Blank Character Profile
09 May 2011 Leave a Comment
in Character Profiles, Writing
This is a template character profile that I custom made to fit what I am looking for in a character design. It is available for your use, conditioned that you give my credit. You are allowed to add/remove/revise pieces to your preferences and needs. For example, since I’m primarily a writer and not an artist, I gave more information in the personality section while neglecting the aesthetic appearance section. The opposite may be the case for you, and I encourage you to tailor this template to your own, unique needs. That all aside, have fun with this. I know I will!
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Character Profile
Full Name: Self explanatory.
Literary Role: E.g., protagonist, antagonist, background, analogous.
Canon: What is the name of the story they are from?
Aliases/Nicknames/Titles: Do they have any separate identities? What do they prefer to be called? Do they have any titles, such as Lord, Queen, Doctor, Professor, General, etc.?
Age (Range): If their canon takes place over a period of several years, provide the range.
Sex: Their biological sex, determined by chromosomes, if they have any.
Gender: What is their preferred gender identity, if any? What pronouns do they use?
Aesthetics
Ethnicity/Species: If they are human, provide their race. If not, tell us exactly what they are!
Eye Color: Self explanatory.
Skin: Describe color, quality (if not human), and anything else relevant to appearances.
Hair: Describe hair color, style, length, quality, etc., if any.
Build: Are they muscular? Frail? Athletic? Slender? Fat? Voluptuous?
Distinguishable Marks: Do they have any tattoos, piercings, scars, markings, or other unique features?
Height: If you don’t know exactly, specify the general assumption.
Clothing: What style of clothing do they typically wear? Any specific outfit?
Some Traits
Religious/Political?: Specify their affiliations, if any.
Education: Describe their education history.
Linguistics: What languages do they know? Are they literate (in them)?
Skills: What special skills and abilities do they have that set them apart?
Powers/Abnormal Abilities: Do they have any supernatural powers or abilities that no one else has?
Occupation: What do they do for a living? This can be officially or unofficially.
Weapons/Tools: Do they use any weapons? What other unique tools and objects are necessary for their daily life?
Citizenship: Where do they currently live?
Birthplace: Where were they born?
Social Traits
Friends?: Do they have a lot of friends, or just a few? Do they have any friends at all?
Closest Friends: Who are their closest and most trusted friends?
Confidant(s): With whom do they trust with their problems, secrets, or thoughts?
Mentor/Role Model: Do they have a mentor? Whom do they look up to most?
Protégé: Are they anyone’s mentor or role model? Do they have an apprentice or student?
Parental Units: Who are their parents or guardians?
Siblings: Do they have any siblings? This includes adopted and half siblings.
Offspring: Do they have any children, adopted or biological?
Other relatives: Do they have any other relatives that are relevant to the canon?
Introverted, extroverted, or both?: This does not have to be a black-or-white characteristic. They can be any mixture of both, if applicable.
Do they act much different in private/public?: This is pretty self explanatory. Do they have a significant separate personality in private that is much different from their public self?
Relationships
Sexual Orientation: Self explanatory.
Past Romantic Interests?: What past romantic interests have they had, that they might not have anymore? This includes exes.
Current Romantic Interest: Are they in love with anyone? Do they lust after anyone?
Partner: With whom, if anyone, are they in a relationship?
Role: What romantic or sexual role do they fill? E.g., top, bottom, dominant, submissive, switch, mistress, vanilla.
Relationship Status: What is the status of their relationship? E.g., dating, open, under-the-rug, friends with benefits, on-the-verge, engaged, married, (widowed?).
Issues: What issues put a strain on their relationship? No couple is immune.
What do they see in said partner?: What is the reason for the character’s attraction? What do they love most about them?
Any fetishes?: We’ve all got ‘em. What turns them on? What is their wildest fantasy?
A Brief Background
Birth & Childhood: A character’s childhood is usually a pretext for their personality. Describe any events relevant to their canon/personality.
Relevant history before canon: Describe anything that happened in their adult life prior to the beginning of the canon that would be valuable to know.
Canon: Briefly describe everything (everything you’re willing to give away, atleast) that occurs within the canon.
Personality Intro
In One Word: Just one word that summarizes who they are. Use a thesaurus if necessary.
Intelligence level: You don’t need to be as specific as an IQ number. Provide the basics. Are they above, below, or at average? Are they left- or right-brained?
Cultural level: This can also be known as “street smarts”. How experienced are they with the world, with life, and everything inbetween?
Hobbies: These are the actions that they partake in for pleasure.
Interests: These are the subjects that they are curious about or from which derive pleasure.
Positive Personality
Unique quirks: What unique, positive personality traits do they possess?
What do other people like best about them?: These is what other people consciously identify with them. If this character is an unsung hero, this may not apply.
Which of the seven virtues fit best?: The seven heavenly virtues are Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, and Humility.
Favorite trait: What is their (or your) favorite trait of theirs?
Strengths: What are their greatest positive traits? What can they do better than others? What strengths help them most in life?
Pride: What do they pride themselves in most?
How do they see themselves positively?: Self-image is important for a character. Describe how conscious they are of their positive personality. How do they see themselves and their role with the world?
Social service: How do these traits affect, either directly or indirectly, other people around them?
Literary service: How do these traits serve the themes and story of the canon?
Negative Personality
Greatest flaws: What unique, negative personality traits do they possess?
What flaws do other people see?: These are what other people consciously identify with them. Other people might be blindsighted or ignorant in accordance with this characters flaws, so this may not apply.
Which of the seven deadly sins fit best?: The seven deadly sins are Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride.
Greatest insecurity: Which of their traits do they hate the most?
Weaknesses: What are their worst personality traits? These are usually constitued by traits that impair the character immensely from attaining any desirable goal.
Any mental/personality disorders?: Self explanatoy.
Phobias?: What are they afraid of most? Any irrational, psychological fears?
Any secrets?: Do they keep any shameful, embarrassing secrets from the rest of the world?
How do they see themselves negatively?: How do they judge themselves? Do they feel guilty? Does their guilt override their pride? If they have an ego complex, this may not apply.
Social service: How do these negative traits affect, directly or indirectly, the people around them? Do these traits harm anyone other than themselves?
Literary service: How do these traits serve the themes and story of the canon?
Anything else?
Do they have a theme song?: Is there any song that either lyrically, melodically, or thematically fits this character? How does it?
Can you provide a picture of them?: Self explanatory.
Any more information you’d like to provide?: Mention anything you think is relevant or interesting about your character that was not already requested/brought up in this profile. Perhaps describe your own creation/development of this charcter.
