
What is the character’s level of
self confidence? Why?
What is the most significant
event in the character’s life?
Does the character seem ruled by
emotion or logic or some
combination thereof?
How the Character is Involved in the Story
Character's role in the novel
(major, minor, hero, heroine)
Scene where character first
appears
Relationships with other
characters in the story
Additional Notes on This Character:
Motivations