Character Profiles

[Libby Drew]

The Fiction Writer's Character Chart

 

 

This is definitely the most detailed character profile template I've come across. I do use a 'resume' for my characters, especially for longer stories, but sometimes the fun of storytelling is watching how they react to certain situations in ways we (the writers) may not have anticipated. More than once, they've gone in directions and done things that surprised me. I can't help wondering if having too much information about a character might stifle the flow of a story.

 

Thoughts? Does anybody else make character profiles?

[Cia]

I tend to write it all down in a place, but unfortunately that typically turns out to be a sticky note which I then lose, lol!! I've never tried an online tool, I will have to check that out!! Thanks for the link.

[Mark Arbour]

Wow. That seems like major overkill to me. I guess if I was writing a 500 page novel, I'd need to do that, but for my stories, it's way too much. I really work hard to put myself into the mind of my characters, plus I have a good team that reminds me of ages, birthdays, and other things that I may forget.

 

BTW, I didn't see penis size on the form.

[Libby Drew]

BTW, I didn't see penis size on the form.

 

I thought it looked incomplete.

[Nephylim]

Gods... I don't even KNOW that about most of my characters... they've never told. I don't know how they would take to me sitting them down with a questionnaire. I suppose it does make for well rounded characters but I think I would hate to be that tied down.

[paya]

Wow.

[David McLeod]

And I thought I was anal retentive! There's more there than the Department of Defense collects during security background investigations, I would think. On the other hand, there are some things to learn from it.

 

I always create a profile of my characters. It contains more than I ever intend to share with readers, primarily things which I think are important to me to know in describing not their physical appearance but how they react to situations and relate to others. My initial template was from fantasy-role-playing games (strength, charisma, all the usual things), but that quickly became much too limiting. Now, it's free form, and of the nature of a list in a file that is usually open whenever I am writing.