Character Profile Creation: A Step-by-Step Guide for Novices

Character Profile Creation: A Step-by-Step Guide for Novices

List your top ten favorite books, the ones you can name off the fingers of one hand, and I'll wager they all have a memorable hero.

Regardless of the genre, your characters should act like genuine people who make errors, regret them, and develop emotionally or spiritually over the novel. Failure is evident.

Although some accomplished authors make it seem simple, this is a talent that requires practice.

I adhere to Stephen King's method of "placing fascinating people in challenging circumstances and writing to find out what happens" because I write by the seat of my pants as a process of discovery.

As part of the high-wire performance of article writing services as a pantser, you often get a surprise from the character and have to struggle to make it work. You could find yourself saying, "Aah, so that's why he is the way he is," as I do regularly.

However, if you're a beginning writer or consider yourself to be more of an outliner than a pantser, you may choose to develop a character profile before you start writing your work.

If so, allow me to guide you through a character profile's numerous components and the appropriate questions to ask. I'll then part ways with you using a character profile template I made to aid in streamlining the procedure.

A Character Profile: What Is It?

It is a thorough biography of a fictitious figure.

According to those who advocate the practice, the protagonist, antagonist, and each of the more significant orbiting characters in your novel should all have their own individual character profiles.

My great literary peers and colleagues adore them and wouldn't think of creating a character in any other manner. If you've never written one, this tool can be useful for sparking your own imagination.

Character profiles are beneficial for:

Because you aren't starting from scratch, you can write more quickly.

· maintain consistency.

· Include plot twists.

· Deepen the characters.

· strengthen the bonds between the characters.

Your character's motives are always going to be more complex the more specific the profile is.

For example, a character who was bullied as a child could grow up to be a professional criminal, or they could learn to care about people who are different from them.

Some authors dive into the details to the point that each profile becomes a standalone short narrative. Some people write about the character's favorite saying, hobby, quirks, favorite foods, fears, and early experiences.

But be careful not to overfill your tale with too much information.

A profile is essentially a backstory intended to provide you with background knowledge about your characters. It helps you get to know them well enough to be able to tell your readers what's most crucial to the plot.

Just make sure to give readers a part in the reading experience by letting them draw some conclusions on their own. Take care not to spoon-feed information. Let their mental theatre fill in the spaces.

Five Steps to Making a Character Profile

In order to get to know your characters, decide on the following with as much or as little information as you believe necessary. You are essentially doing an interview with your made-up persona.

You could discover that, like me, you're a hybrid outliner and pantser who needs the protection of an outline but also likes the flexibility of letting your characters and plot lead the way.

It is your narrative. Enjoy creating each character. Enjoy the journey, since you never know where it may lead!

1

. Identify the character's function.

First, choose the part that your character will perform. If more than one character appears on the list, try to blend them so that the reader can more easily recognize and keep track of them.

· The protagonist is the main figure or hero.

· The antagonist, the bad guy

· Sidekick

· Orbital: neither the protagonist nor the antagonist, yet always present.

· romantic interest

· Confidante

2. Choose the fundamentals.

Ask your characters to describe their current selves, good, bad, and ugly. Not flawless, but authentic and approachable is what they need. Perfect not only doesn't exist, but it's also dull. Be imaginative as a result. Your readers will appreciate it.

· whole name

· A moniker? Where did it originate?

· Age

· current residence

· Occupation

· Income

· Skills

· Talents

· Hobbies

· Short-Term Objectives

· Long-Term Objectives

· Habits

· best attributes

· negative traits

· preferred book

· favorite film

· preferred possession

· greatest zeal

· favorite cuisine

· closest pal

· worst foe

2. Identify your physical characteristics.

How would your character sound and look? Again, much of this is for your own knowledge.

The day when books would go into such length to explain even the main character is long gone. Why not let each reader interpret the character in their own way, excluding traits that are important to the plot?

· Height

· Weight

· body structure

· degree of fitness.

· Hair tone

· Hair color and style

· eye shade

· Glasses/contacts?

· Ethnicity

· Identifying characteristics (birthmarks, scars, and tattoos)

· Quirks

· Allergies

· overall quality, care, and style.

· Limitations/handicaps

3.

Layer on emotional traits.

It's simple to imagine a character's look, but what your character feels and thinks is what actually motivates him. What emotional traits does he possess?

· Personality

· Attitudes

· Are you more reserved or outgoing?

· A Religious Worldview

· A Worldview in Politics

· Strengths

· Weaknesses

· Mannerisms

· Motivations

· Fears

· Internal Conflicts

· Secrets

· What brings him joy?

· deepest desire

What would he choose to do or be if he had the choice?

4. Make a story.

Our family history and upbringing have a profound impact on who we are. Discover your character's backstory, and you'll probably discover what drives them to rise and shine each morning.

· Birthdate

· Birthplace

· Accent

· Relatives and birth order (describe relationships)

· Childhood

· Education

· new jobs

· Accomplishments

· Failures

5. What role does this character have in the narrative?

Look farther. Finally, consider these queries:

· What is his goal? a task or aim worthy of a book.

· What are his wants and needs?

· What or who gets in the way of him?

· What will he do in response?

· What will happen if he fails? (To sustain a full book, the stakes must be quite high.)

· What kind of sacrifice must he make?

· What significant changes do you anticipate in him?

· What heroic characteristics must he manifest if he is to succeed?

It's time to start.

Are you prepared to make a profile for your main character? Use the Character Profile Template I made, or feel free to make your own character questionnaire.

Your first character can be based on one of your closest friends, an eccentric cousin, or an adult from your past—or perhaps a combination of all three!

Regardless of who you model him after, create a character that seems genuine, and he can end up being memorable. Further details visit our website "Book Publishing Company"