Character building does at least three things for your writing:

1. It helps you, as the writer, get to know your characters so that your writing will help you remain true to them.

2. It adds depth to your characters and, by association, to your writing.

3. It can provide new twists to your plot and new conflicts to your story that you may not have though of if you didn't work on character sketches.

Which characters should you profile? As many as will help your story. Even minor players should be well rounded and three dimensional, and character profiles are a way to fully develop your characters.

What should go into a character profile? A lot of that depends on the type of story you are writing and the genre you are writing in. Most mainstream stories won't have magic involved, but fantasy stories tend to be full of magic and spells.

Below is a character profile outline I developed recently that is really helping me to get to know my characters. I can't always answer all the questions for every character, but I do try to answer everything applicable. No character sketch is 100% closed and finished until the character is dead and the story published, so often I find myself adding answers where I had none before or filling out some answers more fully. Many of the questions are founded in gaming systems, but I have found gaming systems can be a good way to begin to define a character. However, I always try to go beyond that as I flesh the character out.

You can download a zipped copy of this profile here.

Zip last updated 04/2004. The profile below is the original version. The zip contains new versions. Feel free to copy and paste the original from this page if that's your preference.

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name (pronunciation)
aka

social class || clan || homeland || liege
symbols/crests/heraldic seals
race || abilities/immunities/ weaknesses/etc

education
languages spoken
accent/diction
languages r/w
handwriting
profession || how long || feelings
notes
military/branch || years/rank / || active/non-active/retirement?

marital status || times married
children/ages, names, special conditions

ht || wt || build
hair
eyes || age || sex
birth date/astrological sign
scars & distinguishing marks
physical description
clothing worn
health/ disabilities

goals
needs
desires
desired lifestyle/ etc
values/ ?higher? motivations
current major conflicts
current major external conflicts
other pressures
perception of self
emotional state/ causes
trends noted
other plot points

belief system/religion/faith/philosophy
politics
attitude about life
general attitudes towards other people
limits (will the character steal, kill, etc?)
superstitions
fears/phobias
ambitions
obsessions
major influences

family
friends & other relationships
places of importance (home, work, etc)
pets

sexual preferences
habits/behavior
strengths/weaknesses (flaws)
hobbies/interests/collections
personality notes

clothing preferences
preferences in food
likes/dislikes
tastes in books, music, entertainment
etc -

finances
money carried
money stored
where stored
bank accounts
credit available/accounts
other wealth/treasure
magic

clerical/religion
god || symbol
portfolio
major spheres
minor spheres
casting requirements
personal casting notes
attributes/manifestation notes
gifted powers
vestments
other notes

skills
weapon skills

equipment/personal items/etc
personal items carried
other equipment/supplies/items carried
on animals
weapons carried
magic potions/scrolls carried
other magic carried

special magic item abilities

history/misc notes
history
journal entries
correspondence
etc

mage
class/kit notes/abilities
schools
casting requirements
personal casting notes
attributes/manifestation notes

spells
1st : (+) 2nd : (+) 3rd : (+)

tracking record:
name || starting levels/etc